A distinctive early Miocene-divergent lineage of Old world racer snakes is described as a new genus and species based on three specimens collected from the western Indian state of Gujarat. Wallaceophis gen. et. gujaratenesis sp. nov. is a members of a clade of old world racers. The monotypic genus represents a distinct lineage among old world racers is recovered as a sister taxa to Lytorhynchus based on ~3047bp of combined nuclear (cmos) and mitochondrial molecular data (cytb, ND4, 12s, 16s). The snake is distinct morphologically in having a unique dorsal scale reduction formula not reported from any known colubrid snake genus. Uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence for nuclear gene cmos between Wallaceophis gen. et. gujaratenesis sp. nov. other members of the clade containing old world racers and whip snake is 21–36%.
Eastern Himalaya and northeastern India are part of two global biodiversity hotspots, yet the critical butterfly-plant associations and early stages of most butterfly species in this region are poorly recorded. We have reported early stages and larval host plants of 78 butterfly species, some of which are rare and endemic, providing specific information on spatial and temporal details associated with these records. These records contribute region-specific information on Indian butterflies, which may be useful in basic ecological and conservation studies in the future.
A distinctive new species of ground burrowing tarantula from Western Ghats endemic genus Thrigmopoeus is described from Kerala State, India. Thrigmopoeus psychedelicus sp. nov. differs from putative species of the genus in the adults being black overall with a metallic blue lustre on the carapace and abdomen. Females of Thrigmopoeus psychedelicus sp. nov. exhibit polychromatism. Juveniles and sub-adults are paler with vibrant maroon colouration on its abdomen whereas adult females are much darker and lack vibrant colouration as sub-adults.
A new species of lizard of the genus Eublepharis (Squamata: Eublepharidae) from India. We describe here a new species of the genus from the Satpura Hills in central India. The new species closely resembles , but can be differentiated from it by the following suite of characters: SVL 125-130 mm; dome shaped tubercles lacking keels arranged in ~20 rows on dorsum, inter-tubercular space greater than width of a tubercle; 46-48 ocular fringe scales, three pale bands between the nuchal loop and caudal constriction; medial subdigital lamellae smooth; 13-14 preanal pores, which may be interrupted medially by a single poreless scale. Description of the new species sheds light on the limited knowledge of species of the genus .
Keywords: description, taxonomy.Resumo Uma nova espécie de lagarto do gênero Eublepharis (Squamata: Eublepharidae) da Índia. Descrevemos aqui uma nova espécie de lagarto do gênero das Montanhas Satpura, Índia central. A nova espécie assemelha-se intimamente a , mas pode ser distinguida desta pelo seguinte conjunto de caracteres: SVL 125-130 mm; tubérculos em forma de domo, sem quilhas, subdigitais mediais lisas; 13-14 poros pré-anais, que podem estar interrompidos medialmente por .
Palavras-chave:Montanhas Satpura, taxonomia.
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