[Herpetology • 2026] Lycodon trifasciatus • Neotype Designation for Lycodon aulicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Squamata: Colubridae) and Description of A New Species from Sri Lanka

 

Lycodon trifasciatus

Amarasinghe, Aththanagoda, Ranasinghe, Vogel & Karunarathna,

 in Amarasinghe, Campbell, Seneviratne, Weerakkody, Mata, Kennedy-Gold, Aththanagoda, Ranasinghe, Vogel et Karunarathna, 2026. 

DOI: doi.org/10.47605/tapro.v15i2.422

Abstract

We revisit the systematics of Sri Lankan wolf snakes, historically assigned to Lycodon aulicus and describe a new species using an integrative assessment of external morphology (morphometry, meristics, and hemipenial morphology), osteology (microCT), mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b), and distributional data. Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene recovered the L. aulicus group as a strongly supported monophyletic clade that includes five distinct lineages: (i) a Sri Lankan lineage currently referred to as L. aulicus, (ii) L. flavicollis from India, (iii) L. capucinus from the Sundaland region, (iv) L. zawi from Myanmar, and (v) the Sri Lankan endemic described herein as a new species. In our analyses, the new species is placed close to the Sri Lankan lineage currently identified as L. aulicus and to L. flavicollis, although support for some internal relationships is limited. Because the molecular representation of L. aulicus remains geographically restricted (including only a single sequenced Sri Lankan individual and no sequence data from the neotype locality in southwestern India), broader conclusions about the species boundaries, monophyly, and range-wide structure of L. aulicus should be treated as provisional working hypotheses. We do not attempt a range wide revision of L. aulicus sensu lato; we restrict our taxonomic actions and interpretations to (i) stabilizing name usage via type fixation and (ii) diagnosing the description of an overlooked Sri Lankan tri banded lineage.

 (A) Lycodon aulicus neotype (NHMUK 1904.10.18.5), an adult male from Kannur City in Kerala State, India; © Photo: GV; (B) adult voucher specimen of Lycodon aulicus (in life) from Rambukkana, Sri Lanka (NMSL 2026.09.04/Field No. DMSSK217); © Photo: SK.
 (C) Lycodon trifasciatus sp. nov. paratype (NMSL 2026.09.01/Field No. DMSSK379), an adult male from Udadumbara, Sri Lanka; © Photo: SK; (D) a hatchling of L. trifasciatus sp. nov. (in life) from Kalutara, Sri Lanka (not collected); © Photo: AKAG.

Dorsal, ventral, and lateral head scalation of (A) neotype of L. aulicus (NHMUK 1904.10.18.5; also, lectotype of L. a. oligozonatus) from Cannanore in the Malabar Coast (now Kannur in the Kerala State), (B) holotype of Lycodon trifasciatus sp. nov. (FMNH 165045) from Anamaduwa, Sri Lanka, and (C) topotype of L. capucinus (UIMZ 0121) from Central Java.

 Illustrations by A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe (not to scale).

Lycodon trifasciatus Amarasinghe, Aththanagoda, Ranasinghe, Vogel & Karunarathna, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Lycodon trifasciatus sp. nov. is distinguished from other congeners by having the following combination of characters (Table 2): adults reach maximum SVL 615 mm; a single preocular; two postoculars; a single loreal scale; divided cloacal plate; nasal scale completely divided by the nostril; preocular in contact with frontal; ventrals 182–184 in 2 males and 192– 195 in 3 females; subcaudals 51–60+ in males and 40–65 in females; 2+3 temporals shorten; nine supralabials with 3rd–5 th in contact with eye; dorsal scale rows 17-17-15; tail length 16.2– 18.1% of total length in males; reddish or dark olive brown dorsum (rarely black) with three (rarely four) white striated crossbands only on the anterior part of the body; crossbands with thickness of 2–4 vertebral scales and 22–28 scales in-between crossbands; 28–33 vertebrate scales between the parietal and first crossband on the body; poorly visible collar mark on the nape; absence of white lip band.

