Submitted date: 10 January 2025 Accepted date: 25 March 2025 Published date: 25 April 2025 Pp. 25–38.
A NEW BLIND SKINK (REPTILIA: DIBAMIDAE: Dibamus) FROM BUTON ISLAND, INDONESIA
M. Dwi Prasetyo, D. Satria Yudha, A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Ivan Ineich, G.R. Gillespie & Awal Riyanto* *Corresponding author. E-mail: awal.riyanto@gmail.com
Abstract Blind skinks of the genus Dibamus are one of the least studied squamate taxa, only represented by a limited number of museum specimens. Here we study the taxonomy of Dibamus novaeguineae sensu lato in Indonesia by examining all the available museum specimens collected from Wallacea and mainland West Papua deposited at the Museum Zoologicum Bogorienese (MZB) and evaluate morphological and biogeographic evidence. We also include all published data on specimens that were attributed to that species. Dibamus novaeguineae is widely distributed throughout mainland Papua, Maluku, Sulawesi, and adjacent islands, the Lesser Sunda Islands, and the Philippines. We compare D. novaeguineae sensu stricto on Papua and sensu lato populations on the Lesser Sunda Islands and demonstrate that the D. cf. novaeguineae population on Buton Island represents a distinct endemic phenotype. Based on morphological and scalation differences, we here describe this isolated population on Buton, an island off the coast of southeastern Sulawesi, as a new species. We further discuss the biogeography of that new species.
Key words :Dibamus novaeguineae, Lesser Sunda, Moluccas, Morphology, Sulawesi, Taxonomy
Abstract We document the occurrence of two species of the family Dicroglossidae from Kangchup Hills, Manipur, India, Fejervarya limnocharis and Minervarya sengupti. Fejervarya limnocharis is a widely distributed Asian dicroglossid frog with a complex taxonomy. This is the first time it has been reported in India, expanding its range significantly. The presence of Minervarya sengupti in Manipur also expands its distribution. We compare the morphology of their tadpoles, particularly focusing on their oral apparatus, which was examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy. We also report the results of a genetic analysis of the two species using 16S rRNA. Our findings underscore the importance of detailed morphological studies in clarifying species diversity and distribution within the family Dicroglossidae.
Key words :Fejervarya limnocharis, Minervaya sengupti, tadpole taxonomy, oral morphology
Submitted date: 28 November 2024 Accepted date: 16 January 2025 Published date: 28 January 2025 Pp. 1–15, pls. 1–2.
A NEW SPECIES OF KARST-ASSOCIATED PITVIPER OF THE Trimeresurus kanburiensis COMPLEX (SQUAMATA: VIPERIDAE) FROM EASTERN THAILAND
Parinya Pawangkhanant, Sabira S. Idiiatullina, Ton Smits, Ian Dugdale, Andrew Pierce, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom & Nikolay A. Poyarkov* *Corresponding author. E-mail: n.poyarkov@gmail.com
Abstract We describe a new species of karst-dwelling pitviper from Sa Kaeo Province in eastern Thailand based on morphological and molecular (2,296 bp from cyt b, ND4, and 16S rRNA mitochondrial DNA genes) lines of evidence. Our phylogenetic analysis places the new species as a sister lineage of Trimeresurus venustus (p = 2.7% and 3.7% for cyt b and ND4 genes, respectively). It is also closely related to T. cardamomensis (p = 2.1% and 2.6% for cyt b and ND4 genes, respectively). To date, the new species is known from only two adult specimens, and its distribution seems to be restricted to a narrow limestone karst area in the province of Sa Kaeo in Thailand near the national border with Cambodia. Additional studies are required to understand its life history, distribution, and conservation status. The discovery of this new species brings the total number of known Trimeresurus to 51 species, 19 of which occur in Thailand, including five that are endemic to this country.
Key words : limestone, morphology, molecular phylogeny, systematics, Sa Kaeo Province