[Herpetology • 2024] Teretrurus albiventer, T. agumbensis, etc. • Phylogenetic Systematics of the Shieldtail Snake Genus Teretrurus Beddome, 1886 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) reveals extensive Cryptic Diversity and Novel Geographic Spread in the Western Ghats of India

Teretrurus albiventer,  
Teretrurus siruvaniensis &
Teretrurus agumbensis

Cyriac, Ganesh, Madani, Ghosh, Kulkarni & Shanker, 2024

DOI: 10.18061/bssb.v3i2.9630 

Researchgate.net/publication/383343027

Abstract  

The genus Tereturus is a small and poorly studied group of uropeltid snakes, known from only a few localities in the Western Ghats of southwest India. Recent taxonomic reviews as well as phylogenetic reconstructions have suggested the presence of cryptic diversity within Teretrurus. Here, based on additional collections from previously unsampled regions of the Western Ghats, we expand the geographic range of the genus significantly northwards by ca. 300 km and evaluate species limits between populations. While morphometric analyses indicate that the four currently known species occupy distinct morphospaces, there was no significant difference in the morphospace between the new populations sampled in this study and the four known species. However, phylogenetic species delimitation using multiple methods consistently indicated greater diversity within Teretrurus than currently known. Based on these results, we further describe four of these lineages as Teretrurus albiventer sp. nov. from Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Teretrurus siruvaniensis sp. nov. from Siruvani Hills, Teretrurus periyarensis sp. nov. from the Periyar plateau and Teretrurus agumbensis sp. nov. from Agumbe. The four new lineages can be distinguished by their phylogenetic position, geography and a combination of diagnostic characters. The discovery of these four species further highlights the extensive hidden diversity among fossorial taxa and the role of extensive sampling in uncovering the true diversity within uropeltid snakes.

Keywords: Hidden diversity, allopatry, range-restricted, morphometry, species delimitation

Teretrurus albiventer sp. nov. from Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, 

Teretrurus siruvaniensis sp. nov. from Siruvani Hills, 

Teretrurus periyarensis sp. nov. from the Periyar plateau 

Teretrurus agumbensis sp. nov. from Agumbe.

Vivek P. Cyriac, S.R. Ganesh, Zeba Madani, Avrajjal Ghosh, Vidisha Kulkarni, Kartik Shanker. 2024. Phylogenetic Systematics of the Shieldtail Snake Genus Teretrurus Beddome, 1886 (Squamata, Uropeltidae) Reveals Extensive Cryptic Diversity and Novel Geographic Spread in the Western Ghats of India. Bulletin of the Society of Systematic Biologists. 3(2); DOI: doi.org/10.18061/bssb.v3i2.9630

 Researchgate.net/publication/383343027_Phylogenetic_Systematics_of_Teretrurus_Cryptic_Diversity_Western_Ghats_of_India

[Herpetology • 2024] Uropeltis caudomaculata • A New Species of Uropeltis Cuvier, 1829 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the eastern escarpment of the southern Western Ghats, India

Uropeltis caudomaculata

Gower, Das, Deepak, Gerard & Narayanan, 2024

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5477.3.4 

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Abstract

A new species of the uropeltid (‘shieldtail’) snake genus Uropeltis is described based on eight specimens from the southern part of peninsular India’s Western Ghats. Uropeltis caudomaculata sp. nov. is phenotypically and genetically most similar to U. pulneyensis (Beddome, 1863), but differs primarily in having more ventral scales and in being restricted to the eastern escarpment of the Western Ghats between Meghamalai and approximately 15 km East of Munnar rather than in the Palani Hills, as well as differing in DNA nucleotide sequences. From verified records, we consider U. pulneyensis to be known thus far only from the Palani Hills, and we designate a lectotype for the species. Reconsideration of the holotype of Silybura guentheri Beddome, 1878 from Meghamalai leads us to conclude that it should be removed from the subjective junior synonymy of U. pulneyensis and be considered a distinct though very poorly known species, Uropeltis guentheri comb. nov.

Reptilia, shieldtail, snake, Silybura guentheri, taxonomy, Uropeltis pulneyensis

 

Uropeltis caudomaculata sp. nov. 

