Description of a new species of Cnemaspis (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Knuckles Range of Sri Lanka

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4254 (1) ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUDESH BATUWITA ◽  
SAMPATH UDUGAMPALA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Discrete Distribution ◽  
Type Material ◽  
National Museum ◽  
Current Collection ◽  
Bright Yellow ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Wet Zone

A new species of Cnemaspis Strauch is described from Knuckles Range of Sri Lanka. This new species had been previously confused with Cnemaspis podihuna Deraniyagala. Cnemaspis kandambyi sp. nov. closely resembles C. podihuna and C. molligodai Wickramasinghe & Munindradasa. Cnemaspis kandambyi sp. nov. differs from C. podihuna by having 7–8 (versus 3–6) unpored scales in each side of the precloacal-femoral pores row, lacking (versus having) an internasal scale, body (axilla to groin) relatively long 47.7–48.3 (versus 38.1–38.7)% of SVL and dorsum dark brown (versus bright yellow). Cnemaspis kandambyi sp. nov. also distinguished from C. molligodai by having 4 (versus 5) precloacal pores, 5–6 (versus 7–9) femoral pores on each side, precloacal pores not in an inverted V-shaped arrangement (versus in inverted V-shaped arrangement), lacking (versus having) a distinct black marking on nape and a black lateral stripe begins behind eye extends laterally beyond the origin of forearm (versus not extending beyond the origin of forearm). Additionally, Cnemaspis kandambyi sp. nov. and C. molligodai show discrete distribution: former restricted to Knuckles Range and the latter confined to Lowland wet zone of Sri Lanka. We confirm that, no type material of Cnemaspis podihuna survive in the current collection of the National Museum of Sri Lanka. 

scholarly journals A NEW SPECIES OF Dendrelaphis BOULENGER, 1890 (REPTILIA : COLUBRIDAE) FROM THE WET ZONE OF SRI LANKA WITH A REDESCRIPTION OF Dendrelaphis bifrenalis (BOULENGER, 1890)

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-102
Author(s):  
A. Dineth Danushka ◽  
A. Suneth Kanishka ◽  
A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe ◽  
Gernot Vogel ◽  
Sampath S. Seneviratne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Nadh Dehydrogenase ◽  
Morphological Differentiation ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Nadh Dehydrogenase Subunit ◽  
Dry Zone ◽  
Two Populations ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Wet Zone

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 1/4th 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.

scholarly journals Description of a new species of Pseudophilautus (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae) from southern Sri Lanka

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 13120-13131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudesh Batuwita ◽  
Madura De Silva ◽  
Sampath Udugampala
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Outer Side ◽  
Anterior Surface ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Wet Zone

We describe a new Pseudophilautus species, P. conniffae sp. nov. from southern Sri Lanka.  It was previously confused with Pseudophilautus rus (Manamendra-Arachchi & Pethiyagoda).   The new species differs from the latter by the combination of the following characters: fourth toe webbing to penultimate subarticular tubercle on inner and outer sides (vs. fourth toe webbing in between penultimate and anetpenultimate subarticular tubercles on inner and outer sides), presence of conical median lingual process (vs. absent), and black patches on the posterior flank, anterior and posterior edges of the thigh (vs. black patches on the anterior surface of the thigh).  Pseudophilautus conniffae sp. nov. may be sympatric with P. limbus (Manamendra-Arachchi & Pethiyagoda), which shares certain characters with the new species.  The new species is, however, distinguished from P. limbus by the following characters: having supernumerary tubercles on manus (vs. lacking), absence of frontoparietal ridges (vs. presence), fourth toe webbing to penultimate subarticular tubercle on both sides (vs. fourth toe webbing between penultimate and anetpenultimate subarticular tubercle on both sides), third toe webbing to distal subarticular tubercle on both sides (vs. distal subarticular tubercle on outer side and below penultimate subarticular tubercle on inner side), and having the dorsum light brown with dark brown patches (vs. black and yellow variegated pattern on dorsum).  The new species may be restricted to the southwestern wet zone of Sri Lanka.  It is compared with all known Pseudophilautus species and also provided with a field key to identify it from those species that are sympatric with it or inhabit the southwestern wet zone.

scholarly journals Nessia gansi: a Second Three-toed Snake-Skink (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) from Sri Lanka with the Designation of a Neotype for Nessia burtonii Gray

