Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the genus (Squamata, Viperidae, Crotalinae), with description of two new alpine species from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China.

We provide a molecular phylogeny of Asian pit vipers (the genus ) based on four mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, ND4, and cytb). Sequences of , the only member of the genus that occurs south of the Himalayan range, are included for the first time. In addition, two new species of the genus are described based on specimens collected from Zayu, Tibet, west of the Nujiang River and Heishui, Sichuan, east of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.