David J. Gower, Sandeep Das, V. Deepak, Jason D. Gerard and Surya Narayanan. 2024. A New Species of Uropeltis Cuvier, 1829 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the eastern escarpment of the southern Western Ghats, India.  Zootaxa. 5477(3); 333-357. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5477.3.4

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[Herpetology • 2024] Rhinophis martin & R. dinarzardae • Two New Species of the Shieldtail Snake Genus Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae), from the Rakwana and the Knuckles Massifs of Sri Lanka

Rhinophis martin

Gower, Sampaio, Vidanapathirana & Wickramasinghe, 2024

 

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.5458.3.2 

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Abstract

Two new species of the uropeltid snake genus Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 are described from Sri Lanka. Rhinophis martin sp. nov. is described from 11 type specimens from the Rakwana Massif, and another 22 specimens from the same region are referred to this new species. Rhinophis dinarzardae sp. nov. is described from eight type specimens from the Knuckles Massif, and another 64 specimens from the Knuckles and adjacent hills are referred to this new species. Rhinophis martin sp. nov. has apparently not been reported previously under any scientific name, but is distinct in scalation, colour pattern and DNA. Rhinophis dinarzardae sp. nov. has long-been confused with the superficially similar R. philippinus, from which it differs by having more ventral scales, by occurring in the northern part of the Knuckles Massif and adjacent hills to the West rather than in the Central Highlands upland region (and possibly areas to the South and West) of Sri Lanka, and in DNA sequence data. The new descriptions take the inventory of currently recognised, named uropeltid species in Sri Lanka to 20, all members of the genus Rhinophis.

 Reptilia, Herpetology, new species, Rhinophis philippinus, systematics, taxonomy.

David J. Gower, Filipa L. Sampaio, Dulan Ranga Vidanapathirana and L. J. Mendis Wickramasinghe. 2024. Two New Species of the Shieldtail Snake Genus Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae), from the Rakwana and the Knuckles Massifs of Sri Lanka.  Zootaxa. 458(3); 332-360. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.5458.3.2  

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[Herpetology • 2020] Rhinophis karinthandani • A New Indian Species of Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 closely related to R. sanguineus Beddome, 1863 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the Western Ghats of peninsular India

 Rhinophis karinthandani

Sampaio, Narayanan, Cyriac, Venu & Gower, 2020

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4881.1.1

Abstract

A new species of the uropeltid (shieldtail snake) genus Rhinophis is described based on a type series of seven specimens from the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats of peninsular India. The holotype was collected before 1880 but had been misidentified as the phenotypically similar and parapatric (possibly partly sympatric) R. sanguineus. Rhinophis karinthandani sp. nov. is diagnosed by a combination of 15 dorsal scale rows at midbody, 4–8 pairs of subcaudal scales, colour pattern (uniformly dark above, whitish below with extensive dark mottling), and by its distinct mitochondrial DNA sequences (e.g. >7.6% uncorrected p-distance for nd4). Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequence data indicates that the new species is most closely related to R. sanguineus among currently recognised species, with this pair most closely related to the partly sympatric R. melanoleucus. The new species description brings the number of currently recognised species in the genus to 24, six of which are endemic to India and 18 endemic to Sri Lanka. A new key to the identification of Indian species of Rhinophis is provided.

Keywords: identification key, Rhinophis microlepis, shieldtail, snakes, Wayanad, Western Ghats, Reptilia

 Photographs of live Rhinophis karinthandani sp. nov. (A–D) and R. sanguineus (E–F).
A, B. dorsal and ventral views of BNHS 3541;
C, D. dorsal and ventral views of BNHS 3542;
E, F. dorsal and ventral views of VPRS0918093.

 Rhinophis karinthandani sp. nov.

