Volume 9-14 (2020-26)
v9i1.221ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i1.221
Submitted date: 05 April 2020
Accepted date: 30 April 2020
Published date: 21 May 2020
Pp. 50–58, pls. 19–21.
REDESCRIPTION OF Lycodon travancoricus (BEDDOME, 1870) (REPTILIA : COLUBRIDAE), AN INDIAN ENDEMIC SNAKE, WITH A REVIEW OF ITS GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
S.R. Ganesh, A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe & Gernot Vogel*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: gernot.vogel@t-online.de
Abstract
We redescribe the poorly-known peninsular India endemic colubrid snake Lycodon travancoricus based on its traceable syntype. We elaborate on the geographic range of the species and reveal its distribution in several disjunct hill ranges scattered across its range – the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats and the Central Indian Highlands. Discussions about a suggested relegation of its status as a subspecies of the widespread L. aulicus are revisited, in light of new knowledge on the species complex to which it belongs. Our perusal of extralimital records allocated to this species reveals frequent incorrect identification and provenance of specimens. Our results bolster the view that the existing diagnosis is sufficient to distinguish this species from regional congeners supporting its continued recognition as a valid species restricted to peninsular India.
Key words : distribution, Eastern Ghats, identification, Indian peninsula, syntype, Western Ghats
Section Editor: Ivan Ineich
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i1.221
Submitted date: 05 April 2020
Accepted date: 30 April 2020
Published date: 21 May 2020
Pp. 50–58, pls. 19–21.
REDESCRIPTION OF Lycodon travancoricus (BEDDOME, 1870) (REPTILIA : COLUBRIDAE), AN INDIAN ENDEMIC SNAKE, WITH A REVIEW OF ITS GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
S.R. Ganesh, A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe & Gernot Vogel*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: gernot.vogel@t-online.de
Abstract
We redescribe the poorly-known peninsular India endemic colubrid snake Lycodon travancoricus based on its traceable syntype. We elaborate on the geographic range of the species and reveal its distribution in several disjunct hill ranges scattered across its range – the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats and the Central Indian Highlands. Discussions about a suggested relegation of its status as a subspecies of the widespread L. aulicus are revisited, in light of new knowledge on the species complex to which it belongs. Our perusal of extralimital records allocated to this species reveals frequent incorrect identification and provenance of specimens. Our results bolster the view that the existing diagnosis is sufficient to distinguish this species from regional congeners supporting its continued recognition as a valid species restricted to peninsular India.
Key words : distribution, Eastern Ghats, identification, Indian peninsula, syntype, Western Ghats
Section Editor: Ivan Ineich
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
v9i1.220ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i1.220
Submitted date: 01 December 2019
Accepted date: 11 March 2020
Published date: 21 May 2020
Pp. 39–49, pls. 15–18.
TAXONOMY AND DISTRIBUTION OF Liopeltis calamaria (GÜNTHER, 1858) (REPTILIA : COLUBRIDAE), INCLUDING REDESCRIPTION OF THE SYNTYPES
A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe*, Suranjan Karunarathna, Patrick D. Campbell, S.R. Ganesh & Gernot Vogel
*Corresponding author. E-mail: thasun@rccc.ui.ac.id
Abstract
Liopeltis calamaria, a rare non-venomous colubrid snake of South Asia, is redescribed. Its syntypes and all the available type specimens of its recognized synonyms are examined, including information about the respective populations found across India and Sri Lanka. Our literature compilation and mapping analyses reveal three distinct populations – (I) Sri Lankan (probably also present in some parts of South India as well), (II) Peninsular Indian, and (III) Himalayan / Nepalese, separated by the Palk Strait and the Indo-Gangetic plains respectively.
Key words : India, population variation, reed snake, sexual dimorphism, Sri Lanka, synonyms
Section Editor: Ivan Ineich
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i1.220
Submitted date: 01 December 2019
Accepted date: 11 March 2020
Published date: 21 May 2020
Pp. 39–49, pls. 15–18.
TAXONOMY AND DISTRIBUTION OF Liopeltis calamaria (GÜNTHER, 1858) (REPTILIA : COLUBRIDAE), INCLUDING REDESCRIPTION OF THE SYNTYPES
A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe*, Suranjan Karunarathna, Patrick D. Campbell, S.R. Ganesh & Gernot Vogel
*Corresponding author. E-mail: thasun@rccc.ui.ac.id
Abstract
Liopeltis calamaria, a rare non-venomous colubrid snake of South Asia, is redescribed. Its syntypes and all the available type specimens of its recognized synonyms are examined, including information about the respective populations found across India and Sri Lanka. Our literature compilation and mapping analyses reveal three distinct populations – (I) Sri Lankan (probably also present in some parts of South India as well), (II) Peninsular Indian, and (III) Himalayan / Nepalese, separated by the Palk Strait and the Indo-Gangetic plains respectively.
Key words : India, population variation, reed snake, sexual dimorphism, Sri Lanka, synonyms
Section Editor: Ivan Ineich
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
v9i2.227ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i2.227
Published date: 28 November 2020
Pp. 133–135
EDITORIAL: Cladonotus bhaskari: a call for improving ethical standards in taxonomic journals
A.A.Thasun Amarasinghe
Co-editor-in-chief: Taprobanica, the journal of Asian Biodiversity
We are in a period of mass extinctions, when many species of animals, plants and other organisms are disappearing through direct or indirect human activities. Yet, the declining numbers of expert taxonomists represents a barrier to identifying, studying and protecting threatened species. This is especially true in developing countries such as Sri Lanka. How can we enjoy and protect something if we don‘t know it is out there to enjoy and protect? As urgent as the description of newly discovered species is, such descriptions must necessarily take place in the context not only of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) but also a sound ethical framework including adherence to local laws. Even urgently needed taxonomic research cannot be justified if it breaches ethical guidelines or the laws of the countries in which the organisms of interest originate, as the following cases illustrate.
