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Chan KO, Anuar S, Sankar A, Law IT, Law IS, Shivaram R, Christian C, Mulcahy DG, Malhotra A. A new species of pit-viper from the Ayeyarwady and Yangon regions in Myanmar (Viperidae, Trimeresurus). Zookeys 2023; 1186:221-234. [PMID: 38312859 PMCID: PMC10836646 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1186.110422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In a genomic study by Chan and colleagues, pit-vipers of the Trimeresuruserythrurus-purpureomaculatus complex from the Ayeyarwady and Yangon regions in Myanmar were demonstrated to be a distinct species based on robust population genetic and species delimitation analyses. Here, we provide morphological characterizations and a formal description of those populations as a new species. The new species, Trimeresurusayeyarwadyensissp. nov., is most closely related to T.erythrurus and T.purpureomaculatus and shares morphological characteristics with both of those species. Some specimens of T.ayeyarwadyensissp. nov. have green dorsal coloration and no distinct dorsal blotches (a trait shared with T.erythrurus but not T.purpureomaculatus), while others have dark dorsal blotches (a trait shared with T.purpureomaculatus but not T.erythrurus). The distinct evolutionary trajectory of the new species, coupled with the lack of obvious morphological differentiation, represents a classic example of the cryptic nature of species commonly found in the Trimeresurus group of Asian pit-vipers and underscores the need for data-rich analyses to verify species' boundaries more broadly within this genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kin Onn Chan
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, 117377 Singapore, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
| | - Shahrul Anuar
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
| | - Ananthanarayanan Sankar
- Herpetological Society of Singapore, 12J Sime Road, 288296 Singapore, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, 117377 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ingg Thong Law
- Herpetological Society of Singapore, 12J Sime Road, 288296 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ing Sind Law
- Herpetological Society of Singapore, 12J Sime Road, 288296 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rasu Shivaram
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, 117377 Singapore, Singapore
- Herpetological Society of Singapore, 12J Sime Road, 288296 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ching Christian
- Herpetological Society of Singapore, 12J Sime Road, 288296 Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, 117558 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Daniel G Mulcahy
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Anita Malhotra
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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