A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Patrick D. Campbell, Sampath S. Seneviratne, Sanjaya Weerakkody, Joshua Mata, Stevie R. Kennedy-Gold, Anusha Aththanagoda, Bhanuka Ranasinghe, Gernot Vogel and Suranjan Karunarathna. 2026. Neotype Designation for Lycodon aulicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Squamata: Colubridae) and Description of A New Species from Sri Lanka. TAPROBANICA. 15(2); DOI: doi.org/10.47605/tapro.v15i2.422

[Herpetology • 2026] Duttaphrynus phawngpui • A New Montane Toad Species (Anura: Bufonidae: Duttaphrynus) from Mizoram, northeastern India

Duttaphrynus phawngpui 

 Dawngliana, Warjri, Amarasinghe, Bal, Hruaia, Hlychho, Lalremsanga, Vabeiryureilai & Purkayastha, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.47605/tapro.v15i2.423  

 Researchgate.net/publication/414271782

Abstract

We describe a new montane bufonid toad from Phawngpui National Park, Mizoram, northeastern India, using an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphology, multivariate morphometrics, and mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequence data. Phylogenetic analyses recover the Mizoram population as a well-supported lineage within the Duttaphrynus stuarti species group, distinct from its closest congeners, including D. stuarti, D. chandai, and D. dhara. Uncorrected 16S sequence divergence from currently recognised taxa ranges from 3.8–5.5%, consistent with species-level differentiation in Asian bufonids. Principal component analysis of size-corrected morphometric variables further supports its distinctiveness, with the new species occupying a discrete region of morphospace. The new species is characterized by moderate body size (SVL 47.72–56.26 mm), indistinct tympanum, absence of most cranial ridges, distinctive digital proportions, moderate toe webbing, and a dorsum with glandular warts, irregular dark blotches, and a narrow mid-dorsal stripe. Concordant molecular, morphometric, and morphological evidence supports its recognition as a distinct species. Known only from the type locality in high-elevation (>2000 m a.s.l.) montane habitats, the species highlights the importance of the Mizoram uplands for undocumented amphibian diversity within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.

Duttaphrynus phawngpui sp. nov 

Malsawm Dawngliana, Holiness Warjri, A. A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Amit K. Bal, Vanlal Hruaia, Mara D. Hlychho, Hmar T. Lalremsanga, Mathipi Vabeiryureilai and Jayaditya Purkayastha. 2026. A New Montane Toad Species (ANURA: BUFONIDAE: Duttaphrynus) from Mizoram, northeastern INDIA. TAPROBANICA. 15(2); 298–309. DOI: doi.org/10.47605/tapro.v15i2.423 [13 September 2026]  

 Researchgate.net/publication/414271782_A_NEW_MONTANE_TOAD_Duttaphrynus_from_MIZORAM_NE_INDIA

[Herpetology • 2025] Cnemaspis brahmaputra • A New Day Gecko of the Cnemaspis podihuna clade (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from Northeast India

 

Cnemaspis brahmaputra

Sayyed, Das, Amarasinghe, Bhattacharjee & Purkayastha, 2025

TAPROBANICA. 14(2) 

 facebook.com/AmitSayyedSatara

Precloacal and femoral area of (A) C. podihuna holotype and 

(B) C. brahmaputra sp. nov. holotype

Abstract 

We describe a new species of Cnemaspis from Assam, a valley of an antecedent river, the Brahmaputra, in northeastern India that belongs to the C. podihuna species group. The new species is the second Cnemaspis reported from the mainland Indian subcontinent, representing the entire podihuna clade. It is small (SVL 30.8–35.7 mm) and diurnal. The new species is genetically and morphologically allied to C. assamensis in northeast India, and also morphologically allied to the members of the C. podihuna group in Sri Lanka, especially to C. molligodai and C. manoae, but is distinguished by its larger body size but with lower number of midbody scale rows, higher number of miventrals and ventral scale rows across the belly, no tubercles on lower flanks, three enlarged rows of thigh scales parallel to the enlarged femoral scale row, and fewer poreless scales separating precloacal and femoral pore scales in males. The new species is also genetically divergent from C. assamensis by p-distances of 6.0–7.2% and from Sri Lankan congeners by 21.2–24.8% in the mitochondrial ND2 gene. With this new species, only two species of Cnemaspis are now known from the podihuna clade in India, but additional species likely remain unrecognized. 

Keywords: phylogeny, saxicoline geckos, species complex, systematics, taxonomy

Cnemaspis brahmaputra sp. nov.
(A) the holotype (ADBU1111; an adult male) and (B) the habitat near Dirgheswari Temple, North Guwahati, Assam, India.

 Photo: A. Sayyed

Cnemaspis brahmaputra sp. nov. 

