Ophisops kutchensis, Agarwal & Khandekar & Ramakrishnan & Vyas & Giri, 2018

Agarwal, Ishan, Khandekar, Akshay, Ramakrishnan, Uma, Vyas, Raju & Giri, Varad B., 2018, Two new species of the Ophisops microlepis (Squamata: Lacertidae) complex from northwestern India with a key to Indian Ophisops, Journal of Natural History 52 (13 - 16), pp. 819-847 : 839-843

Ophisops kutchensis sp. nov.

Kutch small-scaled snake-eye

Figures 4–7 , 10

Ophisops microlepis (non Blanford 1870)

Holotype. NCBS AU760, adult female, near Vithon , Kutch district, Gujarat, India (23.3430556°N 69.354444°E, 195 m asl), collected by A. Khandekar and C. Daniel on 19 April 2017.

Paratypes. BNHS 2024 , adult female, near Tera , Kutch District, India (23.34664°N 69.00720°E; 55 m asl), collected by A . Datta-Roy , T . Khichi and I . Agarwal 2009; NCBS AU756, NCBS AU762– 764 adult males & NCBS AU755, NCBS AU757–761, NCBS AU 765 adult females, same collection data as holotype .

Etymology. The name is for the type locality of the new species, in Kutch District, India.

Diagnosis. Ophisops kutchensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from Indian congeners by the same characters that diagnose O. microlepis – large body size (SVL up to 53.4 mm), 50–58 scales around midbody and 113–129 DS (see diagnosis for O. microlepis for opposing character states for other Indian Ophisops spp. ). Ophisops kutchensis sp. nov. is most closely related to O. microlepis and O. pushkarensis sp. nov. and can be diagnosed from these species by the lower number of scales in the longitudinal vertebral series (mean DSR 120.9, range 113–129 versus mean 129.6, range 122–136 in O. microlepis and mean DSR 139.1, range 133–148 in O. pushkarensis sp. nov.) and fewer scales around midbody (mean RBS 52.7, range 50–58 versus 57.7, 56–61 in O. microlepis and 58.7, 57–62 in O. pushkarensis sp. nov.). Ophisops kutchensis sp. nov. has a narrow, indistinct dorsolateral stripe (versus broader, distinct ventrolateral stripes in both O. microlepis and O. pushkarensis sp. nov.) and strong mottling between the dorsolateral stripes, which almost meet on the vertebral region (versus mottling only close to the dorsolateral stripe, widely separated in vertebral region in O. microlepis and O. pushkarensis sp. nov.).

Description of holotype. Adult female in good state of preservation except tail is bent towards the left. SVL 48.5 mm. Head short (HL/SVL = 0.24), longer than wide (HL/ HW = 1.79), not strongly depressed (HD/HL = 0.46), indistinct from neck. Loreal region slightly concave, canthus rostralis sharp. Snout acute (IN/IO = 0.33), slightly projecting beyond lower jaw. Eye small (ED/HL = 0.15); pupil round; supraciliary scales distinct, elongate, four on either side. Tympanum elongate, small (EL/HD = 0.14), covered anteriorly by a single scale, slightly larger than ear opening; eye to ear distance more than twice eye diameter (EE/OD = 2.16). Nostril circular, dorsally oriented, closer to snout tip than eye (NE/SE = 0.77) and between three protuberant nasals. Body slender (BW/ SVL = 0.18), trunk not elongate (TRL/SVL = 0.44). Length of tail twice SVL (TL/SVL = 2.17). Fore limbs and hind limbs relatively well developed and slender; forearm short (FL/ SVL = 0.15); tibia short (CL/SVL = 0.23); digits long and slender, ending in sharp and slightly curved claw; subdigital lamellae distinct, entire, distinctly keeled, bicarinate on both manus and pes; number of subdigital lamellae including claw sheath: left manus 8–11-16–18-10; right manus 8–12-16–17-10; left pes 8–14-17–21-14; right pes 7–12-17– 21-14. Relative length of digits (measurements in mm in parentheses): right manus I (2.2) <V (3.1) <II (3.3) <III (5.3) <IV (6.1); right pes I (3.7) <II (6) <V (7.4) <III (9.5) <IV (13.7).