 

 Chresonymy: Rhinophis sanguineus Beddome, 1863: 

Cyriac et al. 2020, in part (see Appendix 1)

Diagnosis. Rhinophis karinthandani sp. nov. differs from all other species of Rhinophis except R. fergusonianus Boulenger, 1896, R. melanoleucus, and R. sanguineus in having 15 dorsal scale rows at (or just behind) midbody (versus 17 or 19 in other congeners). Rhinophis karinthandani sp. nov. differs from R. fergusonianus and R. melanoleucus in having a reduction from 17 to 15 dorsal scale rows that occurs anterior to the 80th ventral (versus posterior to the 90th ventral in R. fergusonianus and posterior to the 99th ventral in R. melanoleucus: Cyriac et al. 2020), and in having dark spots or speckles ventrally (versus dark blotches). Rhinophis karinthandani sp. nov. differs from R. melanoleucus also in having fewer ventrals (< 206 versus > 217) and fewer subcaudals (in males: 4–5 versus 6–7). The new species is most similar superficially to the parapatric (possibly partly sympatric) R. sanguineus, but the two species can be distinguished on the basis of the former having fewer subcaudals (left-right means of 4–5 in females and 6.5–8 in males versus 5–7 and 8.5–10.5, respectively), having a reduction from 19 to 17 dorsal scale rows that occurs anterior to the 34th ventral (mean 28th ventral [n = 18 sides]; versus posterior to the 26th ventral, mean 34 [n = 28]) and a reduction from 17 to 15 dorsal scale rows that occurs anteriorly to the 78th ventral (mean 68th ventral [n = 18 sides]; versus posterior to the 67th ventral, mean 79th [n = 28]) (Appendix 4; Cyriac et al. 2020), in mitochondrial DNA sequences (e.g. >7.6% uncorrected p-distance for nd4: Table 1), and in colour pattern. In terms of colour pattern, both species have a dark dorsum and generally pale venter, but R. karinthandani sp. nov. has an extensively darkly mottled or speckled or spotted venter, except for a narrow (approximately one scale wide, generally across second and third and/or third and fourth dorsal scale rows), longitudinal, ventrolateral pale line along each side, immediately below the dark dorsum (and sometimes other, subparallel pale lines further ventrally), whereas R. sanguineus has a less mottled venter with the paler colour below the darker dorsum being much more extensive than a narrow regular line. In life, the paler venter of R. karinthandani sp. nov. is whitish (to pale pinkish more anteriorly), but in R. sanguineus is a vivid red (paler in smaller specimens, see Discussion). The colour pattern differences in preservation hold well for almost all specimens we have identified, although in R. sanguineus specimen VPRS0918093, many of the mostly pale scales in the broad pale areas below the darker dorsum have small blackish dots. At least in life, the dorsal colour of R. sanguineus appears to be darker, more blackish than in R. karinthandani sp. nov. Photographs of the type specimens of R. sanguineus and its junior synonym R. microlepis are presented in Figs. 4 and 5.

BNHS paratypes of Rhinophis karinthandani sp. nov. Heads and tails shown in (from left to right) dorsal, ventral, right lateral and left lateral views.
A. BNHS 3540; B. BNHS 3542; C. BNHS 3544; D. BNHS 3545; E. BNHS 3546.

Scale bars 10 mm.

Etymology. The species is named in honour of Karinthandan, a member of the Paniya (also Paniyar, Paniyan) tribe indigenous primarily to the tri-state region of Kerala-Karnataka-Tamil Nadu. Karinthandan is believed to have been a chieftain (= moopan) who was murdered in the 1700s by colonial British after he showed them the Thamarassery churam mountain pass between the Adivaram (foothills) and Wayanad plateau. Legend has it that Karinthandan’s spirit is today chained to a banyan tree at Lakkidi (a paratype locality of the new species), which has become a place of worship. In addition, Karinthandan in Malayalam is from “kari” meaning black and “thandan” (thandu) meaning stem or backbone, which also seems appropriate given the blackish dorsal colour of the newly described species. For nomenclatural purposes, the species epithet is considered a noun in apposition. 

 

 Filipa L. Sampaio, Surya Narayanan, Vivek P. Cyriac, Govindappa Venu and David J. Gower. 2020. A New Indian Species of Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 closely related to R. sanguineus Beddome, 1863 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae). Zootaxa. 4881(1); 1–24. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4881.1.1

     

[Herpetology • 2020] Rhinophis melanoleucus • A New Species of Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the Wayanad Region of peninsular India

Rhinophis melanoleucus 

Cyriac, Narayanan, Sampaio, Umesh & Gowe, 2020

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4778.2.5

Photograph by Surya Narayanan.

