[Herpetology • 2019] Boiga thackerayi • A New Species of Boiga Fitzinger, 1826 (Serpentes: Colubridae) from The Northern Western Ghats of India

Boiga thackerayi 

Giri, Deepak, Captain, Pawar & Tillack, 2019

DOI: 10.17087/jbnhs/2019/v116/144901

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Abstract

A new species of colubrid snake of the genus Boiga Fitzinger, 1826 is described, based on three specimens. Boiga thackerayi sp. nov. is presently known only from its type locality from a hill stream near Koyna, Satara district in northern Western Ghats of peninsular India. A medium sized Boiga characterized by smooth dorsal scales arranged in 19/19-17/15 rows, ventrals 211-221; subcaudals 93-101, dorsum with indistinct bands and belly distinctly marked. This is the second species of Boiga after B. dightoni that is endemic to the Western Ghats and the first new species of Boiga described after 125 years from the Western Ghats. The molecular data also proved the distinctiveness of this species from its congeners from India and Sri Lanka, which was supported by a limited but precise set of morphological variations. This is apparently the first known species of Boiga which feeds on frog eggs.

Keywords: Boiga ceylonensis, Cat Snake, DNA, Taxonomy, Types, Wet Zones.

Boiga thackerayi sp. nov.

Varad B. Giri, V. Deepak, Ashok Captain, Swapnil Pawar and Frank Tillack. 2019. A New Species of Boiga Fitzinger, 1826 (Serpentes: Colubridae) from The Northern Western Ghats of India. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society. 116. DOI: 10.17087/jbnhs/2019/v116/144901

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[Herpetology • 2019] Cnemaspis anandani • A New Species of Day Gecko of the Genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata : Gekkonidae) from the Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu, India

Cnemaspis anandani

Murthy, Nitesh, Sengupta & Deepak, 2019

  Rec. Zool. Surv. India. 119(3) 

 RecordsofZsi.com

Abstract

Based on the field explorations in the Western Ghats, a day gecko of the genus Cnemaspis 1887 is described from the Nilgiri hill ranges of Tamil Nadu. A medium sized gecko is distinguished from all the other congeners by a set of distinct morphological characters. Current taxonomic issues persisting among the members of genus Cnemaspis reported from the Western Ghats and India are discussed. The new species is found to have restrictive range of distribution in the higher elevations of Nilgiri hills. The discovery of a new high altitude endemic species indicates a need of further explorations in Nilgiri hill ranges.

Keywords: Cnemaspis, Gekkonidae, New Species, Nilgiri Hills, Taxonomy, Western Ghats.

Cnemaspis anandani sp. nov. (male) live in its habitat. 

Cnemaspis anandani sp. nov.

Species Diagnosis: A medium sized Cnemaspis with a maximum snout-vent length 41.2 mm; dorsal scales heterogeneous, entire dorsals keeled, scales are variable in size, interspersed with few large scales, irregularly arranged tubercles; two rows of enlarged 7-8 conical tubercles present on flanks; 3-4 small tubercles on the lateral side of the neck region; ventrals smooth with 16-18 mid body scales, imbricate; supra-labials to angle of jaw 7-8; infra-labials 7-8; sub-digital lamellae under manus IV 14-15; under pes IV 16-17; tail base slightly swollen, sub cylindrical, bulbous with a single post-cloacal spurs on each side; dorsal scales of tail is rough, keeled with two small, two enlarged tubercles on each side, weak whorls; sub-caudals smooth, enlarged, hexagonal, regularly arranged scales; male with 5-6 femoral pores, separated by 19–20 unpored femoro-precloacal scales; preanal pores absent. 

Etymology: The specific epithet is a patronym, named after Anandan Sethuraman an reputed Wildlife Conservationist, by honoring his contribution towards protection of Wildlife in the Niligiri district, Tamil Nadu, India. 