Diagnosis. A diminutive, rupicolous Cnemaspis with adult SVL 30.8–35.7 mm; dorsal scales homogeneous, small granular scales, intermixed with slightly large, randomly arranged smooth scales; enlarged tubercles absent on dorsum; scales on gular, throat, pectoral, and abdomen smooth; median subcaudals smooth, enlarged, slightly semicircular, subimbricate; 26–27 interorbital scales; 7–9 supralabials up to midorbital position, 11–13 up to the angle of jaw; 8–12 infralabials; two pairs of postmentals, inner pair larger, separated by single hexagonal intermediate scale; 83–87 scale rows at midbody, 21–25 ventral scales rows across the belly; 127–131 paravertebral granules, 130–138 midventral scales; similar scales on flanks; four or five spine-like tubercles on lateral body, but absent in lower flanks; 19 subdigital lamellae under fourth toe; males with six or seven precloacal pores and 12 femoral pores (on each thigh) separated by four enlarged poreless scales; dorsal scales on brachium and forearm smooth, granular; ventral scales of thigh with three rows of enlarged scales parallel to femoral scales; ventral scales on tail base not enlarged; a single pair of postcloacal spur on tail base.

Etymology. The specific epithet is an invariable noun in apposition and refers to the antecedent river, ‘Brahmaputra’, which flows near the type locality. Brahmaputra (in the Sanskrit language) is a singular possessive noun with Brahma (=a name of the Hindu god, referred to as "the creator") and putra (=son, referred to here as offspring), thus the offspring of the creator. Brahmaputra River (3,969 km) flows through China, northeast India, and Bangladesh, and is one of the top ten largest rivers by discharge (Sarma 2004)—English name: Brahmaputra day gecko

Amit Sayyed, Madhurima Das, A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Rupankar Bhattacharjee and Jayaditya Purkayastha. 2025. A New Day Gecko of the Cnemaspis podihuna (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) clade from Northeast India. TAPROBANICA. 14(2); 107–120.

 facebook.com/AmitSayyedSatara/posts/pfbid0henerj24332656069687792

 www.taprobanica.org/Archives/Latest-Articles/latest-articles.html

[Herpetology • 2025] Dendrelaphis thasuni • A New Species of Dendrelaphis Boulenger, 1890 (Reptilia: Colubridae) from an isolated misty mountain in the South Eastern intermediate zone of Sri Lanka

Dendrelaphis thasuni 

(A) Dorsal aspect of D. thasuni sp. nov. female holotype; 

(B) dorsal aspect of uncollected D. caudolineolatus female.

Atthanagoda, Silva, Vogel, Udayanga, Bandara, Madawala, Grismer & Karunarathna, 2025

Thasun’s Bronzeback  ||  https://amphibian-reptile-conservation.org/issues.php  

Researchgate.net/publication/390564322

Abstract 

We describe a new species of Dendrelaphis that is morphologically close to D. caudolineolatus, however the new species is readily distinguished from it by having an undivided anal plate, as well as other characters. This species is only known from a single female collected from Maragala Mountain in Monaragala District, Uva Province of Sri Lanka. The new species is likely adapted to an arboreal lifestyle and its color is similar to that of the tree branches it inhabits. Currently, eight species of Dendrelaphis inhabit Sri Lanka (including the new species), six of which are endemic, and most of them are threatened. The Maragala Mountain is a biodiversity rich area in Sri Lanka because of its habitat heterogeneity and favorable climatic conditions. Currently, 67 species of reptiles (30 endemics), and 18 amphibians (five endemics) are known to inhabit this mountain. Various habitats on Maragala Mountain have been heavily influenced and modified by humans. Therefore, urgent conservation measures are needed to conserve this isolated forest and its resident species. 

Keywords. Asia, Isolated hill forest, reptile hotspot, snake diversity, speciation, systematics

Holotype of Dendrelaphis thasuni sp. nov. in life (above) and uncollected D. caudolineolatus (below) together to compare scalation, color pattern, and eye size.

Morphological characters of Dendrelaphis thasuni sp. nov. female holotype. 

(A) Dorsal aspect of head, (B) ventral aspect of head, (C) lateral aspect of head on left side with narrow temporal stripe, (D)lateral aspect of head on right side, (E) dorsal aspect of trunk with slightly enlarged vertebral scales, (F) dorsal aspect of tail base with large scales, (G) ventral side of trunk with narrow ventral scales, (H)ventral side of tail base with undivided anal plate, (I) lateral aspect of trunk with narrow blackish transverse dorsolateral bars, (J) lateral aspect of tail base with dorsolateral black line.

Morphological characters of an uncollected Dendrelaphis caudolineolatus female. 

(A) Dorsal aspect of head, (B) ventral aspect of head, (C) lateral aspect of head on left side with broad temporal stripe, (D) lateral aspect of head on right side, (E) dorsal aspect of trunk with enlarged vertebral scales, (F) dorsal aspect of tail base with extra-large scales, (G) ventral side of trunk with broad ventral scales, (H) ventral side of tail base with divided anal plate, (I) lateral aspect of trunk with broad blackish transverse dorsolateral bars, (J) lateral aspect of tail base with dorsolateral black line.

