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v9i2229v9i2.229
ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i2.229

Submitted date: 30 April 2020
Accepted date: 31 October 2020
Published date: 28 November 2020
Pp. 164–173, pls. 49–50.

A NEW CRYPTIC SPECIES OF BUSH FROG (AMPHIBIA : ANURA : Raorchestes) FROM THE SOUTHERN EASTERN GHATS, INDIA

Gaurang G. Gowande, S.R. Ganesh & Zeeshan A. Mirza*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: snakeszeeshan@gmail.com

Abstract
A new cryptic lineage of bush frogs of the genus Raorchestes from the understudied Eastern Ghats of India is described. Molecular phylogenetic reconstructions using mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences suggest that the new species belongs to the Raorchestes charius clade, is sister to the allopatric R. charius of the Western Ghats and support the species-level distinctiveness of the lineage. The new species morphologically resembles R. charius from which it can be distinguished using the following characters: narrower head (HW/SVL 0.31 vs 0.34–0.36), wider inter upper eyelid (IUE/SVL 0.14–0.16 vs 0.11–0.13), greater maximum upper eyelid width (UEW/SVL 0.10–0.12 vs 0.06–0.09) and shorter thigh (TL/SVL 0.32–0.43 vs 0.44–0.51). Acoustic observations from the breeding males further corroborate the distinct specific status of the new species. The discovery of this new species of bush frog from an understudied landscape suggests that additional extensive surveys in the Eastern Ghats would yield several more amphibian lineages yet unknown to science.

Key words : arboreal frog, cryptic species, Kollimalai Massif, Philautus, Rhachophoridae, systematics.

Section Editor: Suranjan Karunarathna
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
v9i2228v9i2.228
ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i2.228

Submitted date: 12 October 2020
Accepted date: 14 November 2020
Published date: 28 November 2020
Pp. 136–163, pls. 46–48.

A NEW CRYPTIC SPECIES OF THE GENUS Microhyla (AMPHIBIA : MICROHYLIDAE) FROM LANGBIAN PLATEAU, VIETNAM

Nikolay A. Poyarkov*, Tan Van Nguyen, Alexey V. Trofimets & Vladislav A. Gorin
*Corresponding author. E-mail: n.poyarkov@gmail.com

Abstract
An integrative taxonomic analysis combining molecular and morphological lines of evidence revealed a new cryptic species of the Microhyla achatina species group from the Langbian Plateau of southern Vietnam. The new species was previously confused with its recently described morphologically similar and sympatric sister species, M. pineticola. The new species can be distinguished from M. pineticola by the presence of a continuous dark stripe running from the posterior edge of its eye towards the groin (vs dark markings interrupted above the axilla), snout acuminate in lateral profile (vs rounded), belly colour pattern, and foot webbing. The new species is currently known only from Bidoup–Nui Ba National Park in Lam Dong Province, Langbian Plateau in southern Vietnam (at elevations of 1300–1600 m a.s.l). We suggest the new species to be considered as Near Threatened (NT) in the IUCN Red List. Our results emphasize that our understanding of the diversity of genus Microhyla is still far from complete, and provide further evidence for montane areas of southern Vietnam to be a centre of Microhyla species richness. Our study further underscores the urgent need for intensified integrative taxonomic research on Microhyla spp. in order to clarify the taxonomy of wide-ranging species complexes and to elaborate effective conservation measures.

Key words : Bidoup–Nui Ba National Park, Microhyla pineticola, mtDNA, sympatry, taxonomy.

Section Editor: Thasun Amarasinghe
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
v9i1225v9i1.225
ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i1.225

Submitted date: 27 February 2020
Accepted date: 19 May 2020
Published date: 21 May 2020
Pp. 103–119, pls. 37–42.

A NEW SPECIES OF Lankascincus GREER, 1991 (REPTILIA : SCINCIDAE) WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE L. gansi GROUP

A. Suneth Kanishka, A. Dineth Danushka & A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: thasun@rccc.ui.ac.id

Abstract
Lankascincus gansi has been considered as a widespread single species, distributed in the wet bioclimatic zone of Sri Lanka (alt. below 1,100 m a.s.l.). After a thorough comparison of morphology and morphometry, we recognised two distinct populations from (i) high-elevations (1,000 m a.s.l.) of the Rakwana Hills and (ii) the south western lowland wet zone [mid-elevations (200–500 m a.s.l.) of the western slopes of the central highlands and the southwestern lowland (0–300 m a.s.l.)]. These are sufficiently different from one another that we restrict the name L. gansi to the lowland rainforest population, and assign a new name to the Rakwana Hills population. We provide a comprehensive re-description for L. gansi based on three topotypes collected from Udugama, Sri Lanka. Considering the lack of morphological distinctiveness and biogeographical isolation we here synonymise L. greeri[i] with [i]L. deignani. A key to the species of the genus Lankascincus is provided.

Key words : Central highlands, mid-elevation, rainforest, South Asia, systematics, taxonomy

Section Editor: Kanishka Ukuwela
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
v9i1224v9i1.224
ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i1.224

Submitted date: 29 February 2019
Accepted date: 05 May 2020
Published date: 21 May 2020
Pp. 83–102, pls. 30–36.

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

A. Dineth Danushka, A. Suneth Kanishka, A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe*, Gernot Vogel & Sampath S. Seneviratne
*Corresponding author. E-mail: thasun@rccc.ui.ac.id

Abstract
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.

Key words : Holotype, island biogeography, lectotype, neotype, syntype, systematic, taxonomy

Section Editor: Ivan Ineich
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
v9i1223v9i1.223
ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i1.223

Submitted date: 15 March 2020
Accepted date: 05 May 2020
Published date: 21 May 2020
Pp. 71–82, pls. 25–29.

A NEW DIMINUTIVE DAY GECKO SPECIES OF THE GENUS Cnemaspis STRAUCH, 1887 (REPTILIA : GEKKONIDAE) FROM PILIKUTTUWA, NEAR THE CAPITAL OF SRI LANKA

A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe* & Suranjan Karunarathna
*Corresponding author. E-mail: thasun@rccc.ui.ac.id

Abstract
We investigated diminutive day geckos of the genus Cnemaspis in Sri Lanka, and based on morphological evidence, a new species belonging to the C. podihuna complex is described herein. The new species occurs in lowland wetzone (alt. 50 m a.s.l.) forests and adjacent human habitations which have a dense tree cover in Gampaha District, near Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. We also provide a key for this and previously recognized species from Sri Lanka, based on collected material and literature.

Key words : Cnemaspis podihuna, Cnemaspis tropidogaster, Colombo, taxonomy, urban biodiversity

Section Editor: Aaron Bauer
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
Hubungi Kami
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