A new species of Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India

We report the first occurrence of the Asian Rock Gecko genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 from mainland Myanmar based on a series of specimens recently collected from the Tanintharyi Region. These records come from several localities in the Tanintharyi Region and fill a significant sampling gap for the genus. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using the mitochondrial gene ND2 identify two distinct clades, the first includes Cnemaspis siamensis of the Southeast Asian Cnemaspis group and the second includes two new species belonging to the South Asian Cnemaspis kandiana group. These two species are morphologically distinct and are distinguished from all other members in the C. kandiana group by a combination of character states. The first species, Cnemaspis tanintharyi sp. nov. occurs on the mainland in southern Tanintharyi and is distinguished from all congeners by the possession of keeled pectoral scales; smooth ventral scales and abdominal scales; 2-4 precloacal pores; 4-5 femoral pores on each leg; smooth subcaudal scales with the median row enlarged; coloration of the gular region beige, dark gray-brown with dark blue hueing towards throat; 15-18 subdigital lamellae on the 4th toe; and 21-23 ventral scales at midbody. The other, Cnemaspis thayawthadangyi sp. nov. is known only from the island group of Thayawthadangyi, in the Myeik Archipelago and is distinguished from all congeners by the possession of keeled pectoral scales; keeled ventral scales and abdominal scales; three precloacal pores; four femoral pores on each leg; smooth subcaudal scales, scales on median row enlarged; coloration of the gular region silver with dark-gray irregularly shaped streaks; 16-18 subdigital lamellae on the 4th toe; and 18-20 ventral scales at midbody. In addition, we address the taxonomic status of populations referred to as C. kandiana (a species now restricted to Sri Lanka) found in peninsular Thailand and provisionally assign them as C. cf. tanintharyi sp. nov. until further analysis can be conducted. Finally, we briefly discuss the biogeography of the South Asian clade of Cnemaspis.

We describe a new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus on the basis of three specimens from Khammouane Province, Laos. Cyrtodactylus soudthichaki sp. nov. is distinguished from the remaining congeners by the combination of the following characters: adult SVL 69.2-70.0 mm; dorsal head and neck with dark blotches; nuchal loop present; dorsum with five brown bands between limb insertions; 19 or 20 irregular rows of dorsal tubercles; 32 or 33 ventral scale rows; ventrolateral folds present, with distinct tubercles; dorsal surface of hind limbs with tubercles; 29 precloacal and femoral pores in a continuous row in males, precloacal pores absent in the female; enlarged femoral and precloacal scales present; 4 or 5 postcloacal tubercles; and subcaudals transversely enlarged. The new species most closely resembles Cyrtodactylus jaegeri and Cyrtodactylus roesleri in overall coloration and pattern. However, they can be clearly distinguished from each other in the number of dorsal tubercle rows, ventral scales, and femoral and precloacal pores. Cyrtodactylus soudthichaki is the 16th species of Cyrtodactylus known from Laos.

Cyrtodactylusmonilatus sp. nov. is described from Si Sawat District, Kanchanaburi Province, in western Thailand. The new species superficially resembles C.zebraicus Taylor, 1962 from southern Thailand. However, differences between the new species from C.zebraicus and other congeners were supported by an integrative taxonomic analysis of molecular and morphological data. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene showed that the new species is a member of the C.oldhami group and closely related to Cyrtodactylus sp. MT468911 from Thong Pha Phum National Park, Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province. Uncorrected pairwise genetic divergences (p-distances) between the new species and its congeners, including C.zebraicus, ranged from 7.7-17.7%. Cyrtodactylusmonilatus sp. nov. can also be distinguished from all members of the C.oldhami group by having a unique combination of morphological characters, including a snout to vent length of 53.7-63.3 mm in adult males and 58.6-75.8 mm in adult females; 22-34 paravertebral tubercles; 34-42 ventral scales; 30-39 enlarged contiguous femoroprecloacal scales; femoral pores and precloacal pores absent in both sexes; four or five rows of postprecloacal scales; enlarged median subcaudal scales absent; weak ventrolateral folds present; 4-7 rows of paired, paravertebral, dark-brown blotches edged in yellow or yellowish white; and two rows of small, diffuse, yellow or yellowish white spots on flanks. The new species occurs in a narrow range of forest at mid to low elevations associated with karst landscapes in the Tenasserim mountain range.

