Thackeray's cat snake

description

(Fig. 1 – 2, 6; Table 1) Suggested common name: Thackeray’s cat snake.

A new species of Boiga (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Southern Western Ghats of India with a molecular phylogeny and expanded characterisation of related species

description

Description and variation. A medium-sized snake with a snout-vent length: 261 – 832 mm, tail length: 76 – 275 mm, relative tail size 21.8 – 23.5 %; with slender habitus, thin neck, wide head; long tail; anterior dorsal scale rows 17 – 20 (17, 18 and 20 anterior dorsal scale rows in one, two and one specimens respectively out of 31 specimens examined); midbody scale rows 19; posterior scale rows 13 – 15 (13 in 2 out of 20 cases, 14 in 1 out of 31 cases); rostral visible from above; preocular 1, subequal to loreal; postoculars 2; loreal 1; supralabials 8 / 9, with 3 rd – 5 th / 4 th – 6 th ones touching eye; infralabials 11 / 12, with 1 – 5 touching genials; temporals 10 – 14; preventral 1; ventrals 207 – 239, angulate laterally; anal scale 1; subcaudals 86 – 109 pairs. Dorsal color brownish-grey, patterned with blackish brown cross bars, 55 – 76 on body, 19 – 29 on tail; cross bars covering 2 – 4 scales in size, extending either sides up to 3 – 4 scale rows across; interspaces often with sparse dark dots; distinct circular markings on top of head, on frontal, parietals, temporal and occipital parts; a distinct postocular stripe up to the jaw angle; labials, chin and venter ashy brow

A new species of Boiga (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Southern Western Ghats of India with a molecular phylogeny and expanded characterisation of related species

description

Specimens examined. (n = 33). INDIA. Tamil Nadu: MNHN 1946.67 Kodikanel; BMNH 74.4. 29.66 Anamallais; CAS 13091 Puthuthotam, Anamallais; BMNH 1955.1. 3.45 High Wavy mountains 3000 - 5000 ft; BMNH 1955.1. 3.42 High Wavys; CAS 13092 Valparai, Anamalais; BNHS 1840 a Paralai, Valparai; CSPT / S- 39 Madurai dt.,; SACON / VR- 75 a one from Meghamalai, SACON / VR- 75 b one from Anamalai; CESS 254 collected by SP in 2011 from Valparai (10.394 N 76.992 E; 1287 m asl), Tiruppur dt.,; CESS 292 collected by SP in 2011 from Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (8.605 N 77.224 E; 1052 m asl), Tirunelveli dt.; Kerala: NMW 19937: 1 – 2 Malabar; FMNH 217702 Trivandrum district;. BNHS 1841 a Nelliampathy, Palghat District; BNHS 1844 a & b Nelliampathy, Palghat; FMNH 217701 Trivandrum District; USNM 42469 Cochin hills,; BNHS 1862 Bariami estate, Fairfeild, Travancore; CESS 011 collected by AKM in 2009 from Vellimala (9.532 N 77.371 E; 1380 m asl), Periyar Plateau, Idukki dt.,; CESS 093 collected by SP & MP in 2010 from Sirivani (10.945 N 76.645 E; 1522 m asl), Palghat dt.,; CESS 139 collected by SP & MP in 2010 from Silent Valley (11.111 N 76.429 E; 950 m asl), Palghat dt.,; CESS 140 collected by SP &

A new species of Boiga (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Southern Western Ghats of India with a molecular phylogeny and expanded characterisation of related species

diagnosis

Complementary Diagnosis. Boiga thackerayi is phylogenetically sister to (node support 100 %) a clade containing B. cf. ranawanei and B. flaviviridis. From B. flaviviridis, it is 11.4 – 12.6 % divergent; and from B. cf. ranawanei of Sri Lanka, it is 10.5 – 11.1 % divergent at cyt b. The highest intraspecific divergence was 3.6 %, between two samples from Coorg and Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Hills situated on the Central and Southern Western Ghats respectively.

A new species of Boiga (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Southern Western Ghats of India with a molecular phylogeny and expanded characterisation of related species