v13i2.332
Volume 13 | Number 2 | November 2024
Major Article
ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v13i2.332
Submitted date: 30 September 2024
Accepted date: 24 November 2024
Published date: 30 November 2024
Pp. 69–81. Pls. 12–19.
NOTES ON THE Ophisops beddomei COMPLEX (SQUAMATA: LACERTIDAE) WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW ALLIED CRYPTIC SPECIES FROM WESTERN INDIA
Harshil Patel*, Raju Vyas, Tejas Thackeray, Saunak Pal & Zeeshan A. Mirza
*Corresponding author. E-mail: harshilpatel121@gmail.com
Abstract
The lacertid Ophisops beddomei was considered to be widely distributed in the northern and central Western Ghats, and some parts of western India. Recent studies, however, provide evidence of it being a species complex that harbours several morphologically cryptic species. In an attempt to resolve this species complex, we provide a re-description of O. beddomei sensu stricto based on type specimens and fresh material from near the type locality. Additionally, we describe a new species based on a series of 15 specimens from the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra in western India. The new species is allied to O. beddomei and can be diagnosed from all its congeners by the following suite of characters: a small-sized Ophisops (adult, SVL up to 36 mm); upper eyelid movable; supranasal fused with nasal; two frontonasals; prefrontals not in contact; enlarged tympanic scale present; 46–53 dorsal scales; 28–31 scales at mid-body; 19–21 lamellae underneath the fourth toe; six chin shields; 15–19 scales between symphysis of chin shields and ventral plates; large mental scale, extending beyond first supralabial; 8–11 femoral pores on either side interrupted by 0–1 poreless scales in males and 3–4 poreless scales in females; and subtle colour pattern differences. Molecular data for the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene further supports the distinctiveness of the new species and shows an uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence of 8% from O. beddomei sensu stricto. These are among the only lacertids that inhabit high-elevation plateaus and deciduous forests in the Western Ghats and surrounding hill ranges. The findings also indicate that many other similar habitats may harbour as yet undescribed endemic taxa.
Key words : Endemic, hill ranges, Lacerta, plateau, Snake-eyed lizard, taxonomy
Section Editor: Thasun Amarasinghe
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v13i2.332
Submitted date: 30 September 2024
Accepted date: 24 November 2024
Published date: 30 November 2024
Pp. 69–81. Pls. 12–19.
NOTES ON THE Ophisops beddomei COMPLEX (SQUAMATA: LACERTIDAE) WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW ALLIED CRYPTIC SPECIES FROM WESTERN INDIA
Harshil Patel*, Raju Vyas, Tejas Thackeray, Saunak Pal & Zeeshan A. Mirza
*Corresponding author. E-mail: harshilpatel121@gmail.com
Abstract
The lacertid Ophisops beddomei was considered to be widely distributed in the northern and central Western Ghats, and some parts of western India. Recent studies, however, provide evidence of it being a species complex that harbours several morphologically cryptic species. In an attempt to resolve this species complex, we provide a re-description of O. beddomei sensu stricto based on type specimens and fresh material from near the type locality. Additionally, we describe a new species based on a series of 15 specimens from the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra in western India. The new species is allied to O. beddomei and can be diagnosed from all its congeners by the following suite of characters: a small-sized Ophisops (adult, SVL up to 36 mm); upper eyelid movable; supranasal fused with nasal; two frontonasals; prefrontals not in contact; enlarged tympanic scale present; 46–53 dorsal scales; 28–31 scales at mid-body; 19–21 lamellae underneath the fourth toe; six chin shields; 15–19 scales between symphysis of chin shields and ventral plates; large mental scale, extending beyond first supralabial; 8–11 femoral pores on either side interrupted by 0–1 poreless scales in males and 3–4 poreless scales in females; and subtle colour pattern differences. Molecular data for the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene further supports the distinctiveness of the new species and shows an uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence of 8% from O. beddomei sensu stricto. These are among the only lacertids that inhabit high-elevation plateaus and deciduous forests in the Western Ghats and surrounding hill ranges. The findings also indicate that many other similar habitats may harbour as yet undescribed endemic taxa.
Key words : Endemic, hill ranges, Lacerta, plateau, Snake-eyed lizard, taxonomy
Section Editor: Thasun Amarasinghe
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
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