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| Smithophis leptofasciatus Muansanga, Purkayastha, Hruaia, Vabeiryureilai, Biakzuala, Decemson, Lalremsanga & Bohra, 2025 TAPROBANICA. 14(2) |
Abstract
Based on two specimens, we describe a new species of snake in the genus Smithophis from Mizoram, as determined through detailed morphological and molecular analyses of the cytochrome b mitochondrial gene. The new species genetically forms a sister taxon to the clade containing S. atemporalis, S. bicolor, and S. mizoramensis, with a strong nodal branch support along with a deep level of genetic divergence. The species can be easily distinguished from its congeners by several morphological and colouration characters, including the presence of distinct, narrow, and incomplete transverse bands in the dorsum. Our study also precisely determines the distribution of S. bicolor, restricting its range to Meghalaya and removing it from the faunal list of Mizoram.
Keywords: cytochrome b, India, rain snake, Rhabdops, Smithophis bicolor, systematics, taxonomy
Diagnosis. The new species is a small sized
natricid snake having a maximum SVL of 329
mm as well as a maximum TaL of 82 mm and
can be diagnosed from all its congeners based on
a combination of the following characters: (1) 17
smooth dorsal scale rows throughout the body;
(2) 195–201 ventrals; (3) 67–78 subcaudals, all
of which are paired; (4) anal scale paired; (5) a
total of five circumorbital scales surrounding and
touching the eye; (6) temporal scales distinctly
present; (7) absence of keeled sacral scales in
both males and females; (8) dorsum colour ...
Etymology. The specific epithet “leptofasciatus” is a Greek and Latin compound adjective (leptos + fasciatus) in the nominative singular given in masculine, which refers to “narrow banded” transverse body pattern on the dorsum, a distinct and distinguishing characteristic of the species. Suggested common name: narrow-banded rain snake (in English) and Ruahrul (in Mizo).
Lal Muansanga, Jayaditya Purkayastha, Vanlal Hruaia, Mathipi Vabeiryureilai, Lal Biakzuala, Ht Decemson, Hmar T. Lalremsanga and Sanath C. Bohra. 2025. A New Species of the Genus Smithophis Giri, Gower, Das et al., 2019 (Reptilia: Serpentes: Natricidae) from Mizoram, northeast India. TAPROBANICA. 14(2); 158-165.