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 377-388
Author(s):  
Sudesh Batuwita ◽  
Udeni Edirisinghe
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Discrete Distribution ◽  
Sister Species ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
The Third ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Meristic Data

Abstract A new species of Nessia is described from Sri Lanka. Nessia gansi sp. n. is distinguished from its sister species (N. burtonii) based on the morphological and meristic data. The new species differs from all other congeners except N. burtonii Gray, by a combination of following characters: presence of four limbs; all limbs bearing three digits; interparietal broader than frontal. It distinguishes from N. burtonii by having five (vs. six) supraciliaries; one (vs. two) pretemporal/s; two (vs. one) primary temporal/s; three (vs. four) infralabials; 93-105 (vs. 110-124) paravertebral scale rows; 103-114 (vs. 117-121) ventral scales; two (vs. three) subdigital lamellae under each digit of manus; mental as wide as postmental (vs. mental wider than postmental); and nostrils visible when viewed ventrally (vs. not visible). Two closely related species show a discrete distribution in Sri Lanka: N. gansi sp. n. is recorded from Kanneliya, Rumaswala, Kottawa, Panagula, Ambalangoda and Imaduwa in the first and second peneplains (~100 m), whereas N. burtonii records (here corrected) are reported from Alagalla, Ambagamuwa, Gampola, Hiniduma and Kandy within the third peneplain (from ~500 m). The identity of N. burtonii is stabilized through the designation of a neotype, and here it is re-described.

A new species of Paraseiulus Muma from Iran with a key to the known species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1770 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
FARID FARAJI ◽  
MAHDI JALAEIAN ◽  
JAMES A. MCMURTRY
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Natural History ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Classification System ◽  
Type Material ◽  
National Museum ◽  
World Species ◽  
The World ◽  
A New Species

According to Moraes et al. (2004), twelve species of Paraseiulus Muma are known worldwide, of which six were recorded in Iran (Kamali et al., 2001; Faraji et al., 2007). The genus Paraseiulus is characterized by the absence of caudoventral setae JV2; ventrianal shield sole-shaped, with two pairs of preanal setae and without preanal pores; sternal shield with two pairs of setae; setae ST3 either located on soft cuticle or inserted on platelets and setae ST4 inserted on separate platelets; calyx of spermatheca elongate-tubular, bell-shaped or saccular; fixed cheliceral digit with two or three teeth; legs without macrosetae or with a short macroseta on basitarsus IV. A new species of Paraseiulus is described in this paper and a key is provided to help in the identification of the world species of this genus. The classification system follows Chant and McMurtry (1994) for Typhlodrominae. The notations used for dorsal and ventral setations follow Rowell et al. (1978) and Chant and Yoshida-Shaul (1991) respectively. All measurements are in micrometers (μm). The type material of slide-mounted specimens is deposited in the National Museum of Natural History, Leiden, The Netherlands (RMNH).

A new species of Dryocalamus (Serpentes: Colubridae) endemic to the rainforests of southwestern Sri Lanka

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4748 (2) ◽  
pp. 248-260
Author(s):  
L.J. MENDIS WICKRAMASINGHE ◽  
DULAN RANGA VIDANAPATHIRANA ◽  
VISHAN PUSHPAMAL ◽  
NETHU WICKRAMASINGHE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Posterior Margin ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Lateral Body ◽  
Anterior Body ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Wet Zone

We describe a new species of Dryocalamus based on two specimens collected from the wet zone rainforests of southwestern Sri Lanka. Dryocalamus chithrasekarai sp. nov., is distinguished from congeners by its colour pattern (anterior body with solid white bands and a checkered appearance on the posterior lateral body, with consecutive bands coalescing along the ventrolateral margin; posterior margin of the nuchal band flat); the absence of a preocular scale; loreal in contact with supraocular; dorsal scales smooth and in 15 straight rows; cloacal shield divided. In addition, we find that previous records of Dryocalamus gracilis are probably spurious. 

