Latest Articles from Vertebrate Zoology Latest 3 Articles from Vertebrate Zoology https://vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 23:46:25 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Vertebrate Zoology https://vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/ Limestone jewel: A new colourful karst-dwelling pitviper (Serpentes: Viperidae: Trimeresurus) from the poorly explored borderlands of southern peninsular Thailand https://vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/109854/ Vertebrate Zoology 73: 697-716

DOI: 10.3897/vz.73.e109854

Authors: Sabira S. Idiiatullina, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Tanapong Tawan, Thanawut Worranuch, Bunyarit Dechochai, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Tan Van Nguyen, Lawan Chanhome, Nikolay A. Poyarkov

Abstract: Abstract We describe a new species of pitvipers from Trang Province of Thailand, near the Thailand–Malaysian border, based on morphological and molecular (2427 bp from cyt b, ND4, and 16S rRNA mitochondrial DNA genes) lines of evidence. Morphologically, Trimeresurus ciliaris sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: a long papillose hemipenis; first supralabial and nasal scale fused; three to four small supraocular scales; internasals not in contact; small scale between nasal and the scale formed by the fused second supralabial and loreal present; dorsal scales in 17–17–15 rows across the body; ventral scales 172–175 in males, 171 in female; subcaudal scales 59–63 in males, 61 in female, all paired; in life an emerald-green dorsum with reddish-brown bands; creamy-white venter lacking dark dots or stripes on the lateral sides of the ventrals; white vertebral spots present in both sexes on every two or three dorsal scales; dark brown spots forming discontinuous pattern present on 1–3 lateral dorsal scale rows; males with reddish-brown postocular stripe. The new species forms a distinct clade on the phylogenetic tree of the genus Trimeresurus and differs from the morphologically similar species T. venustus by a significant divergence in cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA gene sequences (p = 12.5%). The new species is currently known from a small karstic area in the Nakawan Range spanning the border of Thailand and Malaysia, in particular in limestone forests in Trang and Satun provinces (Thailand); it likely also occurs in the adjacent parts of Perlis State (Malaysia). Our study also suggests that the taxonomy of T. kanburiensis species complex requires further studies; in particular our study suggests that the status of populations from Chumphon Province of Thailand and Pulau Langkawi Island of Malaysia should be re-assessed.

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Research Article Tue, 19 Sep 2023 13:31:15 +0300
Hidden in the highs: Two new species of the enigmatic toadheaded pitvipers of the genus Bothrocophias https://vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/87313/ Vertebrate Zoology 72: 971-996

DOI: 10.3897/vz.72.e87313

Authors: Teddy Angarita-Sierra, Sergio Daniel Cubides-Cubillos, Juan Pablo Hurtado-Gómez

Abstract: Bothrocophias microphthalmus (Cope, 1875) currently comprises most mid- to highland populations of the genus Bothrocophias in the eastern versant of the Andes. We describe two new species of Bothrocophias from the highlands of the Colombian Andes previously referred to as B. microphthalmus based on morphological and genetic evidence. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed that B. micropthalmus as currently recognized is paraphyletic with respect to B. hyoprora, and the two new taxa are sister lineages. These new toadheaded pitvipers can be morphologically distinguished from their congeners based on the presence of contact between the internasal scales, the number of prefoveal scales, the presence of a lacunolabial scale, the arrangement of supralabial scales, ventral scale counts, the color pattern of the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the body and tail, and hemipenial morphology. We discuss some possible taxonomic scenarios for the lineages found within the B. microphthalmus species complex but refrain from making additional taxonomic changes given our reduced sampling of the southern lineages.

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Research Article Fri, 28 Oct 2022 14:16:27 +0300
Resolving pitfalls in pit viper systematics – A multi-criteria approach to species delimitation in pit vipers (Reptilia, Viperidae, Craspedocephalus) of Peninsular India reveals cryptic diversity https://vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/66239/ Vertebrate Zoology 71: 577-619

DOI: 10.3897/vz.71.e66239

Authors: Ashok Kumar Mallik, Achyuthan Needamangalam Srikanthan, Sumaithangi Rajagopalan Ganesh, Seenapuram Palaniswamy Vijayakumar, Patrick D. Campbell, Anita Malhotra, Kartik Shanker

Abstract: Abstract Asian pit vipers belonging to the genus Craspedocephalus are a complex group of vipers, distributed in South and Southeast Asia. Their taxonomy is unresolved in many lineages across their distributional range. Here, we reassess the taxonomy and systematics of pit vipers of the genus Craspedocephalus in Peninsular India based on extensive field sampling, in particular in the Western Ghats. We build and expand on the previous findings of genetic relatedness between the peninsular Indian lineages with the Sundaic clade (C. puniceus complex) with greater evidence, based on additional taxa sequenced herein. We reconstruct the phylogeny of the group using three mitochondrial genes and delineated lineages using coalescent species delimitation methods. We then used multiple criteria including genetic divergence and separation in morphological and geographic space to designate taxonomic units. Our work revealed the presence of a South Asian radiation of the clade Craspedocephalus, with a few Sundaic members. Our study reveals the systematic relationships of four Peninsular Indian species of Craspedocephalus, including Peltopelor macrolepis and C. strigatus, sequenced here for the first time, that are classified or confirmed as members of Craspedocephalus. Hence, we place the genus Peltopelor in the synonymy of Craspedocephalus. Using our multi-criteria approach, we delimit four new cryptic evolutionary lineages within the Western Ghats escarpment of Peninsular India. These cryptic lineages belong to the C. malabaricus, C. gramineus and C. macrolepis complexes and are geographically and/or ecologically (in terms of habitat association) distinct from their sister lineages across their distributional range, while others are separated in morphological space. Our new phylogenetic tree and delimitation analysis thus reveals the presence of multiple clades with several cryptic lineages separated by geographical barriers or habitat association.

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Research Article Wed, 6 Oct 2021 15:57:16 +0300