Suggested common name: Anandan’s Day Gecko

Distribution: Cnemaspis anandani sp. nov. is currently known to occur in Horasholai, Kotagiri and in Coonoor Gandhipuram (N 11.33 ; E 76.79), which is 6.16 miles aerial distance and Dolphin nose (N 11.35 ; E 76.82), which is 4.21 miles aerial distance from the type locality. The maximum altitude recorded for the species is 1,990 m ASL comparing to other high-altitude species described so far such as C. anamudiensis (1900 m ASL), C. maculicollis (1250 m ASL) and C. sisparensis (1500 m ASL). 

Natural history: The holotype and paratypes commonly found near the road side culverts, which is very close to the tea plantation and inside the hollow spaces of old wooden logs staked inside the tea plantation. The new species is found to be using the crevices for egg laying. We found large number of live animals in the evening hours around the walls of petrol pump in Kotagiri. Our field observations suggest this species is well adapted to live around human habitation.

B. H. Channakeshava Murthy, A. Nitesh , Shruti Sengupta and P. Deepak. 2019. A New Species of Day Gecko of the Genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata : Gekkonidae) from the Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu, India. Rec. Zool. Surv. India. 119(3); 211-226. DOI: 10.26515/rzsi/v119/i3/2019/143339. RecordsofZsi.com/index.php/zsoi/article/view/143339

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[Herpetology • 2019] Xylophiinae subfam. nov. • A New Subfamily of Fossorial Colubroid Snakes from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India

Geographic distribution of Xylophiinae subfam. nov. (green) 

and approximate distribution of subfamily Pareinae (blue).

Deepak, Ruane & Gower, 2019. 

DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2018.1557756  

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ABSTRACT

We report molecular phylogenetic and dating analyses of snakes that include new mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data for three species of the peninsular Indian endemic Xylophis. The results provide the first molecular genetic test of and support for the monophyly of Xylophis. Our phylogenetic results support the findings of a previous, taxonomically restricted phylogenomic analysis of ultraconserved nuclear sequences in recovering the fossorial Xylophis as the sister taxon of a clade comprising all three recognised extant genera of the molluscivoran and typically arboreal pareids. The split between Xylophis and ‘pareids’ is estimated to have occurred on a similar timescale to that between most (sub)families of extant snakes. Based on phylogenetic relationships, depth of molecular genetic and estimated temporal divergence, and on the external morphological and ecological distinctiveness of the two lineages, we classify Xylophis in a newly erected subfamily (Xylophiinae subfam. nov.) within Pareidae.

KEYWORDS: Asia, classification, Pareidae, Pareinae, phylogenetics, Xylophis, taxonomy

Figure 4. (a) Geographic distribution of Xylophiinae subfam. nov. (green) and approximate distribution of subfamily Pareinae (blue).
 Photographs show representative taxa of the two subfamilies within Pareidae: (b) Xylophis perroteti from Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India (Photo: Achyuthan N. Srikanthan); (c) Pareas monticola from Barail, Assam, India (Photo: V. Deepak).

Approximate distribution drawn based on locations provided in Srinivasulu et al. (2014) and Wallach et al. (2014).

DIAPSIDA Osborn, 1903

Superorder LEPIDOSAURIA Haeckel, 1866

Order SQUAMATA Oppel, 1811

Suborder SERPENTES Linnaeus, 1758

Infraorder CAENOPHIDIA Hoffstetter, 1939

Superfamily COLUBROIDEA Oppel, 1811

Family PAREIDAE Romer, 1956

Subfamily Xylophiinae subfam. nov.

Type genus: Xylophis Beddome, 1878

Content A single genus with three currently recognised species: X. stenorhynchus (Günther, 1875); X. perroteti Duméril, Bibron and Duméril, 1854; X. captaini Gower and Winkler, 2007. 

