The Saurashtra Peninsula, the largest geographical region of Gujarat state, is a prominent place ... more The Saurashtra Peninsula, the largest geographical region of Gujarat state, is a prominent place for herpetofauna in the state and recent herpetological explorations have uncovered three new reptilian species from this region. However, fine scale information on the distribution status of amphibians and reptiles, and baseline information about the regional herpetological diversity of many areas of Saurashtra is still lacking. In an attempt to fill the gaps in information, we surveyed the Girnar hill complex of Gujarat state for its herpetofaunal diversity from September, 2016 to August, 2018. In all, 56 species, comprising 10 species of amphibians belonging to 7 genera and 3 families and 46 species of reptiles, belonging to 31 genera and 15 families were recorded; of which, 2 unidentified frog and 2 unidentified lizard species need further taxonomic attention.
A new species of green pit vipers of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 is described from the ... more A new species of green pit vipers of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 is described from the lowlands of western Arunachal Pradesh state of India. The new species, Trimeresurus salazar, is a member of the subgenus Trimeresurus, a relationship deduced contingent on two mitochondrial genes, 16S and ND4, and recovered as sister to Trimeresurus septentrionalis Kramer, 1977. The new species differs from the latter in bearing an orange to reddish stripe running from the lower border of the eye to the posterior part of the head in males, higher number of pterygoid and dentary teeth, and a short, bilobed hemipenis. Description of the new species and T. arunachalensis Captain, Deepak, Pandit, Bhatt & Athreya, 2019 from northeastern India in a span of less than one year highlights the need for dedicated surveys to document biodiversity across northeastern India.
We report the first record of a snake, Ahaetulla laudankia Deepak, Narayanan, Sarkar, Dutta & Moh... more We report the first record of a snake, Ahaetulla laudankia Deepak, Narayanan, Sarkar, Dutta & Mohapatra, 2019 (Colubridae, Ahaetullinae) and confirm the occurrence of Lycodon travancoricus (Beddome, 1870) (Colubridae, Colu-brinae) from Gujarat state based on reptile surveys conducted in South, Central, and Saurashtra regions of the state. We also provide new information on the morphology, microhabitat, diet, and behaviour of these species.
We present a revised checklist of reptiles inhabiting Gujarat, based on historical records and in... more We present a revised checklist of reptiles inhabiting Gujarat, based on historical records and incorporating those from recent fieldwork. A total of 107 reptile species from 62 genera in 23 families was recorded. In addition, records for 23 species of reptiles dubiously or erroneously reported in the literature are discussed and recommended for removal from the Gujarat reptile list. Conservation status, threats, and endemism of recorded species are also discussed.
We here describe a new species of Crinum (Amaryllidaceae) from marshy areas along the Gira river,... more We here describe a new species of Crinum (Amaryllidaceae) from marshy areas along the Gira river, southern Gujarat, India. It superficially resembles C. solapurense but differs in having spherical or round, cremish white, tunicate bulbs, 10–17 distichous to sub distichous, canaliculated leaves, shorter, yellowish green peduncles (35–60 cm long), fewer flowers (up to 16), 6–12 capsules per infructscence, 4–7, chlorophyllous, rugose seeds per capsule and mainly vegetative propagation.
We surveyed the northern Western Ghats of Gujarat state for its herpetofaunal diversity from 2012... more We surveyed the northern Western Ghats of Gujarat state for its herpetofaunal diversity from 2012 to 2016. Taking a holistic approach, not only did we revise the checklist of amphibians and reptiles inhabiting this region by adding all past and present new regional records but we also advocate deleting some species dubiously or erroneously reported from this region, pending reliable, correctly identified vouchers. In all, 85 species, comprising 20 species of amphibians belonging to 11 genera and 7 families and 65 species of reptiles, belonging to 42 genera and 16 families were recorded. The conservation status, threats, endemism and habitat association of recorded species are also discussed.