(A) Dorsal aspect of Dendrelaphis thasuni sp. nov. female holotype in life 

with narrow blackish transverse dorsolateral bars, 

(B) dorsal aspect of uncollected D. caudolineolatus female 

with  broad blackish transverse dorsolateral bars.

(A) Ventral aspect of Dendrelaphis thasuni sp. nov. female holotype in life with narrow ventrals, 

(B) ventral aspect of uncollected  D. caudolineolatus female with broad ventrals.

Dendrelaphis thasuni sp. nov.

Thasun’s Bronzeback

 Diagnosis. The head is distinct from the slender body; two internasals, snout broad and flat, equal to eye diameter; large eye with round pupil; one preocular and one loreal; two postoculars; 1+2 temporal scales bearing a very narrow black stripe (Figs. 4 and 5); V-shaped blackish transverse dorsolateral bars on anterior half of body; distance between transverse bars in forebody is equal to the eye diameter, with 2–3 lateral scales between two transverse dorsolateral bars; 151 enlarged vertebral scales and no vertebral stripe; dorsal scale rows one head length behind neck (~20 mm) 13, at midbody 13, one head length anterior to vent (~20 mm) 9; apical pits 1–3 on dorsal scales; 153 ventral scales, very narrow between lateral keels of both sides compared to D. caudolineolatus; anal plate undivided, large; tail long with 117 or 118 divided subcaudals; a thin blackish line between subcaudals; subcaudals with strong lateral keels. Dendrelaphis thasuni sp. nov. is most similar to D. caudolineolatus in Sri Lanka, which is its presumed closest relative. It can be easily distinguished from all species of Sri Lankan Dendrelaphis by having an undivided anal plate (Fig. 6).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latinized eponym in the masculine genitive singular, honoring Dr. Amarasinghe Achchige Thasun Amarasinghe—a renowned systematic biologist, ecologist, and conservationist—for his remarkable contributions to the field of taxonomy and systematic herpetology in Asia, especially in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and India, and for his friendship. He has also helped to popularize wildlife conservation and management in Sri Lanka through science-based education awareness programs.

Anusha Atthanagoda, Anslem de Silva, Gernot Vogel, Sithara Udayanga, Champika Bandara, Majintha Madawala, L. Lee Grismer and Suranjan Karunarathna. 2025. A New Species of Dendrelaphis Boulenger, 1890 (Reptilia: Colubridae) from an isolated misty mountain in the South Eastern intermediate zone of Sri Lanka. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. 19(1): 28–47 (e340). April 2025

  https://amphibian-reptile-conservation.org/issues.php

 Researchgate.net/publication/390564322_A_new_species_of_Dendrelaphis_from_an_isolated_misty_mountain_in_the_SE_intermediate_zone_of_Sri_Lanka

[Herpetology • 2025] Hemidactylus amarasinghei • A New tuberculate House gecko Species (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Hemidactylus) from the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

  

Hemidactylus amarasinghei  

Sayyed, Khot & Purkayastha, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5583.2.4 

 facebook.com/amitsayyedsatara

Abstract

A new species of Hemidactylus is described from the high elevations of rocky landscapes at Chalkewadi Plateau in the northern Western Ghats of India. Based on phylogenetic analysis using the mitochondrial ND2 gene, the new species is a member of the H. murrayi clade within the H. brookii group. Morphological analysis also revealed diagnostic characters distinguishing it from its sister species, H. varadgirii. The species is medium-sized (SVL up to 54.3 mm), with 10–11 supralabials, 9–10 infralabials, canthal region with 18–21 scales on both sides, supraciliaries separated by 21–22 scales at mid-orbit, dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous, having 15–16 rows of tubercles across the midbody, 28–31 paravertebral tubercles between pelvic and pectoral limb insertions, midsagittal ventral scales 135–147, and 30–31 scales across the belly between the lowest rows of dorsal scales at midbody. Males have 7–9 femoral pores on each side, with six or seven poreless scales in between, and there are 7–8 lamellae beneath toe IV.