Xylophis indicus Beddome, 1878 has been considered a synonym of X. stenorhynchus (e.g. Smith 1943; Wallach et al. 2014) but might also be valid (Gower and Winkler 2007). Xylophis perroteti includes the synonyms Rhabdosoma microcephalum Günther, 1858 (e.g. Smith 1943; Wallach et al. 2014).

Diagnosis Colubroid snakes with first (anteriormost) three pairs of infralabial shields reduced to narrow strips, together much smaller than large pair of anterior chin (genial) shields.

 Distribution The Western Ghats region of peninsular India. ...

V. Deepak, Sara Ruane and David J. Gower. 2019. A New Subfamily of Fossorial Colubroid Snakes from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India. Journal of Natural History.   52(45-46)  DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2018.1557756  

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[Herpetology • 2018] Systematic Revision of Calotes Cuvier, 1817 (Squamata: Agamidae) from the Western Ghats adds Two Genera and Reveals Two New Species

Monilesaurus acanthocephalus &  M. montanus 

 Pal, Vijayakumar,  Shanker,  Jayarajan & Deepak, 2018

  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4482.3.1
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Abstract  

Lizards of the genus Calotes are geographically restricted to South Asia, Indo-China and parts of Southeast Asia. The greatest diversity of the genus is from the biodiversity hotspots in South Asia: Western Ghats (Peninsular India), Sri Lanka and Indo-Burma. Here, we present a systematic revision of members of the genus Calotes from Peninsular India using a combination of molecular phylogeny, geographical distribution and morphological characters. We show that Calotes from the Western Ghats is paraphyletic and consists of three major clades, one of which is widely distributed in South and Southeast (SE) Asia, while the others are restricted to Peninsular India. The Peninsular Indian clade is composed of two sister clades: Psammophilus, with a wider distribution and a second clade, composed of two extant species, Calotes rouxii and Calotes ellioti and two new species, all restricted to the Western Ghats region. Based on morphological differences, we retain the generic status of Psammophilus and assign its sister clade to a new genus Monilesaurus gen. nov. and transfer the following species, C. rouxii and C. ellioti, to this new genus. We also provide diagnoses and descriptions for two new species recognized within Monilesaurus gen. nov. In addition, Calotes aurantolabium from the Western Ghats was observed to be deeply divergent and to share a sister-relationship with the clade composed of Calotes, Monilesaurus gen. nov., and Psammophilus. Based on its phylogenetic position and morphological attributes, we assign this species to a new genus Microauris gen. nov. These new discoveries highlight the evolutionary significance of the Western Ghats in housing novel lizard diversity.

Keywords: Reptilia, Agamidae, Calotes, new genus, Microauris, Monilesaurus, Psammophilus, Western Ghats

 Family Agamidae
Subfamily Draconinae  

Calotes Cuvier, 1817

Lacerta calotes Linnaeus, 1758 

Four species of Calotes (Calotes grandisquamis, C. nemoricola, Calotes cf. versicolor, Calotes calotes) are known from the Western Ghats of which two are endemic to this region.

Calotes nemoricola Jerdon, 1853 

Calotes grandisquamis Guenther, 1875

Calotes versicolor group

Content. Calotes bachae Hartmann, Geissler, Poyarkov, Ihlow, Galoyan, Rödder & Böhme, 2013; C. bhutanensis Biswas, 1975; C. calotes (Linnaeus, 1758); C. ceylonensis Müller, 1887; C. chincollium Vindum, 2003; C. desilvai Bahir & Maduwage, 2005; C. emma; C. grandisquamis, C. hutunwini Zug & Vindum, 2006; C. irawadi Zug, Grown, Schulte & Vindum, 2006; C. jerdoni Günther, 1870; C. liocephalus Günther, 1872; C. liolepis Boulenger, 1885; C. versicolor (Daudin, 1802), C. manamendrai Amarasinghe & Karunarathna, 2014; C. maria Gray, 1845; C. medgoensis Zhao & Li, 1984; C. minor, C. mystaceus Duméril & Bibron, 1837; C. nemoricola Jerdon, 1853, C. nigrilabris Peters, 1860; C. nigriplicatus Hallermann, 2000 and C. pethiyagodai Amarasinghe, Karunarathna, Hallermann, Fujinuma, Grillitsch & Campbell, 2014.

