A deeply divergent lineage of Walkerana (Anura: Ranixalidae) from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4729 (2) ◽  
pp. 266-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.P. DINESH ◽  
S.P. VIJAYAKUMAR ◽  
VIJAY RAMESH ◽  
ADITI JAYARAJAN ◽  
S.R. CHANDRAMOULI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Divergent Lineage ◽  
The North ◽  
Palghat Gap ◽  
High Elevations ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
Hill Range

The frog family Ranixalidae is endemic to the Western Ghats of Peninsular India and contains two genera, Indirana and Walkerana. The three known species of Walkerana are restricted to different hill ranges south of the Palghat Gap, an ancient valley in the Western Ghats. In this study, we report the discovery of a deeply divergent lineage of Walkerana from the high elevations of the Elivalmalai hill range. This finding extends the geographic range of the Walkerana clade to the north of the Palghat Gap. The new species Walkerana muduga sp. nov. is genetically and morphologically divergent, and geographically isolated from its sister lineages. We also recovered a potential new lineage in the adjoining hill ranges suggesting the presence of additional new species in this genus north of the Palghat Gap.  

A new species of rock-dwelling Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Tamil Nadu, southern India

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4571 (3) ◽  
pp. 383
Author(s):  
AKSHAY KHANDEKAR
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Southern India ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Tamil Nadu State ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
A New Species

A new species of the gekkonid genus Cnemaspis is described based on a series of nine specimens from near Sankari in Salem district, Tamil Nadu state, southern India. The new species is diagnosable by the following suite of characters: a small-sized Cnemaspis (adult snout to vent length less than 33 mm); heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis consisting of weakly keeled granular scales intermixed with large strongly keeled, conical tubercles, 9–11 rows of dorsal tubercles, 12–17 tubercles in paravertebral rows; spine-like scales absent on flank, 17–20 lamellae under digit IV of pes. Males with 4–6 femoral pores on each thigh, separated on either side by eight poreless scales from four precloacal pores; precloacal pores separated medially by a single poreless scale; two single dorsal ocelli on occiput and between forelimb insertions, two pairs of ocelli on either side just anterior and posterior to forelimb insertions. Cnemaspis agarwali sp. nov. is the fifth endemic species of Cnemaspis from peninsular India outside the Western Ghats and highlights the rich and unique diversity of this understudied region. 

Two new Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Shevaroy massif, Tamil Nadu, India, with a preliminary ND2 phylogeny of Indian Cnemaspis

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4609 (1) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
AKSHAY KHANDEKAR ◽  
NIKHIL GAITONDE ◽  
ISHAN AGARWAL
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Body Size ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Sequence Divergence ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
The Western Ghats

We present a preliminary ND2 phylogeny of South Asian Cnemaspis, recovering a number of deeply divergent clades within Indian Cnemaspis, endemic to the southern and northern Western Ghats besides the Mysore Plateau and hills of Tamil Nadu. There are a number of unnamed lineages that are >5% divergent on ND2 across the phylogeny, including three from the gracilis clade on an elevation gradient (800–1400 m asl.) around Yercaud in the Shevaroy massif, Salem district, Tamil Nadu. We describe two of these as new species— Cnemaspis shevaroyensis sp. nov. and Cnemaspis thackerayi sp. nov. are both allied to Cnemaspis gracilis and can be diagnosed from all other Indian Cnemaspis by the absence of spine-like scales on flank, heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis, presence of femoral and precloacal pores, tail with enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles forming whorls, a median row of enlarged and smooth sub-caudals. They differ from C. gracilis and each other in body size, the number of tubercles around midbody, the number of tubercles in paravertebral rows, the number of femoral and precloacal pores, the number of poreless scales in-between precloacal pores and between femoral and precloacal pores, and subtle colour pattern differences; besides uncorrected mitochondrial sequence divergence (7.9–16.6 %). We also provide a description of Cnemaspis yercaudensis from its type locality and an additional locality. The discovery of two endemic species and a third unnamed divergent lineage from an isolated massif in peninsular India outside the Western Ghats indicate that many other such understudied hill ranges may harbour high endemic biodiversity. 

Description of a new species of Xylophis Beddome, 1878 (Serpentes: Pareidae: Xylophiinae) from the Western Ghats, India

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4755 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. DEEPAK ◽  
SURYA NARAYANAN ◽  
SANDEEP DAS ◽  
K.P. RAJKUMAR ◽  
P.S. EASA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Dna Sequence ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
External Morphology ◽  
Dna Sequence Data ◽  
Palghat Gap ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
A New Species

We reassessed the systematics of the Indian (semi)fossorial snake Xylophis perroteti (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) based on morphological and DNA sequence data for type, historical, and new specimens. A population from the Anamalai Hills is distinct from broadly topotypic X. perroteti from the Nilgiri Hills (from which they are separated geographically by the lowland Palghat Gap) on the basis of both external morphology and DNA sequence data. We describe the Anamalai form as a new species, Xylophis mosaicus sp. nov. The new species is more closely related to X. perroteti than to X. stenorhynchus and X. captaini. A new key to identify the species of Xylophis is presented. 

