Abstract
A new species of the shieldtail snake genus Rhinophis is described based on a type series of seven recently collected specimens from the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats of peninsular India. Rhinophis melanoleucus sp. nov. is diagnosed based on a combination of 15 dorsal scale rows at (or just behind) midbody, more than 215 ventral scales and a long rostral. The new species also has a distinctive (mostly black and white) colouration. A new key to the identification of Indian species of Rhinophis is provided.
Highlights
Uropeltidae is a lineage of fossorial snakes endemic to peninsular India and Sri Lanka
Systematic assessments underpinned by molecular phylogenetic analyses have confirmed that the family is monophyletic and have classified the currently recognized 56 nominal species into eight genera—Brachyophidium Wall, 1921, Melanophidium Günther, 1864, Platyplectrurus Günther, 1868, Plectrurus Duméril in Duméril & Duméril, 1851, Pseudoplectrurus Boulenger, 1890, Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820, Teretrurus Beddome, 1886, and Uropeltis Cuvier, 1829 (Bossuyt et al 2004, Pyron et al 2016, Cyriac & Kodandaramaiah 2017)
Of the four species found in India, three are restricted to the central and southern Western Ghats (R. sanguineus, Beddome, 1863, R. travancoricus Boulenger, 1893, R. fergusonianus Boulenger, 1896) and one species is known to occur in the southern part of the Eastern Ghats (R. goweri Aengals & Ganesh, 2013)
Summary
Uropeltidae is a lineage of fossorial snakes endemic to peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Systematic assessments underpinned by molecular phylogenetic analyses have confirmed that the family is monophyletic and have classified the currently recognized 56 nominal species into eight genera—Brachyophidium Wall, 1921, Melanophidium Günther, 1864, Platyplectrurus Günther, 1868, Plectrurus Duméril in Duméril & Duméril, 1851, Pseudoplectrurus Boulenger, 1890, Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820, Teretrurus Beddome, 1886, and Uropeltis Cuvier, 1829 (Bossuyt et al 2004, Pyron et al 2016, Cyriac & Kodandaramaiah 2017). Rhinophis is currently represented by 20 nominal species, with 16 of these endemic to Sri Lanka, and only four currently recognized species occurring in (and endemic to) India. Of the four species found in India, three are restricted to the central and southern Western Ghats (R. sanguineus, Beddome, 1863, R. travancoricus Boulenger, 1893, R. fergusonianus Boulenger, 1896) and one species is known to occur in the southern part of the Eastern Ghats (R. goweri Aengals & Ganesh, 2013).
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