FIGURE 7. Lateral photograph showing live coloration of
 A. adult male Monilesaurus acanthocephalus gen. et sp. nov. and
 B. adult male Monilesaurus montanus sp. nov. 

Monilesaurus gen. nov. 
Type species. Calotes rouxii (Duméril & Bibron, 1837)

 Content. Monilesaurus ellioti comb. nov., Monilesaurus montanus gen. et sp. nov., Monilesaurus rouxii comb. nov. and Monilesaurus acanthocephalus gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology. The genus epithet is derived by adding the word ‘Monile’ meaning necklace in Latin referring to the distinct neck fold in this genus and the Greek word sauros meaning lizard which is latinized here as saurus.



Monilesaurus rouxii (Duméril & Bibron, 1837) comb.nov. 

Calotes rouxii—Duméril & Bibron, 1837. Erp. Gen, iv, 1837: 407. 

Calotes ellioti—(not of Günther) Stoliczka, 1872. J. Asiat. Soc. Beng. (2) xli, 1872: 113. 

Calotes rouxii—Smith, 1935. Fauna of British India, ii, 1935: 206.

Monilesaurus ellioti (Günther, 1864) comb. nov. 

Calotes rouxii—(not of Dum. & Bibr., 1837), Jerdon, 1853. J. Asiat. Soc. Beng. (2) xxii, 1853: 471 

Calotes ellioti—Günther, 1864. Rept. Brit. Ind. 1864: 142. 

Bronchocela indica—Theobald, 1876. Cat. Rept. Brit. Ind. 1876: 105. 

Calotes elliotti—Smith, 1935. Fauna of British India, ii, 1935: 207.

Monilesaurus acanthocephalus gen. et. sp. nov. 
 Etymology. The species epithet is derived by combining the Greek word ‘acanthos’, meaning spine or thorn, and ‘kephale’ latinized as ‘cephalus’ meaning head; referring to the long posterorbital and supratympanic spines.


Monilesaurus montanus gen. et. sp. nov. 
 Etymology. The species epithet is derived from the word ‘montane’ referring to the restricted distribution of this species to high elevation forests (> 1500 m a.s.l).


Psammophilus Fitzinger, 1843

Type species: Agama dorsalis (Gray, 1845) 

Content: Psammophilus dorsalis, Psammophilus blanfordanus (Stoliczka, 1871)
Etymology: None provided but probably from Latin “Psammo” meaning sand and “Philus” meaning loving.

Psammophilus dorsalis (Gray, 1831) (Fig. 8a)

Agama dorsalis –Gray, 1831. In Griffith, E & E. Pidgeon’s Anim. King. ix, 1851: 56 

Charasia dorsalis– Gray, 1845. Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. 1845: 246. 

Charasia dorsalis—Boulenger, 1885. Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. 1845: 450. 

Psammophilus dorsalis—Smith, 1935. Fauna of British India, ii, 1935: 209. 

FIGURE 8. Lateral photograph showing live coloration of  adult female Microauris aurantolabium comb. nov.  

Microauris gen. nov.  

Type species. Calotes aurantolabium (Krishnan, 2008) 

Etymology. The genus epithet is derived by adding the word ‘Micro’ as a prefix to the Latin word ‘auris’ meaning ear, referring to the extremely small tympanum of this genus.

Suggested English. Small-eared dragon

Saunak Pal, S.P. Vijayakumar, Kartik Shanker, Aditi Jayarajan and V. Deepak. 2018. A Systematic Revision of Calotes Cuvier, 1817 (Squamata: Agamidae) from the Western Ghats adds Two Genera and Reveals Two New Species. Zootaxa. 4482(3); 401–450. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4482.3.1

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