[Herpetology • 2018] Uropeltis bhupathyi • A New Species of Uropeltis Cuvier, 1829 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the Anaikatty Hills of the Western Ghats of India

Uropeltis bhupathyi

Jins, Sampaio & Gower, 2018

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4415.3.1 

Abstract

A new species of Uropeltis is described from a series of six type specimens from the Anaikatty Hills of the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, peninsular India. Uropeltis bhupathyi sp. nov. is distinguished from congeners by having more than 200 ventral scales, 17 dorsal scale rows at midbody and by the size and shape of the rostral and frontal shields. Although tens of specimens have been seen in the vicinity of the type locality (and previously reported as U. ellioti), the new species is known only from this locality and faces threats from road traffic, habitat loss and change, and possibly a condition that deforms heads and head shields which is at least superficially similar to snake fungal disease reported from wild snakes in North America and Europe.

Keywords: shieldtail, snake, snake fungal disease, systematics, taxonomy, Uropeltis ellioti, Western Ghats, Reptilia

V.J. Jins, Filipa L. Sampaio and David J. Gower. 2018. A New Species of Uropeltis Cuvier, 1829 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the Anaikatty Hills of the Western Ghats of India. Zootaxa. 4415(3); 401–422.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4415.3.1

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[Herpetology • 2017] Rhinophis roshanpererai • A New Species of Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the central hills of Sri Lanka

Rhinophis roshanpererai  

Wickramasinghe, Vidanapathirana,  Rajeev & Gower, 2017


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DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4263.1.7 

Abstract

A new species of uropeltid snake, Rhinophis roshanpererai sp. nov., is described based on three specimens from Badulla District, Sri Lanka. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the number of dorsal scale rows and ventral scales, a colour pattern that lacks pale stripes, and by having a very small tail shield with four or three prominent spines. Based on lack of records from similar habitats and elevations elsewhere in Sri Lanka, the new species likely has a very small range in the central highlands. The description of the new species brings the total nominal species of Rhinophis to 20, with four of the 16 Sri Lankan species having been described since 2009.

Keywords: Rhinophis roshanpererai sp. nov., shieldtail, taxonomy, uropeltid snakes, Reptilia, Sri Lanka

FIGURE 2. Dorsolateral view in life of the holotype of Rhinophis roshanpererai sp. nov., NMSL 2016.08.01 NH, 214 mm (total length). 

Diagnosis. A Rhinophis restricted to the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka with 17 dorsal scale rows at midbody, more than 160 and fewer than 175 ventral scales, a small tail shield with spines, three or four of which prominent, and lacking yellowish markings laterally or dorsally

Etymology. The species epithet roshanpererai is named for the late Roshan Perera, who was an Instructor of the Reptiles group of the Young Zoologist’s Association of Sri Lanka, Department of National Zoological Gardens, in recognition of his dedicated services to wildlife conservation in Sri Lanka. The species name roshanpererai is a noun in the genitive case. 

Suggested vernacular names. Roshan Pererage thudulla, Roshan Pereravin nilakael pambu, Roshan Perera’s sheildtail (or Roshan Perera’s Rhinophis) in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, respectively

 L. J. Mendis Wickramasinghe, Dulan R. Vidanapathirana, M. D. G. Rajeev and David J. Gower. 2017. A New Species of Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the central hills of Sri Lanka. Zootaxa. 4263(1); 153–164.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4263.1.7

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[Herpetology • 2016] A Reassessment of Melanophidium Günther, 1864 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the Western Ghats of peninsular India, with the Description of A New Species; Melanophidium khairei

Melanophidium khairei 

 Gower, Giri, Captain & Wilkinson, 2016 

Abstract

A new species of the uropeltid snake genus, Melanophidium Günther, 1864 is described based on a series of eight specimens. Melanophidium khairei sp. nov. is the fourth species described in the genus, and the first for 144 years. Superficially M. khairei sp. nov. resembles M. punctatum Beddome, 1871 in being piebald and punctate (and it was previously misidentified as M. punctatum), but in many scalation characters it more closely resembles M. wynaudense (Beddome, 1863). The new species occurs in southern Maharashtra, Goa, and northern Karnataka, in the Western Ghats region of peninsula India. It is the most northerly member of its genus. Lectotypes and paralectotypes are designated for M. wynaudense, M. bilineatum Beddome, 1870, and M. punctatum. A new key to the species of Melanophidium is presented. Aspects of the morphology, taxonomy and distribution of the three previously described species of Melanophidium are reviewed and revised.

Keywords: Reptilia, Alethinophidia, shieldtail, snake, systematics, taxonomy

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 David J. Gower, Varad Giri, Ashok Captain and Mark Wilkinson. 2016. A Reassessment of Melanophidium Günther, 1864 (Squamata: Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the Western Ghats of peninsular India, with the Description of A New Species. ZOOTAXA. 4085(4); 481-503. http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/article/view/zootaxa.4085.4.2

ResearchGate.net/publication/296706271_A_reassessment_of_Melanophidium_Gunther_1864_Squamata_Serpentes_Uropeltidae_from_the_Western_Ghats_of_peninsular_India_with_the_description_of_a_new_species

Snake that remained hidden for 145 years found - @NatureInd
 http://www.natureasia.com/en/nindia/article/10.1038/nindia.2016.33