Bryocrumia Malabarica Spec. Nova (Bryophyta, Hypnaceae), A Second Species of the Genus from the Western Ghats of India

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 165-170
Author(s):  
C. N. Manju ◽  
B. Prajitha ◽  
R. Prakashkumar ◽  
W. Z. Ma
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Evergreen Forest ◽  
Stream Channel ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
External Appearance ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Central Strand ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
A New Species

A new species similar to Bryocrumia vivicolor, the only known species in the genus Bryocrumia, is described as Bryocrumia malabarica spec. nova from the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghats of Kerala in Peninsular India. It resembles Homalia in external appearance and was collected in a rheophytic habitat along a stream channel in the evergreen forest. The new species is characterised by closely arranged leaves with distinct tricostate, ovate-rounded to truncate leaves, upper margin of leaf rounded with fine serrations and an inconspicuous central strand in stem cross section.

A systematic revision of Calotes Cuvier, 1817 (Squamata: Agamidae) from the Western Ghats adds two genera and reveals two new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4482 (3) ◽  
pp. 401 ◽  
Author(s):  
SAUNAK PAL ◽  
S.P. VIJAYAKUMAR ◽  
KARTIK SHANKER ◽  
ADITI JAYARAJAN ◽  
V. DEEPAK
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Evolutionary Significance ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Sister Relationship ◽  
Systematic Revision ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
The Western Ghats

Lizards of the genus Calotes are geographically restricted to South Asia, Indo-China and parts of Southeast Asia. The greatest diversity of the genus is from the biodiversity hotspots in South Asia: Western Ghats (Peninsular India), Sri Lanka and Indo-Burma. Here, we present a systematic revision of members of the genus Calotes from Peninsular India using a combination of molecular phylogeny, geographical distribution and morphological characters. We show that Calotes from the Western Ghats is paraphyletic and consists of three major clades, one of which is widely distributed in South and Southeast (SE) Asia, while the others are restricted to Peninsular India. The Peninsular Indian clade is composed of two sister clades: Psammophilus, with a wider distribution and a second clade, composed of two extant species, Calotes rouxii and Calotes ellioti and two new species, all restricted to the Western Ghats region. Based on morphological differences, we retain the generic status of Psammophilus and assign its sister clade to a new genus Monilesaurus gen. nov. and transfer the following species, C. rouxii and C. ellioti, to this new genus. We also provide diagnoses and descriptions for two new species recognized within Monilesaurus gen. nov. In addition, Calotes aurantolabium from the Western Ghats was observed to be deeply divergent and to share a sister-relationship with the clade composed of Calotes, Monilesaurus gen. nov., and Psammophilus. Based on its phylogenetic position and morphological attributes, we assign this species to a new genus Microauris gen. nov. These new discoveries highlight the evolutionary significance of the Western Ghats in housing novel lizard diversity. 

Disentangling vines: a study of morphological crypsis and genetic divergence in vine snakes (Squamata: Colubridae: Ahaetulla) with the description of five new species from Peninsular India

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4874 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-62
Author(s):  
ASHOK KUMAR MALLIK ◽  
ACHYUTHAN N. SRIKANTHAN ◽  
SAUNAK P. PAL ◽  
PRINCIA MARGARET D’SOUZA ◽  
KARTIK SHANKER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Genetic Divergence ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Cryptic Diversity ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Nomenclatural Change ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
A New Species

We carried out a taxonomic revision of Ahaetulla species inhabiting Peninsular India, using a multiple criteria approach (including genetics, morphology, and geography). Our work included populations of the A. nasuta complex (widespread across the entire region, including the Western Ghats), the A. pulverulenta complex (in the Western Ghats, within Peninsular India) and the A. dispar complex (endemic to the Southern Western Ghats) which all revealed undocumented cryptic diversity. Here, we describe five new species and effect nomenclatural changes to some recognised taxa. In the A. nasuta complex, we describe four species from several latitudinal blocks of the Western Ghats and make nomenclatural emendations to the plains populations in the Indian peninsula. We effect nomenclatural change in the A. pulverulenta population of the Western Ghats and describe a new species from the A. dispar group. Our study highlights the use of a multi-criteria approach in unraveling cryptic diversity. This study also reveals a striking case of discordance between morphological and genetic divergence, and the way this is reflected in previous taxonomic and nomenclatural treatments of these populations. 

scholarly journals A new species of Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the Wayanad region of peninsular India

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4778 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-342
Author(s):  
VIVEK PHILIP CYRIAC ◽  
SURYA NARAYANAN ◽  
FILIPA L. SAMPAIO ◽  
PAVUKANDY UMESH ◽  
DAVID J. GOWER
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Indian Species ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Type Series ◽  
Black And White ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
A New Species

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. 

A new species of Prosopistoma Latreille, 1833 and redescription of P. indicum Peters, 1967 (Ephemeroptera: Prosopistomatidae) from the Western Ghats, India

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4242 (3) ◽  
pp. 591 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. RAMYA ROOPA ◽  
C. SELVAKUMAR ◽  
K. A. SUBRAMANIAN ◽  
K. G. SIVARAMAKRISHNAN
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Indian Species ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Fresh Material ◽  
Central Western Ghats ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
A New Species

Prosopistoma someshwarensis n. sp. is described based on larvae collected from the streams of central Western Ghats, and P. indicum Peters, 1967 is redescribed based on fresh material from additional localities of the southern and central Western Ghats of peninsular India. A brief discussion on their ecology and biogeography, and a key to the Indian species of Prosopistoma, are also provided. The Indian species may be distinguished from one another based on the segmentation of the antennae, carapace colourations, the setation of the tibiae and mandibular canines, and the morphology of gills 2. 

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