Abstract

A new species of the shieldtail snake genus Rhinophis is described based on a type series of seven recently collected specimens from the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats of peninsular India. Rhinophis melanoleucus sp. nov. is diagnosed based on a combination of 15 dorsal scale rows at (or just behind) midbody, more than 215 ventral scales and a long rostral. The new species also has a distinctive (mostly black and white) colouration. A new key to the identification of Indian species of Rhinophis is provided.

Keywords: Serpentes, identification key, shieldtail, snakes, taxonomy, Western Ghats

 Holotype (BNHS 3534: total preserved length 461 mm) of Rhinophis melanoleucus sp. nov. in life.

Photograph by Surya Narayanan.
 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4778.2.5

Rhinophis melanoleucus sp. nov. 

Diagnosis. Rhinophis melanoleucus sp. nov. differs from all other species of Rhinophis except R. sanguineus and R. fergusonianus in having 15 dorsal scale rows at (or just behind) midbody (versus 17 or 19 in other congeners). Rhinophis melanoleucus sp. nov. differs from R. fergusonianus in having > 215 ventrals (known range 218–236) versus 195 in the only known specimen of R. fergusonianus. Rhinophis melanoleucus sp. nov. differs from R. sanguineus in having more ventral scales (218–236 versus 181–214 in specimens examined here – see Discussion for comment on Wall’s 1919 report of ventral counts in R. sanguineus of up to 218), in having dark blotches (versus spots) on the ventral surface, and in having a proportionately longer rostral shield: 40.8–42.9% (n = 7; mean 42.0%) versus 32–39.3% (n = 17; mean 36.9%) of head length (= distance between snout tip and posterior edge of fourth supralabial). Only a single nomen is currently considered a synonym of any Indian Rhinophis species—R. microlepis Beddome, 1863 is a subjective junior synonym of R. sanguineus (e.g. Beddome 1886, Smith 1943, Gans 1966, McDiarmid et al. 1999, Pyron et al. 2016). The holotype of R. microlepis differs from the type series of the new species in having a mottled or speckled rather than blotched venter, in having fewer than 218 ventrals (214), and in having a shorter rostral shield (35.8% of head length versus 41% or more).

Etymology. From the Ancient Greek mélas (black) and leukós (white), in reference to the unusual (for uropeltids) black and white colouration. For nomenclatural purposes, the species name melanoleucus is a noun in the genitive case.

Distribution, habitat, natural history and conservation status. Rhinophis melanoleucus sp. nov. is known only from the vicinity of Lakkidi in the Wayanad District of Kerala state, at approximately 750–850 m elevation in the evergreen hills of the Western Ghats. The habitat in the vicinity of the type locality is shown in Fig. 7. We suspect that the new species has a larger distribution, at least in the Wayanad region, but it is not widespread and/or frequently encountered enough to have been previously collected or reported. The new species is likely to qualify for Data Deficient status under IUCN Red List criteria, at least until new field surveys are undertaken and/or additional specimens from other localities can be found in other collections. 

The holotype was found at 08:00, moving on the surface of a forest track alongside a stream and close to an adjacent tea plantation. Paratypes BNHS 3537 and BNHS 3538 were found at 15:00 and 09:00, respectively, the former dead on a paved road, and the latter on the ground surface in an abandoned coffee plantation. Referred specimen BNHS 3539 was dug from a depth of approximately 0.5 m during excavations for a road extension in mid-elevation wet-evergreen forest (rainfall approximately 5,000 mm per year) with trees including Cinnamomum malabatrum (Burm. f.) J.Presl, Meliosma simplicifolia (Roxb.), Actinodaphne malabarica Balakr. and Elaeocarpus tuberculatus Roxb. in addition to farmed coffee. Paratypes ZSI/WGRC/IR/V/3100 and ZSI/WGRC/IR/V/3101 were found at approximately 07.00 and 18.30 respectively, moving among grass on the side of a tarred road inside the Veterinary and Animal Sciences University campus, Pookode. Paratypes BNHS 3535 and BNHS 3536 were found dead on a tarred road between 07.00 and 08.00. 