Rostral wider (2 mm) than high (1.2 mm), wedged between supranasals dorsally, in contact with first supralabial, nasal and supranasal on either side. Paired supranasals roughly triangular, in contact medially, strongly in touch with slightly larger nasal laterally and smaller postnasals posteriolaterally. Frontonasal roughly hexagonal, similar in width (1.9 mm) and length (1.9 mm), strongly in contact with supranasals and postnasals anteriolaterally and anterior loreal laterally. A pair of roughly pentagonal prefrontals, in strong contact with each other medially, frontonasal anteriorly, and the posterior loreals laterally; in weak contact with the anterior loreals laterally and posteriorly in strong contact with first anterior supraocular and frontal.

Frontal approximately pentagonal with slightly curved posterior margin, elongate (3.6 mm), becoming broader anteriorly; in strong contact with prefrontals anteriorly, laterally touching first, second and third supraoculars and posteriorly in strong contact with frontoparietals.

A pair of roughly pentagonal frontoparietals in contact with each other medially, anteriorly in strong contact with frontal, laterally touching third and fourth supraoculars, posteriolaterally touching parietals, posteriorly interparietal. Interparietal single, roughly pentagonal slightly broad anteriorly with distinct pineal eye, anteriorly in strong contact with frontoparietals, laterally touching parietals and occipital posteriorly. A pair of pentagonal parietals, slightly longer (3.2 mm) than broad (2.4 mm), separated from each other by interparietal and occipital, anteriorly in strong contact with fourth supraocular and frontoparietal on both sides, laterally touching two supratemporals on both sides. Occipital roughly triangular, broader than wide in contact with parietals and interparietal. Four supraoculars, the first and fourth smallest, separated from supraciliaries by a single row of 14 supraciliary granules on both sides ( Figure 6 ).

Nostril circular, situated on contact line between nasal and supranasal. Nasal elongate equal in length to supranasal and postnasal together, bordered by postnasal, supranasal, rostral, supralabial I and anterior loreal. Postnasals smaller than the anterior loreal, bordered by frontonasal, supranasal, nasal and anterior loreal. Two loreals, anterior roughly rectangular and about the size of nasal, bordered by posterior loreal, prefrontal, frontonasal, postnasal, nasal, supralabials I and II; posterior loreal much larger than anterior, slightly smaller than prefrontal, becoming broader posteriorly, bordered by preocular, supraciliary I, prefrontal, anterior loreal, supralabial II and III. Preocular slightly longer than anterior loreal, roughly rectangular. Seven supralabials, V being largest and forming the lower border of the eye, gradually decreasing in either direction. Three moderately enlarged postoculars, lower smallest. Two supratemporals on either side, the most anterior the largest. Temporal scales much smaller than postoculars, smooth, subimbricate, arranged in three to eight rows, those bordering supralabials and postoculars largest.

Six infralabials on either side. Mental large, as wide (1.8 mm) as long (1.7 mm), in strong contact with infralabial I and first pair of chin shields. Six chin shields on either side, gradually increasing size posteriorly, except the posterior-most, which is half the size of its adjacent chin shield, two anterior chin shields strongly in contact with each other medially, remaining separated from each other by gular scales.

Dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous in shape, size, orientation and carination; composed of smaller, weakly pointed, imbricate scales throughout, 53 scales in a transverse row across midbody; 123 scales in longitudinal, vertebral series; scales on dorsal aspect strongly keeled, directed backwards and downwards, those on flank smooth, directed backwards and upwards; scales on the neck smaller, gradually increasing in size posteriorly and laterally, most posterior two to three rows on flank largest. Ventral scales smooth, heterogeneous in shape and size, arranged in six transverse rows on belly, midventral row with 32 scales in a longitudinal series; gular scales smaller, elongate, juxtapose; scales on neck slightly larger than gular scales, weakly pointed and imbricate; scales on pectoral region larger than those on neck, strongly imbricate; those on belly much enlarged, subimbricate, rectangular, except two midventral rows slightly smaller. Collar indistinct, vaguely defined by a fold of skin with granular scales on shoulders and larger, cycloid, imbricate scales ventrally. Preanal scale large, elongate, smooth, anteriorly bordered by six and surrounded by two rows of cycloid, imbricate scales of variable size, those on posterior aspect smallest. Femoral pores 12 on either side, medially interrupted by two poreless scales.

