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Volume 9-14 (2020-26)

v9i2231v9i2.231
ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i2.231

Submitted date: 13 September 2020
Accepted date: 14 November 2020
Published date: 28 November 2020
Pp. 194–204, pls. 53–54.

ON THE IDENTITY OF TWO Fejervarya FROG (DICROGLOSSIDAE) SPECIES FROM THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ARCHIPELAGO

S.R. Chandramouli*, Dasari Ankaiah, K.V. Devi Prasad & Venkatesan Arul
*Corresponding author. E-mail: findthesnakeman@gmail.com

Abstract
The taxonomic status of the large-sized Fejervarya frogs of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was assessed based on integrative analysis of molecular, morphological and acoustic data. Our results identify the population from the Andaman Islands as Fejervarya moodiei, and that from the Nicobar Islands as F. limnocharis. Representative specimens collected during this study are described along with observations on their natural history. The distribution of F. moodiei within the Andaman Islands and F. limnocharis in the Nicobar Islands recorded during this study are mapped, suggesting that these species are fairly widespread.

Key words : Fejervarya cancrivora, Fejervarya moodiei, Fejervarya limnocharis, India, mangrove.

Section Editor: Enrique La Marca
v9i2230v9i2.230
ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i2.230

Submitted date: 14 November 2020
Accepted date: 21 November 2020
Published date: 28 November 2020
Pp. 174–193, pls. 51–52.

A NEW SPECIES OF THE Pareas hamptoni COMPLEX (SQUAMATA : SERPENTES : PAREIDAE) FROM THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE

Li Ding, Zening Chen, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Tan Van Nguyen*,
Nikolay A. Poyarkov & Gernot Vogel
*Corresponding author. E-mail: tan@svw.vn

Abstract
An investigation of the taxonomic status of Pareas hamptoni (Hampton's Slug snake) based on morphological and molecular data revealed a new distinct species from the Golden Triangle region (comprising parts of southern China, and adjacent Laos and Thailand). The new species is shown to be a sister species to P. hamptoni but can be separated from the latter by having 3–5 dorsal scale rows at midbody slightly keeled (vs 5–9 scales strongly keeled); a lower number of ventrals, 170–188 (vs 185–195); and a lower number of subcaudals, 67–91 (vs 91–99). The new species is currently known from northwestern Thailand, northern Laos, and the southern part of Yunnan Province in China at elevations of 1,160–2,280 m a.s.l. We suggest that the new species to be considered of Least Concern (LC) in the IUCN's Red List categories. Problems of taxonomy and actual distribution of the P. hamptoni complex are briefly discussed; our results show P. hamptoni is now reliably known only from Myanmar and Vietnam, but its occurrence in Yunnan Province of China is likely.

Key words : China, Indo-Burma, Laos, Pareas formosensis, Pareas mengziensis, Thailand

Section Editor: Philip Bowles
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org
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
Hubungi Kami
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