@article {67822, title = {A new genus and species of natricine snake from northeast India.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4603}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 May 09}, pages = {zootaxa.4603.2.2}, abstract = {

Based on the first molecular phylogenetic analyses of samples from northeast India, specimens referred to Rhabdops from this region are more closely related to the southeast and east Asian natricine genera Opisthotropis G{\"u}nther, 1872 and Sinonatrix Rossman Eberle, 1977 (as well as to New World and western Palearctic natricines) than to peninsular Indian (true) Rhabdops. Morphologically, these northeast Indian populations differ from other natricines by having a single ({\textquoteright}fused{\textquoteright} or unpaired) internasal shield and a single prefrontal shield. Given the morphological and phylogenetic distinctiveness of these northeast Indian populations, we refer them to a new genus, Smithophis gen. nov., and transfer Rhabdops bicolor (Blyth, 1854) to Smithophis bicolor comb. nov. Based on morphological and molecular variation within our northeast Indian sample, we additionally describe Smithophis atemporalis sp. nov. from the state of Mizoram.

}, issn = {1175-5334}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4603.2.2}, author = {Giri, Varad B and Gower, David J and Das, Abhijit and Lalremsanga, H T and Lalronunga, Samuel and Captain, Ashok and Deepak, V} } @article {67827, title = {On the systematic status of the genus Oriocalotes G{\"u}nther, 1864~(Squamata: Agamidae: Draconinae) with the description of a new species from Mizoram state, Northeast India.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4638}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 Jul 18}, pages = {zootaxa.4638.4.1}, abstract = {

The montane agamid lizard genus Oriocalotes is currently considered monotypic, represented by the species, O. paulus. The systematic status of this taxon has remained questionable since its initial descriptions in the mid-1800s. A detailed molecular and morphological study was carried out to assess the validity of this genus, and its systematic position within the Asian agamid subfamily, Draconinae. Freshly collected and historical museum specimens from the type locality of O. paulus were examined morphologically, along with additional samples collected from localities in Mizoram state, Northeast India. Utilising newly generated molecular sequences (two mitochondrial and three nuclear genes), combined with those previously published for representative genera from the subfamilies Draconinae and Agaminae, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic trees were constructed. Phylogenetic results suggest that Oriocalotes is part of the widespread South and Southeast Asian radiation of Calotes. Comparative morphological studies (including external morphology, hemipenis and osteology) between Oriocalotes and related genera further support this systematic placement. Oriocalotes is herein regarded as a junior subjective synonym of Calotes. Calotes paulus comb. nov. is also assigned a lectotype and given a detailed redescription based on the lectotype, paralectotypes and additional topotypic material. Furthermore, the specimens collected from Mizoram populations are found to be morphologically and genetically distinct from Calotes paulus comb. nov., and are described herein as a new species, Calotes zolaiking sp. nov.

}, keywords = {Animals, Bayes Theorem, India, Lizards, Osteology, Phylogeny}, issn = {1175-5334}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4638.4.1}, author = {Giri, Varad B and Chaitanya, R and Mahony, Stephen and Lalrounga, Samuel and Lalrinchhana, C and Das, Abhijit and Sarkar, Vivek and Karanth, Praveen and Deepak, V} } @article {25693, title = {A new species of Rhabdops Boulenger, 1893 (Serpentes: Natricinae) from the northern Western Ghats region of India}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4319}, year = {2017}, month = {09/2017}, pages = {27-52}, abstract = {

Based on analyses of new DNA sequence data for two nuclear (rag1, cmos) and three mitochondrial (16s, cytb, nd4) genes, the Indian snake genus Rhabdops is a natricine. Variation in geography, DNA sequences, the number of ventral scales, pattern and colour for samples of Rhabdops from along the Western Ghats region of peninsular India is concordant, discontinuous and bimodal. We recognise populations from the northern Western Ghats as distinct specifically from the more southerly R. olivaceus and describe Rhabdops aquaticus sp. nov. based on a series of eight specimens from two localities in the Northern Western Ghats. Rhabdops aquaticus sp. nov. is associated particularly with upland laterite plateaus and their associated streams, a threatened habitat within its known distribution.

}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4319.1.2}, author = {Giri, Varad B and Deepak, V. and Captain, Ashok and Das, Abhijit and Das, Sandeep and Rajkumar, KP and Rathish, RL and Gower, David J.} }