In a few days of temporary captivity, BNHS 3538 refused to feed on live earthworms provided. When handled, none of the individuals in the type series attempted to bite. They showed an inclination to burrow in soil and in the hand. At the localities reported here, Rhinophis melanoleucus sp. nov. occurs broadly sympatrically (within a radius of ca. 15 km) with other uropeltids including at least i. sanguineus, Uropeltis cf. nilgherriensis, Teretrurus hewstoni, Melanophidium bilineatum and M. wynaudense.

 Vivek P. Cyriac, Surya Narayanan, Filipa L. Sampaio, Pavukandy Umesh and David J. Gower. 2020. A New Species of Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the Wayanad Region of peninsular India. Zootaxa. 4778(2); 329–342. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4778.2.5

[Herpetology • 2020] Uropeltis rajendrani • A New Species of Shieldtail Snake (Squamata: Uropeltidae) from Kolli Hill complex, southern Eastern Ghats, peninsular India

Uropeltis rajendrani  

Ganesh & Achyuthan, 2020

Rajendran’s Shieldtail Snake || DOI: 10.11609/jott.5680.12.4.15436-15442 

Abstract

 We describe a new species of shieldtail (uropeltid) snake, Uropeltis rajendrani sp. nov., from the Kolli Hill complex of the southern Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu, India.  The new species belongs to the U. ceylanica group and is differentiated from related species in having 16–17:16–17:15–16 dorsal scale rows; 145–158 ventral scales; 8–11 pairs of subcaudals; dorsum uniform brown, anteriorly powdered with yellow mottling; venter brown, scales outlined with yellow.  This endemic species with a restricted range is known only from atop Kolli Hill complex, inhabiting higher elevation (> 900m) evergreen forests, where it is the only known member of this genus.

Keywords: Allopatric species, endemism, isolated massif, Uropeltis rajendrani sp. nov., Western Ghats.

 Live uncollected topotypes (adult and juvenile) – the Kolli Hill complex, southern Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu. 

photos: S.R. Ganesh.

Uropeltis rajendrani sp. nov.

Uropeltis cf. ceylanica (nec Cuvier, 1829) – Ganesh & Arumugam 2016

Etymology: Named in honour of Dr. Maria Viswasam Rajendran (2 Nov 1916–6 Aug 1993), ‘MVR’ for short, for his exhaustive studies on shieldtail snakes in Tamil Nadu, next only to Richard Henry Beddome and Frank Wall. Not only was he a professor of zoology at the St. Joseph’s College Palayamkottai (Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu) but also the director of the Madras (now Chennai) Snake Park (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) during the early 1980s.

Common name: Rajendran’s Shieldtail Snake.

Type locality: Bodhamalai Hills near Salem and Namakkal District border, overlooking Panamarathupatti Town (...; 1,070m), Tamil Nadu State, peninsular India. 

Diagnosis: A species of Uropeltis from the Kolli Hill complex, characterized by having the following combination of characters: (1) caudal shield truncate, with a distinct thickened circumscribed concave disc; (2) part of rostral visible from above not distinctly longer than its distance from frontal; (3) rostral scale partially separating nasal scales; (4) snout obtusely rounded; (5) eye diameter 3/4th that of ocular shield; (6) dorsal scale rows 16–17:16–17:15–16; (7) ventral scales 145–158; (8) subcaudal scales 8–11 pairs; (9) dorsum deep brown, unpatterned, anteriorly with a few yellow speckles; (10) venter yellow, each scale edged with brown.  

   

S.R. Ganesh and N.S. Achyuthan. 2020. A New Species of Shieldtail Snake (Reptilia: Squamata: Uropeltidae) from Kolli Hill complex, southern Eastern Ghats, peninsular India. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 12(4); 15436–15442. DOI: 10.11609/jott.5680.12.4.15436-15442 

 twitter.com/Threatened_Taxa/status/1243385068199927810

[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