Neotype designation for \u3cem\u3eScorpiops pachmarhicus\u3c/em\u3e Bastawade, 1992 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), with redescription and notes on the species

Scorpiops pachmarhicus Bastawade, 1992 was described based on specimens collected from Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh. An expedition to the type locality led to discovery of a population at the type locality which permit us to designate a neotype for the species as types of the species are presently not traceable

A new species of \u3cem\u3eIsometrus\u3c/em\u3e Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from southeastern plains of Tamil Nadu, India

We here describe a new species of Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 from the southeastern plains of Tamil Nadu, India, which is known only from its type locality, Chengalpattu. The new species was recovered as sister to Isometrus nakshatra based on a molecular phylogeny inferred from COI and 16S mitochondrial genes. Sequence divergence between the new species and all the Indian congeners was 12.6–15.7 % for COI and 12.2–14.4 % for 16S. The new species can also be differentiated from all the Indian congeners based on the following set of characters: surface of carapace with mixed (coarse and fine) and dense granulation; telson vesicle length to depth ratio in males 3.5–3.7; chela length to width ratio in males 5.0–5.4; metasomal length to carapace length ratio in males 8.2–8.9; coarse granulation on mesosomal tergites V and VI along the margins; lateral supramedian and ventral lateral carinae on metasomal segments II–IV moderately to weakly granular; ventral median carina of telson vesicle weakly granular; spiniform granules of promedian carina of the pedipalp patella strongly developed. This is the ninth species of Isometrus described from India and the first species from southeastern peninsular India. This discovery highlights the need for more surveys from the eastern peninsular region

Two new species of \u3cem\u3eChiromachetes\u3c/em\u3e (Scorpiones: Hormuridae) from the northern Western Ghats, India

Two new species of Chiromachetes Pocock, 1899 (Hormuridae) are described from the northern Western Ghats of India using an integrated taxonomic approach. Chiromachetes parakrami sp. n. and C. ramdasswamii sp. n. are closely related and differ from each other and C. sahyadriensis by morphological features and raw genetic divergence of 7.9–9.4 %

First appearance deceives many: disentangling the Hemidactylus triedrus species complex using an integrated approach

The gekkonid lizard genus Hemidactylus Oken is the second most species-rich genus of geckos with greatest diversity in the tropical regions of the world. Some species of the genus are commensal and widespread; however, there are several endemic lineages with restricted distribution. India is home to at least 35 species, with 20 endemic species and the number is steadily increasing with exploration of new habitats and integrated taxonomic approach including molecular data. We made investigations into the molecular and morphological variation throughout the distribution of Hemidactylus triedrus Daudin, 1802 based on fresh specimens, literature review, museum material and molecular data. Results from morphological, molecular and micro-CT based anatomical data are unequivocal and show that H. triedrus is a species complex represented by three species, H. triedrus sensu stricto and two undescribed taxa. H. subtriedrus Jerdon, 1854 syn. nov. was found to be morphologically similar to the type specimen of H. triedrus, and genetically embedded in a clade containing H. triedrus sensu stricto and is here treated as a junior synonym of H. triedrus, whereas H. lankae Deraniyagala is referred to as nomen dubium given that the types are presently not traceable and the original description is inadequate in diagnosing the taxon. The populations from western-central India and parts of Pakistan, and from southern Karnataka are distinct and diagnosable, and are herein described as two new species, respectively. Morphological and molecular data support the distinctiveness of the new species. The present work resolves a taxonomic turmoil that lasted over two centuries highlighting the need for studies that integrate morphological and molecular data

Molecular and morphological confirmation of \u3cem\u3eIsometrus maculatus\u3c/em\u3e (DeGeer, 1778) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Northeast India and East Asia

We present molecular data on Isometrus maculatus (DeGeer, 1778) for the first time from India, Japan, and Taiwan based on the COI gene and justify the cosmopolitan nature of this species. We also address the first population of I. maculatus found in Teliamura, Tripura, India and give its detailed description and comparison with the rest of the Isometrus species from India. Furthermore, we discuss the justification for considering Sri Lanka as the true home of I. maculatus

Systematics of Trimeresurus popeiorum Smith, 1937 with a revised molecular phylogeny of Asian pitvipers of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 sensu lato

The pit viper snake genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 sensu lato, is a diverse group of nocturnal serpents comprising over 61 species. The genus is morphologically heterogeneous and has been divided into several subgenera. We present an updated phylogeny of Asian pitvipers and propose a revised classification. Additionally, we revise the taxonomy of T. popeiorum Smith, 1937 and propose taxonomic changes with support from molecular and morphological data. We restrict T. popeiorum sensu stricto to northeastern India, Bangladesh, southern China, and northern Myanmar; populations beyond these areas require further assessment. We also synonymize T. yingjiangensis Chen et al., 2019 with T. popeiorum based on overlapping morphological characters, molecular data, and distribution. The findings shed new light on the taxonomy of T. popeiorum, warranting the need for assessing the population of T. popeiorum from southeast Asia

Figure 33 in A new species of Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from southeastern plains of Tamil Nadu, India

Figure 33. Distribution of Indian Isometrus species with elevation data. The stars represent the type localities.Published as part of Deshpande, Shubhankar, Gowande, Gaurang, Bastawade, Deshabhushan & Sulakhe, Shauri, 2022, A new species of Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from southeastern plains of Tamil Nadu, India, pp. 1-19 in Euscorpius 353 on page 17, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.716323

Figures 12–17 in A new species of Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from southeastern plains of Tamil Nadu, India

Figures 12–17. Isometrus longitelson sp. n., male, holotype. Pedipalp chela dorsal (12) and ventral (13) views, patella dorsal (14) and external (15) views, femur dorsal (16) and internal (17) views. Trichobothrial pattern indicated by yellow circles. Scale bar = 1 mm.Published as part of Deshpande, Shubhankar, Gowande, Gaurang, Bastawade, Deshabhushan & Sulakhe, Shauri, 2022, A new species of Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from southeastern plains of Tamil Nadu, India, pp. 1-19 in Euscorpius 353 on page 8, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.716323

Arboreal gems: resurrection of Isometrus sankeriensis Tikader & Bastawade, 1983 and descriptions of two new species of Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from the Western Ghats, India

The Western Ghats of India is considered one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in the world. Documenting scorpion diversity has always been of paramount importance due to their species richness, ecological role and endemism, which calls for conservation priority. Scorpion diversity of the Western Ghats is probably underestimated given the ancestry of the group, and more field work in the region is very likely to uncover numerous undescribed taxa. Several new Indian species have recently been discovered in the scorpion genus Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae). In this communication, we resurrect I. sankeriensis Tikader & Bastawade, 1983 and describe two new species from the Western Ghats of India, I. nakshatra sp. nov. and I. wayanadensis sp. nov., using an integrative taxonomic approach. In order to replace the lost holotype of I. sankeriensis, we designate a neotype and reassess the identity of this species. This work elevates the number of species of Isometrus found in India to eight and we expect many more scorpion discoveries from India with continued research