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i2.227
Published date: 28 November 2020
Pp. 133–135
EDITORIAL: Cladonotus bhaskari: a call for improving ethical standards in taxonomic journals
A.A.Thasun Amarasinghe
Co-editor-in-chief: Taprobanica, the journal of Asian Biodiversity
We are in a period of mass extinctions, when many species of animals, plants and other organisms are disappearing through direct or indirect human activities. Yet, the declining numbers of expert taxonomists represents a barrier to identifying, studying and protecting threatened species. This is especially true in developing countries such as Sri Lanka. How can we enjoy and protect something if we don‘t know it is out there to enjoy and protect? As urgent as the description of newly discovered species is, such descriptions must necessarily take place in the context not only of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) but also a sound ethical framework including adherence to local laws. Even urgently needed taxonomic research cannot be justified if it breaches ethical guidelines or the laws of the countries in which the organisms of interest originate, as the following cases illustrate.
v9i1.219ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i1.219
Submitted date: 28 March 2020
Accepted date: 30 April 2020
Published date: 21 May 2020
Pp. 31–38, pls. 12–14.
ON TWO POORLY KNOWN, INSULAR SKINKS, Eutropis tytleri (THEOBALD, 1868) AND E. andamanensis (SMITH, 1935) (REPTILIA : SCINCIDAE), ENDEMIC TO THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS, INDIA
S.R. Chandramouli* & A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe
*Corresponding author. E-mail: findthesnakeman@gmail.com
Abstract
We examined the holotype of Eutropis tytleri and one of the syntypes of E. andamanensis collected from the Andaman Islands, currently deposited at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). Information on taxonomy, morphology, distribution, behaviour and natural history of these two poorly-known, insular endemic skinks are presented here based on individuals recorded and examined in-situ, in the field as well as preserved material. Their types are illustrated and redescribed. A distribution map is presented based on records from the present study; threats and conservation status are discussed.
Key words : Andaman grass-skink, distribution, Mabuya, natural history, Sincus, taxonomy
Section Editor: Jakob Hallermann
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i1.219
Submitted date: 28 March 2020
Accepted date: 30 April 2020
Published date: 21 May 2020
Pp. 31–38, pls. 12–14.
ON TWO POORLY KNOWN, INSULAR SKINKS, Eutropis tytleri (THEOBALD, 1868) AND E. andamanensis (SMITH, 1935) (REPTILIA : SCINCIDAE), ENDEMIC TO THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS, INDIA
S.R. Chandramouli* & A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe
*Corresponding author. E-mail: findthesnakeman@gmail.com
Abstract
We examined the holotype of Eutropis tytleri and one of the syntypes of E. andamanensis collected from the Andaman Islands, currently deposited at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). Information on taxonomy, morphology, distribution, behaviour and natural history of these two poorly-known, insular endemic skinks are presented here based on individuals recorded and examined in-situ, in the field as well as preserved material. Their types are illustrated and redescribed. A distribution map is presented based on records from the present study; threats and conservation status are discussed.
Key words : Andaman grass-skink, distribution, Mabuya, natural history, Sincus, taxonomy
Section Editor: Jakob Hallermann
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
v9.i1.218ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i1.218
Submitted date: 17 April 2020
Accepted date: 30 April 2020
Published date: 21 May 2020
Pp. 23–30, pls. 9–11.
A NEW SPECIES OF Lankascincus GREER, 1991 (REPTILIA : SCINCIDAE) FROM THE RAKWANA HILLS OF SRI LANKA
L.J. Mendis Wickramasinghe*, Dulan Ranga Vidanapathirana & Nethu Wickramasinghe
*Corresponding author. E-mail: mendi.w@ime.edu.lk
Abstract
A new species of the endemic scincid lizard genus Lankascincus from the Rakwana hills of Sri Lanka, is described. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by possessing the following combination of characters: maximum SVL less than 35.0 mm, prefrontals in broad contact, seven supralabials, last supralabial scale split, 24 mid-body scale rows, 46–48 paravertebrals, 49–51 ventrals, 13–16 lamellae on fourth toe, and a conspicuous dark brown band from snout to mid-tail, gradually fading posteriad. The number of palpebral scales around eye is used as a meristic character in the genus Lankascincus for the first time.
Key words : Central highlands, rainforest, Ristella, South Asia, systematics, taxonomy
Section Editor: Jakob Hallermann
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i1.218
Submitted date: 17 April 2020
Accepted date: 30 April 2020
Published date: 21 May 2020
Pp. 23–30, pls. 9–11.
A NEW SPECIES OF Lankascincus GREER, 1991 (REPTILIA : SCINCIDAE) FROM THE RAKWANA HILLS OF SRI LANKA
L.J. Mendis Wickramasinghe*, Dulan Ranga Vidanapathirana & Nethu Wickramasinghe
*Corresponding author. E-mail: mendi.w@ime.edu.lk
Abstract
A new species of the endemic scincid lizard genus Lankascincus from the Rakwana hills of Sri Lanka, is described. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by possessing the following combination of characters: maximum SVL less than 35.0 mm, prefrontals in broad contact, seven supralabials, last supralabial scale split, 24 mid-body scale rows, 46–48 paravertebrals, 49–51 ventrals, 13–16 lamellae on fourth toe, and a conspicuous dark brown band from snout to mid-tail, gradually fading posteriad. The number of palpebral scales around eye is used as a meristic character in the genus Lankascincus for the first time.
Key words : Central highlands, rainforest, Ristella, South Asia, systematics, taxonomy
Section Editor: Jakob Hallermann
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
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