Reptilia, Hemidactylus brookii, taxonomy, ND2 gene, house gecko, reptiles, northern Western Ghats, systematics

Hemidactylus amarasinghei  

Amarasinghe's house gecko

Amit SAYYED, Ruhal KHOT and Jajaditya PURKAYASTHA. 2025. A New tuberculate House gecko Species (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Hemidactylus) from the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India. Zootaxa. 5583(2); 293-308. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5583.2.4

  facebook.com/amitsayyedsatara/posts/9419646231415354

 facebook.com/thasun/posts/10162869732744407

[Herpetology • 2024] Hylarana nigroverrucosa • Two Distinct Ranid Frog Lineages (Anura: Hylarana) from Halmahera, Northern Moluccas, with the Description of a New Species

 Hylarana nigroverrucosa 

 Wiradarma, Amarasinghe, Farajallah, Widayati, Fouquet, Riyanto, Mulyadi, Trilaksono, Arida & Hamidy, 2024

Black-warty frog  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-23-00062 

 facebook.com/AAThasun  http://www.thasun.info

 Abstract  

We revise the systematics of the ranid frogs of the genus Hylarana occurring on Halmahera Island, Northern Moluccas of eastern Indonesia based on molecular and morphological data. Our results show that two distinct species each being nested within two distinct clades (hereafter papua clade and celebensis clade) exist on the island. One corresponds to H. moluccana (celebensis clade) and the other one to an unnamed species (papua clade) that we describe herein. The new species is genetically distinct from all congeners of the papua clade by p distances ranging from 6.9% to 11.5% on the 16S rRNA gene. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from all congeners by having the following combination of characteristics: A large species with adult males reaching a maximum snout-to-vent length (SVL) 67.3 mm; vomerine teeth in two oblique rows with narrow interodontophore distance; snout rounded dorsally; dorsum with few scattered cone-shaped tubercles that are black with white tips; distinct skin folds (ridges) on the dorsal side of the thigh coinciding with dark brown cross bars; a marbled pattern on the ventral side of thigh and yellowish groin. Here we provide a redescription for H. moluccana based on its lectotype from Ternate. We also provide new occurrence records for H. daemeli, H. volkerjane, and H. arfaki from the western part of mainland Papua. Furthermore, we demonstrated that H. celebensis harbors multiple mtDNA lineages suggestive of cryptic diversity within the celebensis clade. The occurrence of two distinct species from Halmahera calls for further research on the biogeographic history of Hylarana in Northern Moluccas.

KEYWORDS: Halmahera, Hylarana, Northern Moluccas, Papurana, Ranidae

 

 Hylarana nigroverrucosa

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘‘nigroverrucosa’’ is a Latin compound adjective (nigro + verrucosa) ..., which refers to ‘‘black warty’’ on the dorsum, a distinct distinguish character of the species.


Huda Wiradarma, A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Achmad Farajallah, Kanthi A. Widayati, Antoine Fouquet, Awal Riyanto, M. Mulyadi, Wahyu Trilaksono, Evy A. Arida and Amir Hamidy. 2024. Two Distinct Ranid Frog Lineages (Anura: Hylarana) from Halmahera, Northern Moluccas, with the Description of a New Species. Herpetologica. 80(3); 291-303. DOI: doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-23-00062
  facebook.com/AAThasun/posts/1087514499606216
http://www.thasun.info/Discoveries/30-iHylarana-nigroverrucosai.html

[Herpetology • 2022] Taxonomy and Distribution of A Common Arboreal Lizard, Bronchocela jubata Duméril & Bibron, 1837 (Reptilia: Agamidae), with Designation of Its Lectotype from Java, Indonesia

Bronchocela jubata Duméril and Bibron, 1837

in Amarasinghe, Ineich, Riyanto, ... et Supriatna, 2022. 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5150.1.3 

 facebook.com/AAThasun 

 

Abstract

Bronchocela jubata Duméril and Bibron, 1837 is one of the commonest species of the genus, known mostly from Java Island and southern parts of Sumatra. It is rare in Bali and Borneo. The juveniles are often confused with its morphologically similar congener, B. cristatella, which occurs widely throughout the Indonesian Archipelago and Peninsular Malaysia. We examined the morphology of B. jubata based on museum specimens including its two available syntypes, and redescribed the species based on the lectotype designated herein. We highlight the characters of B. jubata with a morphometric comparison to its sympatric congener B. cristatella from Java Island, Indonesia. Based on the current distribution pattern and the apparent threats, we update the conservation status of B. jubata using IUCN Red List Criteria, and propose that it be considered as a species of Least Concern (LC), endemic to the Greater Sundaic Islands.

Keywords: Reptilia, Conservation, endemic, Indonesia, lectotype, morphometric, Java, taxonomy.