The gekkonid lizard genus Hemidactylus Oken is the second most species-rich genus of geckos with ... more The gekkonid lizard genus Hemidactylus Oken is the second most species-rich genus of geckos with greatest diversity in the tropical regions of the world. Some species of the genus are commensal and widespread; however, there are several endemic lineages with restricted distribution. India is home to at least 35 species, with 20 endemic species and the number is steadily increasing with exploration of new habitats and integrated taxonomic approach including molecular data. We made investigations into the molecular and morphological variation throughout the distribution of Hemidactylus triedrus Daudin, 1802 based on fresh specimens, literature review, museum material and molecular data. Results from morphological, molecular and micro-CT based anatomical data are unequivocal and show that H. triedrus is a species complex represented by three species, H. triedrus sensu stricto and two undescribed taxa. H. subtriedrus Jerdon, 1854 syn. nov. was found to be morphologically similar to the type specimen of H. triedrus, and genetically embedded in a clade containing H. triedrus sensu stricto and is here treated as a junior synonym of H. triedrus, whereas H. lankae Deraniyagala is referred to as nomen dubium given that the types are presently not traceable and the original description is inadequate in diagnosing the taxon. The populations from western-central India and parts of Pakistan, and from southern Karnataka are distinct and diagnosable, and are herein described as two new species, respectively. Morphological and molecular data support the distinctiveness of the new species. The present work resolves a taxonomic turmoil that lasted over two centuries highlighting the need for studies that integrate morphological and molecular data.
The stone loaches of family Nemacheilidae is reported for the first time from the state of Gujara... more The stone loaches of family Nemacheilidae is reported for the first time from the state of Gujarat, India. During our recent survey in south Gujarat, we have collected two specimens of Schistura cf. denisoni and one specimen of Indoreonectes evezardi from two river (Ambika and Purna) systems; which represent new record of both the species as well as of Nemacheilid loaches for the state of Gujarat.
The monotypic colubrid snake genus Wallophis is revalidated and rediagnosed. Partial sequence for... more The monotypic colubrid snake genus Wallophis is revalidated and rediagnosed. Partial sequence for nuclear gene Oocyte maturation factor Mos (c-mos), mitochondrial Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) and cytochrome b (cyt b) were used to assess phylogenetic relationship. Wallophis brachyura type species for the genus was found to be a member of the Western Palearctic clade of Colubrinae and is recovered as a sister taxa to Wallaceophis gujaratensis. Wallophis differs from Wallaceophis in an uncorrected pairwise p-distance of 17% for mitochondrial ND4 gene. Wallaceophis gujaratensis was described in three different spellings in the literature hence we here propose Wallaceophis gujaratensis as the correct spelling for the species based on provisions in the article 24.2.3. of the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature.
The Saurashtra Peninsula, the largest geographical region of Gujarat state, is a prominent place ... more The Saurashtra Peninsula, the largest geographical region of Gujarat state, is a prominent place for herpetofauna in the state and recent herpetological explorations have uncovered three new reptilian species from this region. However, fine scale information on the distribution status of amphibians and reptiles, and baseline information about the regional herpetological diversity of many areas of Saurashtra is still lacking. In an attempt to fill the gaps in information, we surveyed the Girnar hill complex of Gujarat state for its herpetofaunal diversity from September, 2016 to August, 2018. In all, 56 species, comprising 10 species of amphibians belonging to 7 genera and 3 families and 46 species of reptiles, belonging to 31 genera and 15 families were recorded; of which, 2 unidentified frog and 2 unidentified lizard species need further taxonomic attention.
A new species of green pit vipers of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 is described from the ... more A new species of green pit vipers of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 is described from the lowlands of western Arunachal Pradesh state of India. The new species, Trimeresurus salazar, is a member of the subgenus Trimeresurus, a relationship deduced contingent on two mitochondrial genes, 16S and ND4, and recovered as sister to Trimeresurus septentrionalis Kramer, 1977. The new species differs from the latter in bearing an orange to reddish stripe running from the lower border of the eye to the posterior part of the head in males, higher number of pterygoid and dentary teeth, and a short, bilobed hemipenis. Description of the new species and T. arunachalensis Captain, Deepak, Pandit, Bhatt & Athreya, 2019 from northeastern India in a span of less than one year highlights the need for dedicated surveys to document biodiversity across northeastern India.
We report the first record of a snake, Ahaetulla laudankia Deepak, Narayanan, Sarkar, Dutta & Moh... more We report the first record of a snake, Ahaetulla laudankia Deepak, Narayanan, Sarkar, Dutta & Mohapatra, 2019 (Colubridae, Ahaetullinae) and confirm the occurrence of Lycodon travancoricus (Beddome, 1870) (Colubridae, Colu-brinae) from Gujarat state based on reptile surveys conducted in South, Central, and Saurashtra regions of the state. We also provide new information on the morphology, microhabitat, diet, and behaviour of these species.
