[Herpetology • 2026] Mesalina bishnoi • A Novel Species of Mesalina Gray, 1838 (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Rajasthan, India

 

Mesalina bishnoi

Ray, Khandal, Sharma, Das, Roy, Girija Sethy & Mohapatra, 2026

 

https://recordsofzsi.com/index.php/zsoi 

Abstract

We describe a new species of the genus Mesalina from Rajasthan, India. The new species is genetically distinct and belongs to the M. watsonana species complex, and differs from all other congeners in a combination of morphological characters, such as 10 upper labials; eight lower labials; two large transparent shields of lower eyelid accompanied with three smaller shields; scales on tibia keeled; ventral plates in eight straight longitudinal series, ventral plates in 30 transverse rows; 34 dorsal granular scales across middle of back; nine collars; five submaxillaries; 24 gulars; four supraoculars; 6-7 supraciliaries; one very large preanal shield surrounded above and at the sides by two rows of smaller scales; 14 femoral pores on each side of the thigh, narrowly separated by 2 scales; 21 lamellae under fourth toe.

Keywords: Desert biogeographic zone, long-tailed, morphology, phylogeny, taxonomy

Mesalina bishnoi sp. nov.
(A–C) holotype (ZSI-R-29523) (in life),
(D) habitat in the type locality.

Mesalina bishnoi sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet bishnoi (noun in apposition) honours the Bishnoi community of Rajasthan, India, an indigenous socio-ecological group renowned for their long-standing traditions of biodiversity conservation and sustainable coexistence with wildlife. Bishnoi cultural tenets, grounded in a deep reverence for nature, have contributed to the protection of numerous desert species and ecosystems in the Thar Desert since the 15th century. By naming this species Mesalina bishnoi, we recognise and celebrate the enduring environmental stewardship of the Bishnoi people and their contribution to the preservation of arid-zone herpetofauna. 

 

  Sumidh Ray, Dharmendra Khandal, Vivek Sharma, Anirban Das, Priyanjoli Roy, Priyadarsi Girija Sankar Sethy, Pratyush P. Mohapatra. 2026. Description of A Novel Species of Mesalina Gray, 1838 (Reptilia: Sauria: Lacertidae) from Rajasthan, India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India. 126(2); 141-151. DOI: 10.26515/rzsi/v126/i2/2026/173143 

https://recordsofzsi.com/index.php/zsoi/article/view/173143

  https://x.com/dharmkhandal/status/2060010700089483475

[Herpetology • 2025] Hemidactylus kalinga • A New Species of Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Northern Eastern Ghats, Odisha, India

 

 Hemidactylus kalinga

Mohapatra, Ray, Das, Bhupathi, Sarkar, Mohalik, Nair & Dutta, 2025 

Kalinga rock gecko | DOI: doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.38.e175753

Abstract

We describe a new species of large-bodied, rock-dwelling gecko of the genus Hemidactylus from the Eastern Ghats of Odisha, India. The new species is genetically distinct, as already indicated in previous studies, and differs from all other congeners in a combination of morphological characters, such as dorsal scalation of small granules intermixed with large, pointed, trihedral tubercles that form 15–19 fairly regularly arranged longitudinal rows at midbody; 9–11 subdigital lamellae below the first and 12–14 below the fourth digit; 22–26 femoral pores separated by five poreless scales in males; and 11–13 supralabials and 9–11 infralabials. The new species is from the Eastern Ghats clade of large-bodied, tuberculated Hemidactylus and can be readily diagnosed morphologically from the two sister species, H. sushilduttai and H. kangerensis, in having characters such as the second postmental distinct and ~70% of the first postmental; the first postmental touching infralabial I and the second postmental touching infralabials I and II; and one post-cloacal spur on each side. The new species is distributed in the northern Eastern Ghats range of Odisha, inhabiting moist and dry deciduous forests and rock boulders and occasionally entering human habitations.

Key Words: Deccan Peninsula, Eastern Highlands, Hemidactylus kangerensis, Hemidactylus sushilduttai, morphology, taxonomy

Live uncollected specimen of Hemidactylus kalinga sp. nov.
A. Juveniles showing variant colouration; B. An individual preying on Gryllotalpa africana.

 Hemidactylus kalinga sp. nov.

Diagnosis. A large-sized and tuberculated Hemidactylus, SVL up to 105.4 mm (n = 6). Dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous, composed of subcircular granular scales intermixed with enlarged, fairly regularly arranged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles in 15–19 longitudinal rows, extending from occiput to tail base, that are heterogeneous in shape and size; enlarged tubercles on the two most medial parasagittal rows smaller, 27–30 tubercles in paravertebral rows; those on dorsolateral aspect of flank largest, gradually decreasing in size downwards, last two rows on flank marginally larger or equal to medial parasagittal rows, weakly keeled. Ventrolateral folds indistinct; about 32–35 scale rows across the belly. Digits with enlarged scansors, lamellae in straight transverse series, all divided except the apical and 1–3 basal lamellae, 9–12 lamellae beneath first digit and 12–14 beneath fourth digit of manus and pes. Males with 22–26 femoral pores on each side separated by five poreless scales. Tail with much enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles forming whorls; median row of subcaudal plates large, covering almost entire portion of the tail; single postcloacal spur of unequal size on each side that are smooth and much smaller than dorsal tubercles at mid-body. Dorsal coloration rusty-brown with four transversely arranged light bands, edged with black or dark brown, between the occiput and sacrum; head lighter than body in life, with a narrow lighted collar edged by dark brown that is continuous with the post-ocular marking.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a toponym for the Kalinga Ghati, the Eastern Ghats hill ranges in the Kandhamal District of Odisha, and the type locality of the species. Furthermore, the present known distribution range of the species is within the historical “Kalinga Kingdom”, comprising present-day south Odisha. The specific name is a noun in apposition to the generic name.

Suggested common English name. Kalinga rock gecko.

 Pratyush P. Mohapatra, Sumidh Ray, Ashis K. Das, Bharath Bhupathi, Vivek Sarkar, Rakesh K. Mohalik, Manoj V. Nair and Sushil K. Dutta. 2025. A New Species of Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from the Northern Eastern Ghats, Odisha, India. Herpetozoa. 38: 365-378. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.38.e175753 [01-12-2025]