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

The Artefactual Branch Effect and Phylogenetic Conflict: Species Delimitation with Gene Flow in Mangrove Pit Vipers (Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus-erythrurus Complex)

Mangrove pit vipers of the Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus-erythrurus complex are the only species of viper known to naturally inhabit mangroves. Despite serving integral ecological functions in mangrove ecosystems, the evolutionary history, distribution, and species boundaries of mangrove pit vipers remain poorly understood, partly due to overlapping distributions, confusing phenotypic variations, and the lack of focused studies. Here, we present the first genomic study on mangrove pit vipers and introduce a robust hypothesis-driven species delimitation framework that considers gene flow and phylogenetic uncertainty in conjunction with a novel application of a new class of speciation-based delimitation model implemented through the program Delineate. Our results showed that gene flow produced phylogenetic conflict in our focal species and substantiates the artefactual branch effect where highly admixed populations appear as divergent nonmonophyletic lineages arranged in a stepwise manner at the basal position of clades. Despite the confounding effects of gene flow, we were able to obtain unequivocal support for the recognition of a new species based on the intersection and congruence of multiple lines of evidence. This study demonstrates that an integrative hypothesis-driven approach predicated on the consideration of multiple plausible evolutionary histories, population structure/differentiation, gene flow, and the implementation of a speciation-based delimitation model can effectively delimit species in the presence of gene flow and phylogenetic conflict.

A new species of pit-viper from the Ayeyarwady and Yangon regions in Myanmar (Viperidae, Trimeresurus)

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.

A checklist of herpetofauna of Telangana state, India

A checklist of herpetofauna of Telangana, India including accepted English name, scientific name along with authority, Telugu and vernacular name, IUCN, Indian Wildlife Protection Act and CITES status, and endemicity is presented in this paper. The herpetofauna diversity of Telangana is represented by 98 species including 16 species of amphibians belonging to four families, one species of crocodile, six species of testudines, 35 species of saurians and 40 species of snakes. Three species—Hemidactylus flavicaudus, H. xericolus, and H. aemulus—are endemic to Telangana.

A new cryptic species of green pit viper of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 (Serpentes, Viperidae) from northeast India

A new cryptic species of green pit viper is described from northeast India, based on specimens collected from the state of Mizoram and Meghalaya. The new species is a member of the subgenus Viridovipera and is sister to Trimeresurus medoensis based on molecular data for mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, whereas resembles Trimeresurus gumprechti morphologically. A combination of characters helps delimit the new species from its congeners. Description of the new species highlights the need for dedicated surveys across northeast India to document its reptilian diversity, as this represents the third new species of the genus to be described in the past three years.

Reptilian assemblages in the wetlands of Amboli hill complex, northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India during the monsoon season

We studied the reptilian diversity in and around five man-made wetlands in Amboli hill complex of the northern Western Ghats, in the monsoon seasons from 2011 to 2015. During the study we recorded 37 reptile species: 26 snakes, 10 lizards, and one turtle. Several endemic, range-restricted and newly-described species were recorded. We recorded the Indian Black Turtle Melanochelys trijuga, which is under ‘Near Threatened’ category of IUCN Red List 2020. We observed the greatest species richness at Gavase and Dhangarmola wetlands, followed by Khanapur, Yarandol, and Ningudage.