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| Smithophis mizoramensis Mirza, Bhardwaj, Lalmuanawma, Choure, Lalremsanga, Vabeiryureilai, Captain, Zagade & Patel, 2024 |
Abstract
The natricine snake genus Smithophis Giri, Gower, Das, Lalremsanga, Lalronunga, Captain, and Deepak, 2019, is represented by four species, three of which are distributed in northeast India and Bangladesh, and a single species in Yunnan and Myanmar. In the past, S. bicolor (Blyth, 1855) was said to be widespread across northeast India and Myanmar; however, recent studies have shown it to be a species complex. Here, we describe a new species of the complex from the Indian state of Mizoram that resembles S. bicolor. The new species differs in bearing a patterned dorsum, a darker venter, and moderately keeled sacral scales. Re-examination of types of S. arunachalensis Das, Deepak, Captain, Wade, and Gower, 2020, shows the presence of strongly keeled sacral keels in males, which is an important diagnostic character. A revised key to members of the genus is presented with notes on S. arunachalensis.
Keywords: biodiversity hotspot; Colubridae; morphology; natricinae; Opisthotropis; taxonomy
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| Smithophis mizoramensis sp. nov. in life, (a) BNHS 3767, photo by Jignesh Patel; (b) an uncollected individual from Tam Dil National Wetland, Saitual district, Mizoram, photo by Prashant Vaghela. |
Smithophis mizoramensis sp. nov.
Diagnosis: A Smithophis with 17 smooth dorsal scales throughout the body and moderately keeled sacral scales in males. Temporal scales are present. Circum-orbital scales 4–5. Dorsal coloration is a shade of olive with indistinct dark reticulate patterns in life, overall black with faint gray reticulate markings or bands on the body in preservative. Each ventral scale is darker anteriorly edged with a yellowish/off-white border; the tail is ventrally darker compared to the ventral scales. Sequence divergence of 10–14% from other Smithophis for the gene cyt b.
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the Indian state of Mizoram, where the new species was discovered, and that has yielded many notable herpetological discoveries. The type and all other currently known localities of the new species are in Mizoram. This is the first snake to be named after the state. As individuals were mostly encountered in and around small hill streams, we suggest the common names Mizo Brook Snake (English) and Tuithiangrul (Mizo).
Zeeshan A. Mirza, Virender K. Bhardwaj, Jote Chawntual Lalmuanawma, Girish Choure, Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, Mathipi Vabeiryureilai, Ashok Captain, Akshay Zagade and Harshil Patel. 2024. A New Species of Smithophis Giri et al. 2019 from the Indo-Burma Region. Diversity. 16(8); 480. DOI:doi.org/10.3390/d16080480 mdpi.com/2903710
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