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| Herpetoreas murlen Lalremsanga, Bal, Vogel & Biakzuala, 2022 Murlen Keelback Snake || salamandra-journal.com |
Abstract
A new species of the genus Herpetoreas is described from Murlen National Park, Mizoram, northeastern India, based on morphological differences and molecular evidence inferred from the mitochondrial cytochrome b and 16S rRNA genes. The new taxon represents the seventh nominal species in the genus Herpetoreas, out of which three species, i.e., H. pealii, H. platyceps and H. xenura, have been recorded from northeastern India as well. An updated taxonomic key to the species of Herpetoreas is provided. Our phylogenetic reconstructions of selected natricine and colubrine snakes from Mizoram state, northeastern India, also contribute to the systematics and known distribution of the little known species Gongylosoma scriptum, and corroborate its taxonomic placement into the subfamily Colubrinae. Moreover, the first molecular based identifications for Liopeltis stoliczkae and Sibynophis collaris from Mizoram are presented.
Key words: Serpentes, Amphiesma, Hebius, Herpetoreas sp. n., Liopeltis, Mizoram, Murlen National Park, Sibynophis, taxonomy.
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| Herpetoreas murlen sp. n. Holotype (MZMU2041) in life (A–C). Head of an uncollected individual in dorsolateral view (D). |
Herpetoreas murlen sp. n.
Diagnosis. Herpetoreas murlen sp. n. is diagnosable by the following morphological characters (based on the holotype, male; Figs. 3–6): 1) TaL/TL 0.23; 2) two PVe, 179 Ve, and 78 paired Sc; 3) As divided; 4) nine IL, with the first four contacting the AG, and the fourth and fifth contacting the PG; 5) eight SL, the third to fifth contacting the eye, the seventh largest; 6) Tem 1+1; 7) two PrO, and three PoO; 8) dorsal scales in 19:19:17 rows, distinctly keeled, those in the first row feebly keeled; 9) internasal scales sub-triangular; 10) scales on posterior part of head and temporal region smooth; 11) the everted hemipenes bilobate near the tip; sulcus spermaticus bifurcated just beneath the crotch; weakly developed apical naked area at the crotch and invisible from the asulcate face; numerous small spines present, increasing in size distally, and a distinct basal hook present (Fig. 6).
Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality, Murlen National park, Champhai District, Mizoram, India. We propose as common names, Murlen Keelback Snake (English) and Murlen-Wassernatter (German).
Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, Amit Kumar Bal, Gernot Vogel and Lal Biakzuala. 2022. Molecular Phylogenetic Analyses of lesser known Colubrid Snakes reveal A New Species of Herpetoreas (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae), and New insights into the Systematics of Gongylosoma scriptum and its allies from northeastern India. SALAMANDRA. 58(2): 101–115
mizorambulletin.com/2022/05/16/mizoram-new-snake-species-discovered-and-named-after-murlen-national-park