Taxonomic assessment of sharks, rays and guitarfishes (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii) from south-eastern Arabia, using the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (NADH2) gene

Liolaemus belongs to the Eulaemus subgenus, that is included in the Liolaemus montanus group or section, and is distributed in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. The species members of this clade inhabit arid and high altitude environments, usually above 2800 m, and have a strong tendency to herbivory and a viviparous reproductive type. In a herpetological expedition to the Salta Province highlands, Argentina, in April 2012, we collected individuals of this new species for their description. The specimens were collected with loop, slaughtered by anesthesia and deposited in the herpetological collection of Fundación Miguel Lillo in Tucuman (FML). To characterize this new taxon, we analyzed 144 external morphological characters, referring primarily to lepidosis, color pattern, and body proportions, comparing with data from 66 constituent species of the L. montanus group (45 taxa from collection specimens and 21 from literature). Description of the colors in life was made in the field and based on photographs taken during the capture. The species described in this work inhabits a very narrow mountain range area in Salta Province (Argentina), and the Atacama Region (Chile), always above the 3600 m. This new taxon shows characteristics of lepidosis and color patterns clearly different from the other species members of the L. montanus group: the maximum snout-vent length is 72.9 mm; shows 74-96 scales around midbody, 89-104 dorsal scales between the occiput and hind limbs, 92-109 ventrals, precloacal pores are evident in both, males and females, and supernumerary pores in males. Also, the presence of postcloacal pores stands out as unique among all Liolaemus. This is a new character, not only for the genus, but also to all Reptilia, becoming a morphological discovery of great importance, since in reptiles only precloacal and femoral pores are known. Based on our field observations, this new Liolaemus is related to rocky environments, which are used as refuge by this omnivorous species, and when handled, very aggressive males.

We describe a new species from within the South Asian clade of the polyphyletic gekkonid genus Cnemaspis from the Velikonda Range, in the Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India. The new species is the smallest known Indian gekkonid and can be diagnosed from all Indian congeners by its small body size (SVL <29 mm), the absence of spine-like scales on flank, heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis, presence of precloacal pores and no femoral pores in males, tail with enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles forming whorls, median row of sub-caudals smooth and slightly enlarged, and a distinct colour pattern. This is the 12th species of Cnemaspis to be described from outside the Western Ghats and is the first endemic from the Velikonda region of the Eastern Ghats. The new species is only known from its type locality, a lowland riparian habitat (<200 m asl.) in dry evergreen forest at the base of a ~1200 m asl. peak. This discovery extends the range of the genus in peninsular India by ~130-150 kilometres to the northeast and suggests the genus is likely to be even more widely distributed than understood. The new species is clearly allied to C. mysoriensis, C. otai and C. yercaudensis with which it shares superficial colour pattern and similar body size, but is the first species from outside the Western Ghats in which males lack femoral pores.

This paper describes a new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus . Cyrtodactylus chauquangensis sp. nov. occurs in the karst of Quy Hop District, Nghe An Province (North Central Vietnam). It can be distinguished from all other Cyrtodactylus species occurring in Vietnam by a combination of characters: the number of pre-anal pores, the presence or absence of femoral pores or larger femoral scales, scales across the abdomen in the middle of the body, interorbital scales, snout-vent length, proportions of the body and color pattern.

Molecular phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (ND5) gene sequences representing all 15 species and the majority of subspecies or races of the Ohomopterus ground beetles from all over the Japanese archipelago have uncovered a remarkable evolutionary history. Clustering of the species in the molecular phylogenetic tree is linked to their geographic distribution and does not correlate with morphological characters. Taxonomically the "same" species or the members belonging to the same species-group fall out in more than two different places on the ND5 tree. Evidence has been presented against a possible participation of ancestral polymorphism and random lineage sorting or of hybrid individuals for the observed distribution of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes. The most plausible explanation of our results is that parallel evolution took place in different lineages. Most notably, O. dehaanii, O. yaconinus, and O. japonicus in a lineage reveal almost identical morphology with those of the "same" species (or subspecies) but belonging to the phylogenetically remote lineages.

A new species of bent-toed gecko, Cyrtodactylus cucphuongensis sp. nov. is described from the karst forest of Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh province, Northern Vietnam. It differs from all other species of Indo-Chinese Cyrtodactylus by the following combination of characters: SVL 96.0 mm; absence of precloacal and femoral pores; 19 subdigital lamellae on first toe, 24 on fourth toe; large, dark spots on top of head; wide, prominent nuchal band; and five or six dark, irregular, broad bands between limb insertions.