Bronchocela jubata Duméril & Bibron, 1837

A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Ivan Ineich, Awal Riyanto, Jakob Hallermann, Noviar Andayani, A. Abinawanto and Jatna Supriatna. 2022. Taxonomy and distribution of a common arboreal lizard, Bronchocela jubata Duméril & Bibron, 1837 (Reptilia: Agamidae), with designation of its lectotype from Java, Indonesia. Zootaxa. 5150(1); 65-82. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5150.1.3

  facebook.com/AAThasun/posts/570663914624613

[Herpetology • 2020] Dendrelaphis wickrorum • A New Species of Dendrelaphis Boulenger, 1890 (Reptilia: Colubridae) from the Wet Zone of Sri Lanka with A Redescription of Dendrelaphis bifrenalis (Boulenger, 1890) and Resurrection of D. effrenis (Werner, 1909)

Dendrelaphis wickrorum

Danushka, Kanishka, Amarasinghe, Vogel & Seneviratne, 2020

 Researchgate.net/publication/341552406 

 

Examination of the Dendrelaphis bifrenalis populations on Sri Lanka showed that there are two populations that are morphologically different from each other. One population is distributed only in the wet zone forests (hereafter treated as wet zone population), while the other population occurs widely in the dry zone and intermediate zones (hereafter dry zone population). The type series of D. bifrenalis consist of 3 specimens from which the specimen representing the dry zone population was chosen as lectotype, and the wet zone population is described here as a new species. It clearly differs from D. bifrenalis by having a shorter snout, orbit diameter 103-114% of eye-nostril length (vs 77-95%), and larger eye, orbit diameter 21-23% of head length (vs 17-20%). Furthermore it differs by having a temporal stripe stopping just beyond the neck (vs continues behind neck), the absence of black transverse dorsolateral bars on the anterior 1/4 th of body (vs prominent), a narrow and pointed snout (vs broad and flat), a divided nasal (vs single), and a ventrolateral stripe continuing up to the tail (vs stopping at the level of the anal plate). This morphological differentiation is supported by the divergence in the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) region separating clearly with the divergence of 1.70±0.35%. Also, here we resurrect D. effrenis (Werner, 1909) as a valid species, and D. sinharajensis as a junior synonym of it. The holotype of D. sinharajensis was chosen as the neotype of D. effrenis to stabilize nomenclature, and to make it an objective synonym. The third and fourth known specimens of this rare species are reported. A key of the species of the genus Dendrelaphis in Sri Lanka is provided.

Key words: Holotype, island biogeography, lectotype, neotype, syntype, systematic, taxonomy.

 

Dendrelaphis wickrorum sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The following combination of characters distinguishes the new species from Dendrelaphis bifrenalis: shorter snout: ED 103–114% of EN (vs 77–95%), larger eye: ED 21–23% of HL (vs 17–20%), presence of a temporal stripe stopping just beyond the neck (vs continues behind neck), absence of black transverse dorsolateral bars on the anterior 1/4th of body (vs prominent), presence of a ventro-lateral stripe continuing up to the tail (vs stopping at the level of anal plate) and narrowand pointed snout (vs broad and flat). Furthermore a divided nasal (vs single) distinguishes the new species; the differences are shown in Figs. 8 & 9, and summarized inTables 6 & 7.

 

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in the genitive case, honoring Mr. L.J. Mendis Wickramasinghe and his wife Mrs. Nethu Wickramasinghe for their remarkable contributions to the field of herpetology in Sri Lanka. Especially, Mendis Wickramasinghe’s enormous effort in popularizing snake conservation among the general public is highly commendable. We shorten their modern name to the stem “Wickr” and formed in case of plura ladding the suffix [-orum].

Suggested vernacular names are වික්‍රමසිංහලාගේ හාල්දණ්ඩා and Wickramasinghes’ Bronze-back in Sinhala and English respectively.

A. Dineth Danushka, A. Suneth Kanishka, A. A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Gernot Vogel and Sampath S. Seneviratne. 2020. A New Species of Dendrelaphis Boulenger, 1890 (Reptilia: Colubridae) from the Wet Zone of Sri Lanka with A Redescription of Dendrelaphis bifrenalis (Boulenger, 1890). TAPROBANICA. 9(1); 83-102. 

http://file.taprobanica.org/10_dendrelpahis_wickrorum_taprobanica_9_1_2020_83_102-3051a-3349_578.pdf

Researchgate.net/publication/341552406_A_NEW_SPECIES_OF_Dendrelaphis_BOULENGER_1890_REPTILIA_COLUBRIDAE_FROM_THE_WET_ZONE_OF_SRI_LANKA

 news.mongabay.com/2020/06/a-sri-lankan-herp-mystery-solved-the-snake-species-that-was-two/

 

[Herpetology • 2022] Cyrtodactylus vedda • The Hidden Diversity and Inland Radiation of Sri Lanka’s Ground-dwelling Geckos of the Genus Cyrtodactylus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae)

