On the taxonomic validity of Boiga whitakeri Ganesh et al., 2021 with new insights on Boiga dightoni (Boulenger, 1894) (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae)

Colour polymorphism has been previously reported in several colubrid snakes including Boiga spp. In this paper, we report colour variations within the poorly known southern Indian Boiga dightoni, provide the first molecular data for this species, from two localities (including the type locality) and compare them with data from other congeners. Additionally, we provide detailed dentition and hemipenis descriptions for B. dightoni. Molecular data for B. dightoni show very little difference (0.2–0.4% 16S; 0.9–1.2% cyt b) to the recently described Boiga whitakeri, also from southern India. We have re-examined and present new information on the pholidosis of the type specimens of B. whitakeri and reconsider its taxonomic status. On the basis of molecular data and overlapping morphological characteristics, we argue that Boiga whitakeri and Boiga dightoni are conspecific, and place B. whitakeri under the subjective synonymy of the latter. Furthermore, we show that colour polymorphism in B. dightoni is a gender-independent character and that both colour morphs are found in high as well as low elevations and partly in sympatry. A revised key to the Boiga ceylonensis complex is provided

Liopeltis calamaria (Calamaria Reed Snake). Head Wobbling Behavior.

This video demonstrates behavior. Most videos in this collection have no audible language and for those that do, the language isn't necessary to understand the behavior. For that reason, transcripts are not provided.Integrative Biolog

A new species of Ahaetulla Link, 1807 (Serpentes: Colubridae: Ahaetullinae) from India

Deepak, V., Narayanan, Surya, Sarkar, Vivek, Dutta, Sushil K., Mohapatra, Pratyush P. (2019): A new species of Ahaetulla Link, 1807 (Serpentes: Colubridae: Ahaetullinae) from India. Journal of Natural History 53 (9): 497-516, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2019.158959

A new species of Xylophis Beddome, 1878 (Serpentes: Pareidae) from the southern Western Ghats of India

We reassess the taxonomy of the Indian endemic snake Xylophis captaini and describe a new species of Xylophis based on a type series of three specimens from the southernmost part of mainland India. Xylophis deepaki sp. nov. is most similar phenotypically to X. captaini, with which it was previously confused. The new species differs from X. captaini by having a broader, more regular and ventrally extensive off-white collar, more ventral scales (117–125 versus 102–113), and by lack of flounces on the body and proximal lobes of the hemipenis. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial 16S DNA sequences strongly indicates that the new species is most closely related to X. captaini, differing from it by an uncorrected pairwise genetic distance of 4.2%. A revised key to the species of Xylophis is provided

A novel, diminutive Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from a sacred grove in Odisha, eastern India

Mohapatra, Pratyush P., Khandekar, Akshay, Dutta, Sushil K., Mahapatra, Cuckoo, Agarwal, Ishan (2020): A novel, diminutive Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from a sacred grove in Odisha, eastern India. Zootaxa 4852 (4): 485-499, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4852.4.

FIGURE 5 in Hemidactylus paucifasciatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new species of large-bodied, tuberculate gecko from Northern Odisha, India

FIGURE 5. Hemidactylus paucifasciatus sp. nov. in life: (A) male, holotype, ZSI-R-28357 (B) male, paratype, NCBS-BH668 and (C) sub-adult female, paratype, ZSI-CZRC-7117. Photos by Rakesh Kumar Mohalik (A, C) and Pratyush P. Mohapatra (B).Published as part of <i>Mohapatra, Pratyush P., Agarwal, Ishan, Mohalik, Rakesh Kumar, Dutta, Sushil K. & Khandekar, Akshay, 2023, Hemidactylus paucifasciatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new species of large-bodied, tuberculate gecko from Northern Odisha, India, pp. 365-382 in Zootaxa 5301 (3)</i> on page 375, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5301.3.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8030404">http://zenodo.org/record/8030404</a&gt

FIGURE 1 in Hemidactylus paucifasciatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new species of large-bodied, tuberculate gecko from Northern Odisha, India

FIGURE 1. (A) Relief map of Odisha and neighbouring states showing the distribution of members of the sushilduttai and triedrus clades, and (B) Maximum Likelihood phylogeny of the prashadi group of Indian Hemidactylus based on the protein coding ND2 gene. Bootstrap support shown and nodes and major clades marked.Published as part of <i>Mohapatra, Pratyush P., Agarwal, Ishan, Mohalik, Rakesh Kumar, Dutta, Sushil K. & Khandekar, Akshay, 2023, Hemidactylus paucifasciatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new species of large-bodied, tuberculate gecko from Northern Odisha, India, pp. 365-382 in Zootaxa 5301 (3)</i> on page 368, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5301.3.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8030404">http://zenodo.org/record/8030404</a&gt

FIGURE 6 in Hemidactylus paucifasciatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new species of large-bodied, tuberculate gecko from Northern Odisha, India

FIGURE 6. Paratypes of Hemidactylus paucifasciatus sp. nov., from left to right, ZSI-CZRC-7117 NCBS-BH668 NCBSBH669. Scale bars 10 mm, photo by Akshay Khandekar.Published as part of <i>Mohapatra, Pratyush P., Agarwal, Ishan, Mohalik, Rakesh Kumar, Dutta, Sushil K. & Khandekar, Akshay, 2023, Hemidactylus paucifasciatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new species of large-bodied, tuberculate gecko from Northern Odisha, India, pp. 365-382 in Zootaxa 5301 (3)</i> on page 376, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5301.3.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8030404">http://zenodo.org/record/8030404</a&gt

FIGURE 3 in Hemidactylus paucifasciatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new species of large-bodied, tuberculate gecko from Northern Odisha, India

FIGURE 3. Hemidactylus paucifasciatus sp. nov. (holotype, ZSI-R-28357): (A) dorsal view of head, (B) ventral view of head, (C) lateral view of head, (D) view of femoral region showing femoral pores, (E) ventral view of right manus, and (F) ventral view of right pes. Scale bars 5 mm, photos by Akshay Khandekar.Published as part of <i>Mohapatra, Pratyush P., Agarwal, Ishan, Mohalik, Rakesh Kumar, Dutta, Sushil K. & Khandekar, Akshay, 2023, Hemidactylus paucifasciatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new species of large-bodied, tuberculate gecko from Northern Odisha, India, pp. 365-382 in Zootaxa 5301 (3)</i> on page 371, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5301.3.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8030404">http://zenodo.org/record/8030404</a&gt