A commentary on the taxonomic review of Sri Lankan Devario by Batuwita et al. 2017 (Teleostei: Danionidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4543 (3) ◽  
pp. 421 ◽  
Author(s):  
HIRANYA SUDASINGHE ◽  
ROHAN PETHIYAGODA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Zoological Nomenclature ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
International Code ◽  
National Museum ◽  
Taxonomic Review ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
A New Species

We address several problems arising from ‘A review of the genus Devario in Sri Lanka (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), with description of two new species’, a paper authored by S. Batuwita, M. de Silva and S. Udugampola and published in 2017 in the journal FishTaxa (2(3): 156–179). The neotypes they designate for Perilampus malabaricus Jerdon and Perilampus mysoricus Jerdon are inconsistent with article 75.3 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (‘the Code’) and are hence invalid. Devario udenii, which they describe as a new species, is shown to be indistinguishable from D. micronema sensu Batuwita et al. The characters by which they distinguish another new species, D. annnataliae, are shown to be self-contradictory, making it impossible to distinguish from its congeners; it is treated as a species inquirendum. The diagnoses provided for D. malabaricus, D. micronema and D. monticola are ambiguous and self-contradictory, rendering them unusable. Much of the material examined, stated to be in the collection of the National Museum of Sri Lanka, is not deposited in that institution: such material as is deposited is inconsistent with the specimen data published by Batuwita et al. 

Review of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) in Sri Lanka with the description of five new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1490 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J.MENDIS WICKRAMASINGHE ◽  
D. A.I. MUNINDRADASA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Morphometric Analysis ◽  
Mountain Region ◽  
Geographical Isolation ◽  
Morphological Comparison ◽  
Type Series ◽  
Dry Zone ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Wet Zone

Five new species of geckos are described from Sri Lanka by morphological comparison and morphometric analysis leading to review the genus Cnemaspis in the country. The type series of these species were identified from following localities: C. alwisi and C. kumarasinghei from the intermediate zone, C. retigalensis from the dry zone, C. molligodai from the lowland wet zone and C. samanalensis from the mountain region of the wet zone in the country. The high degree of endemicity (90%) shown by Cnemaspis in Sri Lanka could be attributed to geographical isolation. In addition, the taxonomic issue of C. jerdonii scalpensis is discussed and the species C. scalpensis is errected.

The new Belostoma fittkaui species group with supplemental descriptions of B. fittkaui De Carlo and B. sayagoi De Carlo

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4942 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-591
Author(s):  
FABIANO STEFANELLO
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
South America ◽  
Comparative Morphology ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Type Material ◽  
Extreme Variation ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Tropical South America

The giant water bug fauna from tropical South America remains poorly known. Three species of Belostoma Latreille (Belostoma fittkaui De Carlo, B. sayagoi De Carlo and B. hirsutum Roback & Nieser) have been cited only a few times in the literature. These three species are remarkable since they represent an extreme variation for the genus, with article II of the labium distinctly shorter than article III. Here, the synonymy of B. hirsutum with B. sayagoi is proposed based on examination of type material and additional specimens. Further, B. fittkaui and B. sayagoi are redescribed, including discussion about comparative morphology with congeners. A new species group is proposed for these species and a key to the Belostoma species groups is provided. Distribution records are also updated. 

A New Species of Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from Sri Lanka with Redescription of H. hunae Deraniyagala, 1937

Herpetologica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe ◽  
Suranjan Karunarathna ◽  
Patrick D. Campbell ◽  
Majintha Madawala ◽  
Anslem de Silva
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
A New Species

A new species of genus Hexacentrus Serville, 1831 from Taiwan (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Hexacentrinae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4933 (4) ◽  
pp. 543-556
Author(s):  
PO-WEI CHEN ◽  
HUI-CONG XIE ◽  
XUE WU ◽  
CHU-ZE SHEN ◽  
ZHU-QING HE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Gene Tree ◽  
Species Level ◽  
National Museum ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
As Species ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Similar Appearance ◽  
One New Species ◽  
A New Species

There are 29 species or subspecies in genus Hexacentrus occurring in Asia, Africa and Australia. Because of its similar appearance, it is not easy to distinguish them by traditional methods. In this study, we collected samples and sequenced COI genes from wide range. By reconstructing the gene tree, we found one new species, H. formosanus Chen et He sp. nov., from Taiwan. The new species is similar to H. expansus or H. inflatissimus, but differs from the former in male Cu2 vein of left tegmina curved and slender, and spectrum of male left tegmina slender and subsquare; differs from the later by body size smaller and female tegmina narrow and short. The type specimens are deposited in National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan (NMNS). H. japonicus hareyamai is treated as species level, H. hareyamai stat. nov. 

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