A new cryptic species of ground-dwelling Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from southern India

Uma nova espécie críptica de Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) terrestre do sul da Índia. Espécimes recentemente coletados de uma lagartixa semelhante a Hemidactylus reticulatus do norte do estado de Karnataka, no sudoeste da Índia, levou-me a investigar a variação na espécie relacionada à morfologia e divergência molecular. Os resultados baseados no material existente em museus, combinados com dados moleculares para o gene do citocromo b mitocondrial suportam a presença de espécies crípticas dentro do complexo H. reticulatus, que possui distribuição ampla. Descrevo aqui uma nova espécie de Hemidactylus do norte de Karnataka como a primeira contribuição para a solução desse complexo de espécies. A integração de dados moleculares e morfológicos suporta o caráter distinto da nova espécie aqui descrita.A new cryptic species of ground-dwelling Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from southern India. Recently collected specimens of a gecko resembling Hemidactylus reticulatus from northern Karnataka State in southwestern India led me to investigate variation in the species with regards to its morphology and molecular divergence. Results based on existing museum material, combined with molecular data for the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene support the presence of cryptic species within the broadly distributed H. reticulatus complex. Here, I describe a new species of Hemidactylus from northern Karnataka as the frst contribution in resolving the species complex. The integration of molecular and morphological data supports the distinctness of the new species described herein

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 the genus \u3cem\u3eThaicharmus\u3c/em\u3e Kovařík, 1995 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from northeast India

A new species Thaicharmus guptai sp. nov. is described from the northeast Indian state of Tripura. The new species differs from the known members of the genus in the following set of morphological characters: large size (total length 45.6 mm); trichobothrium d2 is distal to i1 on femur; trichobothria est, em and et on the external surface of the patella do not form a straight line. Subaculear tubercle is absent. The movable finger of pedipalp chela has 12 cutting rows of denticles. The movable finger is much longer than the pedipalp patella. Number of pectinal teeth 20/19; pectines with distinct lamellae and fulcra. Two horn-like projections are present on the ventrolateral aspect of the metasomal segment V

A new species of the enigmatic genus \u3cem\u3eChiromachetes\u3c/em\u3e Pocock, 1899 (Scorpiones: Hormuridae) from Western Ghats, India, with a key to the genus

A new species of hormurid scorpion is described from the Western Ghats of India. Chiromachetes sahyadriensis sp. nov. differs from other members of this genus in the following set of characters: medium sized scorpions, total length reaching 62.9 mm, carapace flat, three pairs of lateral eyes, manus length/width ratio in males 4.6–4.8 and 3.4 in females, tarsi of leg ventrally with three spinoid setae at the base of tarsi. Dentate margin of pedipalp manus finger with two rows of granules fused at base. Pectines 8–9 in males, 6–8 in females. Lamellar hook positioned distinctly in basal half of hemispermatophore in proximity to the lamellae

Uma nova espécie de lagarto do gênero Eublepharis (Squamata: Eublepharidae) da Índia

Descrevemos aqui uma nova espécie de lagarto do gênero Eublepharis das Montanhas Satpura, Índia central. A nova espécie assemelha-se intimamente a E. fuscus, mas pode ser distinguida desta pelo seguinte conjunto de caracteres: SVL 125–130 mm; tubérculos em forma de domo, sem quilhas, arranjados em ~20 fileiras no dorso, espaço intertubercular maior que a largura de um tubérculo; 46–48 escamas na franja ocular, três faixas claras entre a curva nucal e a constrição caudal; lamelas subdigitais mediais lisas; 13–14 poros pré-anais, que podem estar interrompidos medialmente por uma única escama sem poro. A descrição da nova espécie aumenta o conhecimento limitado de Eublepharis na Índia. Fornecemos uma chave de identificação para as espécies do gênero Eublepharis.We describe here a new species of the genus Eublepharis from the Satpura Hills in central India. The new species closely resembles E. fuscus, but can be differentiated from it by the following suite of characters: SVL 125–130 mm; dome shaped tubercles lacking keels arranged in ~20 rows on dorsum, inter-tubercular space greater than width of a tubercle; 46–48 ocular fringe scales, three pale bands between the nuchal loop and caudal constriction; medial subdigital lamellae smooth; 13–14 preanal pores, which may be interrupted medially by a single poreless scale. Description of the new species sheds light on the limited knowledge of Eublepharis in India. We provide an identification key to the species of the genus Eublepharis

A new species of scorpion of the genus \u3cem\u3eButhoscorpio\u3c/em\u3e Werner, 1936 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Andhra Pradesh, India

A new species of scorpion, Buthoscorpio rayalensis sp. nov., is described from Andhra Pradesh, India. The new species of scorpion can be differentiated from its congeners in having the following set of morphological characters: anterior edge of carapace exhibiting very broad subtle indentation with a conspicuous epistome present medially, median eyes situated anteriorly in the ratio 1:3.1, interocular area smooth, patella anteriorly smooth and rounded, mesosomal tergites smooth, pectines 17–17, and arrangement of lateral eyes. Stenochirus jinnahii Amir, Kama-luddin et Jabbar, 2005 and S. rahmatii Amir, Kamaluddin et Jabbar, 2005 are considered Buthidae incertae sedis as their generic allocation has been erroneous

A new species of \u3cem\u3eOrthochirus\u3c/em\u3e Karsch, 1892 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Maharashtra, India

A new species of scorpions of the genus Orthochirus (Buthidae) is described from Jalna, Maharashtra, India. A key to Indian scorpion of the genus Orthochirus is provided

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

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

Utilisation of an operative difficulty grading scale for laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background A reliable system for grading operative difficulty of laparoscopic cholecystectomy would standardise description of findings and reporting of outcomes. The aim of this study was to validate a difficulty grading system (Nassar scale), testing its applicability and consistency in two large prospective datasets. Methods Patient and disease-related variables and 30-day outcomes were identified in two prospective cholecystectomy databases: the multi-centre prospective cohort of 8820 patients from the recent CholeS Study and the single-surgeon series containing 4089 patients. Operative data and patient outcomes were correlated with Nassar operative difficultly scale, using Kendall’s tau for dichotomous variables, or Jonckheere–Terpstra tests for continuous variables. A ROC curve analysis was performed, to quantify the predictive accuracy of the scale for each outcome, with continuous outcomes dichotomised, prior to analysis. Results A higher operative difficulty grade was consistently associated with worse outcomes for the patients in both the reference and CholeS cohorts. The median length of stay increased from 0 to 4 days, and the 30-day complication rate from 7.6 to 24.4% as the difficulty grade increased from 1 to 4/5 (both p < 0.001). In the CholeS cohort, a higher difficulty grade was found to be most strongly associated with conversion to open and 30-day mortality (AUROC = 0.903, 0.822, respectively). On multivariable analysis, the Nassar operative difficultly scale was found to be a significant independent predictor of operative duration, conversion to open surgery, 30-day complications and 30-day reintervention (all p < 0.001). Conclusion We have shown that an operative difficulty scale can standardise the description of operative findings by multiple grades of surgeons to facilitate audit, training assessment and research. It provides a tool for reporting operative findings, disease severity and technical difficulty and can be utilised in future research to reliably compare outcomes according to case mix and intra-operative difficulty