Primary healthcare services are the first contact point for a person to seek preventive promotive and curative healthcare. The present study aimed to assess the morbidity profile of outpatients at a Centre for Rural Health AIIMS, Nutakkhi, Andhra Pradesh, South India. This record-based study analyzed morbidity data from outpatients at the Centre for Rural Health AIIMS (CRHA), located in Nutakkhi, Andhra Pradesh, South India, serving a population of about 15,000. Managed by doctors posted from AIIMS, Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh, India, the clinic operates six days a week with an average daily attendance of 50 patients. Patient details, diagnosis, and treatments were documented in morbidity registers. Data from June 2021 to December 2023 were extracted, coded using ICD-10 by two doctors independently, and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 28.0. The outpatient department (OPD) of the CRHA, Nutakkhi, Andhra Pradesh, South India, attended 15,867 patients from 2021 to 2023, with adults (47.44%), elderly (41.60%), and children (10.97%). Gender distribution was nearly equal. Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (24.0%) were most common, followed by respiratory (18.11%) and circulatory system diseases (17.92%). Notable conditions included digestive, musculoskeletal diseases, and injuries. The prevalence of conditions varied by gender and age. Endocrine diseases peaked in 2021 (29.30%), while circulatory diseases rose to 23.09% in 2023. Respiratory diseases were prevalent among children, and health checkups increased in 2023. The study identified endocrine, respiratory, and circulatory system diseases as prevalent in the rural population, highlighting the need for targeted healthcare strategies and resource allocation, especially for the elderly and children.

A computerized database of salt affected soils was prepared for five states – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Orissa – based on the analogue maps of the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad, India. The salt affected soil maps at 1:250,000 scale were georeferenced and digitized to prepare the digital polygons of salt affected soils using ILWIS software. The Survey of India State map at 1:1,000,000 scale was georeferenced and features for administrative and political boundaries (state/district), infrastructure (road/railway), irrigation and drainage (river/canal) and settlements (state/district capitals) were digitized to prepare the thematic layers for the basemap. These were overlaid onto the salt affected soil layer to prepare the state map of salt affected soils. A composite (master) database comprising salt affected soils in five states was prepared using GIS. The soil characteristics such as nature and degree of salinity/sodicity and its ground coverage were entered in an attribute table and linked with the digitized polygons to prepare a relational database. Four agroclimatic regions (ACRs) and 42 agroclimatic zones (ACZs) were identified by the Planning Commission of India for regional planning and development of natural resources in Peninsular India. The boundaries of the ACRs and ACZs were delineated from the primary (master) database using ILWIS GIS. Superimposing digitized boundaries of ACRs and ACZs over the master database, the salt affected soils were delineated to show the distribution of salt affected soils at regional and zonal scales. The state-, region- and zone-wise extent of salt affected soils was calculated. The soils were essentially saline in Orissa and Kerala state, distributed in the coastal, deltaic plains and mud flats/mangrove swamps. In Andhra Pradesh, soils were saline (53%) and sodic (47%), distributed in the peninsular (64%), coastal (24%) plains and mud flats/mangrove swamps (12%). The salt affected soils in Karnataka were primarily sodic (99%), located in the alluvial plain. In Tamil Nadu, soils were dominantly sodic (96%), distributed in the peninsular (95%) plain. Soils with variable salinity were also found in the coastal (74%) and deltaic (16%) plains and mudflats/mangrove swamps (10%) of Orissa and in the coastal plain (3%) of Tamil Nadu. A significant area under salt affected soils (69%) was found in ACR XI (East Coast Plains and Hills Region), distributed in Tamil Nadu (34%), Andhra Pradesh (19%) and Orissa (15%); followed by 26% in ACR X (Southern Plateau and Hills Region), located in Karnataka (16%), Andhra Pradesh ((9%) and Tamil Nadu (2%) and 5% in ACR XII (West Coast Plain and Ghat Region), comprising Kerala (2%) and Tamil Nadu (3%) States. The zonal distribution showed that the extent of salt affected soils was higher in the semiarid regions (rainfall <1000 mm) of Karnataka (84%), Tamil Nadu (93%) and Andhra Pradesh (64%). State maps of salt affected soils in digital format were overlaid with agroecosubregions, landforms, geology and rainfall data to show the relation between the extent of salt affected soils and the characteristics of agroregions, climatic parameters and the nature of parent materials. Thus the digitization of salt affected soil maps in GIS format provides a georeferenced, easy-to-access and retrieve, relational database comprising thematic and attribute information of salt affected soils at state, regional and zonal levels and facilitates overlay and map calculation of related data for planning and decision making in the reclamation and management of salt affected soils in Peninsular India and other similar regions.

NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences compared for members of the genus Taenia (Cestoda)

A new species of Dixonius is described on the basis of three specimens from the karst forests around Thakhek town, Khammouane Province, Laos. The new species from Laos can be distinguished from other species of Dixonius based on molecular and morphological divergences. It is characterized by a maximum SVL of 55.4 mm; 20-23 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles at mid-body; 23-24 longitudinal rows of ventrals across the abdomen; 8-10 supralabials, 7 or 8 in mid-orbital position; 7 or 8 infralabials; 8 precloacal pores in male; the male without femoral pores; precloacal and femoral pores absent in females; uniformly pebble brown dorsum. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species is shown to be the sister taxon to two undescribed taxa from Thailand but differs by at least 8.6% in genetic pairwise distance from the latter based on the complete sequences of the mitochondrial ND2 gene with partial or complete sequences of six adjacent tRNAs. This is the ninth known species of Dixonius, and the second recorded species from Laos.

SUMMARY Soil salinity is assuming menacing proportions for production of agricultural and horticultural crops in South India. South India comprises of Andhra Pradesh (AP), Tamil Nadu (TN), Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, and Islands in Bay of Bengal (Andaman and Nicobar) and Arabian Sea (Lakshadweep). It comprises central uplands, Deccan plateau (Karnataka plateau and Telangana plateau of AP), Nilgiri hills of TN, South Sahiailri, Eastern hills (Eastern Ghats, TN, upland) and Coastal Plains. The rainfall ranges from 400 to 500 mm in AP, 450 to 1300 mm in Karnataka, 500 to 1215 mm in TN, 100 to 450 mm in Kerala. Climate is mainly semi-arid in nature. Red soils (Alfisols, Inceptisols, and Entisols) make up about 60–65% and are well drained, blacksoils (Vertisols and Inceptisols) comprise about 20–25% and the rest are coastal sands. Soil salinity problems are encountered in almost all the districts in Karnataka and AP. The area extends to about 0.176 million ha in AP, 0.2 million ha in Karnataka, 0.0427 million ha in TN and about 0.03 million ha in Kerala. Introduction of canal irrigation water and use of underground saline waters accelerated the appearance of salt affected soils. Soil salinity observed in South India ranges from hydrometphic saline soils in Kerala to highly saline (EC 20–30 dS m−1) in Karnataka and AP. Saline soils were classified in to Natrargids or Solarthrids at subgroup level depending on the occurance of nitric or salic horizon within few centimetres of the surface. Soil salinity has reduced crop yields upto 50% and consequently cropping has been abandoned in many areas. Excess soluble salts can be removed through scrapping the surface salt crust or flushing and leaching or through subsurface drainage depending on the problem. Crops also vary in their ability to tolerate salinity at different stages of growth. In most crops subjected to irrigations with saline waters, germination and early seedling stages are generally the most sensitive and their tolerance increases with age. Salt tolerant varieties and nutrient management of crops in saline soils are important solutions for crop production under saline soils.

Two new species of geckos from the genera Cnemaspis and Hemidactylus are described from a granite outcrop in the Rishi Valley, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Cnemaspis rishivalleyensis sp. nov. and Hemidactylus rishivalleyensis sp. nov. are presently known only from their type locality and are 8.7 % and 10.9 % divergent from their closest known sister species, respectively. The new species are allied to the mysoriensis and murrayi clades of South Asian Cnemaspis and the brookii group of Indian Hemidactylus, respectively. The two new species can be diagnosed from regional congeners by the number and arrangement of femoral and precloacal pores and poreless scales separating these series, body size, the number of tubercles in paravertebral rows, the number of enlarged tubercles around mid-body, the number of ventral scales across mid-body, the number of lamellae beneath digit IV of pes and manus, and subtle differences in colour pattern. Four endemic geckos now have their type localities within 10 km of each other, Cnemaspis graniticola and Cyrtodactylus rishivalleyensis from Horsley Hills and the two new species from Rishi valley. The two new species are also the third endemic species each of Cnemaspis and Hemidactylus from Andhra Pradesh.