We present a revised checklist of reptiles inhabiting Gujarat, based on historical records and in... more We present a revised checklist of reptiles inhabiting Gujarat, based on historical records and incorporating those from recent fieldwork. A total of 107 reptile species from 62 genera in 23 families was recorded. In addition, records for 23 species of reptiles dubiously or erroneously reported in the literature are discussed and recommended for removal from the Gujarat reptile list. Conservation status, threats, and endemism of recorded species are also discussed.
We here describe a new species of Crinum (Amaryllidaceae) from marshy areas along the Gira river,... more We here describe a new species of Crinum (Amaryllidaceae) from marshy areas along the Gira river, southern Gujarat, India. It superficially resembles C. solapurense but differs in having spherical or round, cremish white, tunicate bulbs, 10–17 distichous to sub distichous, canaliculated leaves, shorter, yellowish green peduncles (35–60 cm long), fewer flowers (up to 16), 6–12 capsules per infructscence, 4–7, chlorophyllous, rugose seeds per capsule and mainly vegetative propagation.
We surveyed the northern Western Ghats of Gujarat state for its herpetofaunal diversity from 2012... more We surveyed the northern Western Ghats of Gujarat state for its herpetofaunal diversity from 2012 to 2016. Taking a holistic approach, not only did we revise the checklist of amphibians and reptiles inhabiting this region by adding all past and present new regional records but we also advocate deleting some species dubiously or erroneously reported from this region, pending reliable, correctly identified vouchers. In all, 85 species, comprising 20 species of amphibians belonging to 11 genera and 7 families and 65 species of reptiles, belonging to 42 genera and 16 families were recorded. The conservation status, threats, endemism and habitat association of recorded species are also discussed.
The gekkonid lizard genus Hemidactylus Oken is the second most species-rich genus of geckos with ... more The gekkonid lizard genus Hemidactylus Oken is the second most species-rich genus of geckos with greatest diversity in the tropical regions of the world. Some species of the genus are commensal and widespread; however, there are several endemic lineages with restricted distribution. India is home to at least 35 species, with 20 endemic species and the number is steadily increasing with exploration of new habitats and integrated taxonomic approach including molecular data. We made investigations into the molecular and morphological variation throughout the distribution of Hemidactylus triedrus Daudin, 1802 based on fresh specimens, literature review, museum material and molecular data. Results from morphological, molecular and micro-CT based anatomical data are unequivocal and show that H. triedrus is a species complex represented by three species, H. triedrus sensu stricto and two undescribed taxa. H. subtriedrus Jerdon, 1854 syn. nov. was found to be morphologically similar to the type specimen of H. triedrus, and genetically embedded in a clade containing H. triedrus sensu stricto and is here treated as a junior synonym of H. triedrus, whereas H. lankae Deraniyagala is referred to as nomen dubium given that the types are presently not traceable and the original description is inadequate in diagnosing the taxon. The populations from western-central India and parts of Pakistan, and from southern Karnataka are distinct and diagnosable, and are herein described as two new species, respectively. Morphological and molecular data support the distinctiveness of the new species. The present work resolves a taxonomic turmoil that lasted over two centuries highlighting the need for studies that integrate morphological and molecular data.
The stone loaches of family Nemacheilidae is reported for the first time from the state of Gujara... more The stone loaches of family Nemacheilidae is reported for the first time from the state of Gujarat, India. During our recent survey in south Gujarat, we have collected two specimens of Schistura cf. denisoni and one specimen of Indoreonectes evezardi from two river (Ambika and Purna) systems; which represent new record of both the species as well as of Nemacheilid loaches for the state of Gujarat.
The monotypic colubrid snake genus Wallophis is revalidated and rediagnosed. Partial sequence for... more The monotypic colubrid snake genus Wallophis is revalidated and rediagnosed. Partial sequence for nuclear gene Oocyte maturation factor Mos (c-mos), mitochondrial Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) and cytochrome b (cyt b) were used to assess phylogenetic relationship. Wallophis brachyura type species for the genus was found to be a member of the Western Palearctic clade of Colubrinae and is recovered as a sister taxa to Wallaceophis gujaratensis. Wallophis differs from Wallaceophis in an uncorrected pairwise p-distance of 17% for mitochondrial ND4 gene. Wallaceophis gujaratensis was described in three different spellings in the literature hence we here propose Wallaceophis gujaratensis as the correct spelling for the species based on provisions in the article 24.2.3. of the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature.
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Papers by Harshil Patel