Cyrtodactylus vedda

 Amarasinghe, Karunarathna, Campbell, Gayan, Ranasinghe, De Silva & Mirza, 2022

DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2022.2039319

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Abstract

The genus Cyrtodactylus has recently been classified phylogenetically into several clades, subclades, groups, and some into Sri Lankan Cyrtodactylus. Certain complexes from the Indian subcontinent have been assigned to the “C. triedrus group”. This group is comprised of medium-sized species (SVL 50.6–105.7 mm) and are composed of five major species complexes: fraenatus, triedrus, deccanensis, jeyporensis, and collegalensis. Among these complexes, the latter four are composed of ground and litter dwelling species, which were previously assigned to the genus Geckoella; and is currently being treated as a subgenus. Cyrtodactylus triedrus, an endemic species of Sri Lanka, has long been considered a widely distributed single species in this part of the world. Based on morphological and phylogenetic evidences, we demonstrate that C. (G.) triedrus is not a single species, but a species complex. We also describe a new species that is restricted to intermediate savanna-mixed dry lowland forested habitats. Furthermore, we resurrect Geckoella punctata, assign it to the genus Cyrtodactylus and designate a lectotype that we redescribe. The genetic divergence across species of the C. triedrus clade varies between 11–26% in the studied fragment of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene. The molecular phylogeny of the ground dwelling radiation of the subgenus Geckoella indicates deep splits between the Indian species and Sri Lankan endemic C. (G.) triedrus sensu stricto, and between Indian dry and wet zone clades. Cyrtodactylus (G.). triedrus is restricted to the moist or submontane forests in the Central highlands of Sri Lanka and is redescribed herein based on its holotype.

 

Key words: biogeography, cryptic species, Geckoella, island, new species, phylogeny, systematics

Cyrtodactylus vedda

A. A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Suranjan Karunarathna, Patrick D. Campbell, A. K. Anusha Gayan, W. D. Bhanuka Ranasinghe, Anslem De Silva and Zeeshan A. Mirza. 2022. The Hidden Diversity and Inland Radiation of Sri Lanka’s Ground-dwelling Geckos of the Genus Cyrtodactylus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae). Systematics and Biodiversity. 20(1); 1-25 | Published online: 29 Mar 2022

DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2022.2039319

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වැදි-බිම්හූනා "වකනිය හූනන්"

ඒ හූනන් විශේෂය සඳහා අපි නමක් ලබා දුන්නා Cyrtodactylus vedda කියල. ඒ අපේ මුතුන් මිත්තන් වන වැදි ජනතාවට කරන ගරු කිරීමක් විදියට. විශේෂයෙන්ම ගල්වැද්දන්ගෙ පරම්පරාවෙන් පැවතෙන නිල්ගල වැදි ජනතාවට අවධානයක් ලබාදීමට. ඒ නිසා මේ හූනන් විශේෂය වැදි-බිම්හූනා කියල සිංහලෙන් හඳුන්වන්න පුළුවන්. 

   

[Herpetology • 2022] Taxonomy, Distribution, and Conservation Status of A Rare Arboreal Lizard, Bronchocela hayeki (Müller, 1928) (Reptilia: Agamidae) from northern Sumatra, Indonesia

Bronchocela hayeki (Müller, 1928) 

in Amarasinghe, Kamsi, Riyanto, et al., 2022. 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5120.3.7 

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Abstract

Bronchocela hayeki (Müller, 1928) is one of the rarest species of the genus, known only from a handful of museum specimens from five locations in North Sumatra, and often confused with its similar congener, B. cristatella, which occurs widely throughout the Indonesian Archipelago and Peninsular Malaysia. Here, we examined the morphology of B. hayeki based on museum specimens, and redescribe the species based on a freshly collected series near the type locality, as the condition of its neotype is not in a good state. We studied the characters of B. hayeki with a morphometric comparison to its sympatric congener B. cristatella and allopatric congener, B. jubata from Sumatra Island, Indonesia. Based on the current distribution pattern and the apparent threats, we update the conservation status of B. hayeki using IUCN Red List Criteria and propose that it be considered as an Endangered (EN) species endemic of northern Sumatra including Aceh. We also provide a key to the recognized Bronchocela species, based on examined material and literature.

