On the taxonomy of Uropeltis petersi (Beddome, 1878) (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) and description of a new, closely related species from the Western Ghats of India

Gower, David J.

doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5319.1.7

Zootaxa

2023

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5319.1.7

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On the taxonomy of Uropeltis petersi (Beddome, 1878) (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) and description of a new, closely related species from the Western Ghats of India

David J. Gower¹

Abstract: A new species of the uropeltid snake genus Uropeltis Cuvier, 1829 is described from the environs of Munnar in the Anamalai hils of the Western Ghats of peninsular India. Uropeltis tricuspida sp. nov. superficially resembles the poorly known and closely related U. petersi, but differs from that species in having more ventral and subcaudal scales, and a tri- rather than bicuspid posterior tip to the terminal scute.

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Cited by 2 publications

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Rediscovery and systematics of Rhinophis fergusonianus Boulenger, 1896 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from India’s Western Ghats

GOWER,

NARAYANAN,

DEEPAK

et al. 2023

Zootaxa

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The shieldtail snake Rhinophis fergusonianus Boulenger, 1896 was previously known only from the holotype specimen collected approximately 130 years ago from an imprecise Indian locality (Cardamom Hills). We report the rediscovery of this species from four localities, from low-elevation hills on both sides of the Palghat Gap in the southern part of the Western Ghats of peninsular India. We document new specimens of R. fergusonianus and provide a reassessment of the systematics of the species based on external morphology and DNA-sequence data. We also provide a revised key to the identification of Indian species of Rhinophis.

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Rediscovery and systematics of Rhinophis fergusonianus Boulenger, 1896 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from India’s Western Ghats

GOWER,

NARAYANAN,

DEEPAK

et al. 2023

Zootaxa

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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A new species of Uropeltis Cuvier, 1829 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the eastern escarpment of the southern Western Ghats, India

GOWER,

DAS,

DEEPAK

et al. 2024

Zootaxa

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A new species of the uropeltid (‘shieldtail’) snake genus Uropeltis is described based on eight specimens from the southern part of peninsular India’s Western Ghats. Uropeltis caudomaculata sp. nov. is phenotypically and genetically most similar to U. pulneyensis (Beddome, 1863), but differs primarily in having more ventral scales and in being restricted to the eastern escarpment of the Western Ghats between Meghamalai and approximately 15 km East of Munnar rather than in the Palani Hills, as well as differing in DNA nucleotide sequences. From verified records, we consider U. pulneyensis to be known thus far only from the Palani Hills, and we designate a lectotype for the species. Reconsideration of the holotype of Silybura guentheri Beddome, 1878 from Meghamalai leads us to conclude that it should be removed from the subjective junior synonymy of U. pulneyensis and be considered a distinct though very poorly known species, Uropeltis guentheri comb. nov.

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On the taxonomy of Uropeltis petersi (Beddome, 1878) (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) and description of a new, closely related species from the Western Ghats of India

Cited by 2 publications

References 7 publications

Rediscovery and systematics of Rhinophis fergusonianus Boulenger, 1896 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from India’s Western Ghats

Rediscovery and systematics of Rhinophis fergusonianus Boulenger, 1896 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from India’s Western Ghats

A new species of Uropeltis Cuvier, 1829 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the eastern escarpment of the southern Western Ghats, India

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