Keywords: Reptilia, Conservation, Endemic, Indonesia, morphometric characters, Sumatra

Bronchocela hayeki (Müller, 1928) 

 

A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Mistar Kamsi, Awal Riyanto, Chairunas A. Putra, Jakob Hallermann, Noviar Andayani, A. Abinawanto and Jatna Supriatna. 2022. Taxonomy, Distribution, and Conservation Status of A Rare Arboreal Lizard, Bronchocela hayeki (Müller, 1928) (Reptilia: Agamidae) from northern Sumatra, Indonesia. Zootaxa. 5120(3); 409-422. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5120.3.7

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[Herpetology • 2022] The Delusion of Stripes: A Century-old Mystery of Five-lined Sun Skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae: Eutropis) of Peninsular India elucidated

(A) Eutropis beddomei (Jerdon, 1870);

(B) E. vertebralis (Boulenger 1887) [formerly E. trivittata];

(C) E. nagarjunensis (Sharma 1969);

(E) E. trivittata (Hardwicke & Gray 1827) [formerly E. dissimilis]

in Amarasinghe, Ganesh, Mirza, Campbell, ... et Supriatna, 2022.

 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2021.11.004 

 Illustration: A.A.T. Amarasinghe. facebook.com/Thasun 

Abstract

We re-evaluate the taxonomic identities of five-lined skinks of the genus Eutropis (E. trivittata, E. beddomei, E. nagarjunensis, and E. bibronii) inhabiting the Indian subcontinent. Previously it has been considered that E. trivittata is distributed in the western India and E. dissimilis in the northern India (from north-eastern India up to Pakistan). Based on our analysis, we revealed that the illustration (iconotype) of the untraceable type specimen of E. trivittata depicted by Hardwicke in Gray (1834) from “Dumdum” near Kolkata, West Bengal matches the typical E. dissimilis, also described from “Bengal”. The senior synonym, E. trivittata is a morphologically unique species, which is also supported by divergence in the mitochondrial 12S and 16S regions. E. trivittata is clearly separated with divergences of 5–7% from E. beddomei, E. vertebralis and E. nagarjunensis for 16S rRNA. After placing E. dissimilis with the synonymy of E. trivittata, the taxonomic status of the western Indian ‘E. trivittata’ required to be clarified. Therefore, we resurrect Mabuia vertebralis Boulenger, 1887, a junior synonym of western Indian E. trivittata, and redescribe its holotype collected from “Belgaum”, Karnataka. Although, morphologically closest to E. beddomei, Eutropis vertebralis comb. nov. is a sister taxon to E. nagarjunensis with divergence of 4% in the same mitochondrial regions. Based on our update of the currently confirmed localities for E. vertebralis comb. nov. and E. trivittata, we conducted a Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) using the Maximum Entropy algorithm to predict their distribution range, and we discuss their conservation status.

Keywords: Holotype, Iconotype, Morphometric, Neotype, Resurrection, Synonymy, Systematics

 Dorsolateral and lateral stripes (A1–E1); vertebral and dorsolateral stripes (A2–E2) and body colouration of

Eutropis beddomei group [(A) Eutropis beddomei, (B) E. vertebralis [formerly E. trivittata], and (C) E. nagarjunensis)]; 
 (D) E. bibronii; and (E) E. trivittata [formerly E. dissimilis] 

 Illustration: A.A.T. Amarasinghe.

 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2021.11.004 

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Eutropis vertebralis (Boulenger 1887a) comb. nov.

Eutropis trivittata (Hardwicke & Gray 1827).

Conclusion: 

The five-lined Eutropis in Indian Peninsula are composed of four species: E. beddomei, E. vertebralis, E. bibronii, and E. nagarjunensis. Although, these four species are morphologically similar, E. bibronii is an evolutionary divergent species from the rest of three. After placing E. dissimilis in the synonymy of E. trivittata and resurrecting E. vertebralis from the synonymy of E. trivittata, the populations previously treated as (i) E. dissimilis must be assigned as E. trivittata, and (ii) E. trivittata must be assigned as E. vertebralis. Our study also shows the influence of distribution modeling and its narrow correspondence with species delimitation. We further suggest that whenever possible, such modeling should be associated in integrative studies describing new taxa or revisions of species clades. The conservation status of E. trivittata will remain as Least Concern (LC) while E. vertebralis can be treated as a Vulnerable (VU) species.

    

 

A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe, S.R. Ganesh, Zeeshan A. Mirza, Patrick D. Campbell, Olivier S.G. Pauwels, Silke Schweiger, Alexander Kupfer, Harshil Patel, Suranjan Karunarathna, Kaushik Deuti, Ivan Ineich, Jakob Hallermann, A. Abinawanto and Jatna Supriatna. 2022. The Delusion of Stripes: A Century-old Mystery of Five-lined Sun Skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae: Eutropis) of Peninsular India elucidated. Zoologischer Anzeiger. 296; 71-90. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2021.11.004

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Researchgate.net/publication/356780271_The_delusion_of_stripes_A_century-old_mystery_of_five-lined_sun_skinks_Eutropis_of_Peninsular_India_elucidated

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