Scales on the fore limbs heterogeneous in shape and size, those on the palmar and plantar faces slightly smaller than the associated lamellae, imbricate, strongly keeled. Scales on dorsal surface of upper arm much larger than those on body dorsum, weakly pointed, strongly imbricate, smooth, except those on elbow, which are keeled; ventral surface of upper arm with smaller, smooth, subimbricate scales; scales on forearms similar to those on upper arms all keeled except three rows on anterior surface larger and smooth, of which single median row much enlarged, subimbricate and almost rhombus shaped.

Scales on hind limbs heterogeneous in shape and size, posterior surface of the thigh with much smaller, granular scales, becoming enlarged, pointed, strongly keeled, imbricate towards anterior surface; ventral surface of thigh covered with two to five rows of much enlarged, smooth, strongly imbricate scales, with anterior-most single row largest and rhombus shaped; scales on dorsal surface of shank like those on forearm but smaller in size; ventral aspect of shank covered with two rows of much enlarged, imbricate, smooth scales, of which the median row is largest and rhombus shaped.

Scales on the dorsal and lateral aspect of the tail arranged in regular whorls, cycloid at the base, becoming gradually elongated distally, strongly keeled, imbricate and pointed, 15 scales in the 10th whorl behind the vent; ventral aspect of the tail with strongly imbricate scales, weakly pointed except single median row, which is slightly smaller, more elongated and roughly triangular; scales near the base of the tail smooth, gradually becoming weakly keeled towards tip of the tail.

Colouration in life. Dorsal ground colour olive brown, two indistinct lighter lateral stripes, a dorsolateral stripe extending from behind the eye onto the tail, and a just discernible ventrolateral stripe that runs from the labials, just above the forearm insertion and terminating at groin. Interspaces between dorsolateral and ventrolateral stripes thickly reticulated with darker and lighter markings, anterodorsal margin of dorsolateral line with light and dark mottling, markings from either side almost meeting in vertebral region. Flanks below ventrolateral stripe with marbled lighter and darker markings, some enlarged scales with blue-green markings. Fore limbs with scattered, irregular lighter and darker spotting, hind limbs with thick dark reticulations outlining lighter blotches. Head dorsum suffused with scattered, indistinct black markings and a few small spots, labials with black blotches, temporal region with some darker markings, iris copper. Venter immaculate white. Dorsolateral stripes on tail flanked by narrow darker and lighter markings that fade to white on the tail venter.

Colouration in preservative. Similar to life colouration, except colours faded and shades of yellow lost.

Variation and additional information from type series. Mensural data for the type series and additional material are given in Table 2. There are 12 specimens ranging in size from 41.1 mm to 53.4 mm. The paratypes are similar to the holotype in most characters except, VG 0300, VG 0301, VG 0308, VG 0309 have eight supralabial on both sides; scales in a transverse row across midbody – 50 in VG 299, VG 300 and 58 in VG 0301; scales in longitudinal, vertebral series – 113 in BNHS 2024 and 129 in VG 301; femoral pores – 11 in VG 299 and 13 on right and 15 on left in BNHS 2024; interparietal – divided into VG 301; supralabial IV strongly touching posterior loreal on both sides in VG 0335 and weakly touching on both sides in BNHS 2024. Extent of irregular light and dark markings variable, from few irregular markings in VG 0302 to very broken up markings in BNHS 2024.

Distribution and natural history. Ophisops kutchensis sp. nov. has been collected from open scrub habitats in Kutch, with photographic records from the Banni Grasslands and Lakhpat Fort in Gujarat ( Figure 1 ). This diurnal species has been seen active in April and August, with subadults observed in April 2017 and numerous adults observed (and one collected) in August 2009. Sharma (1982) recorded this species from Bhuj (Kutch District), Okha (Jamnagar District) and Rajkot (Rajkot District) besides Nal Sarovar Dam in Gujarat. The text in Sharma (1982) mentions 46–60 RBS (which overlaps with our data for Ophisops kutchensis sp. nov. (50–58 RBS) while a table has 52–66 RBS (which exceeds the number known for any members of the O. microlepis complex, and in all likelihood includes the series of six ventral plates). As these localities are close to confirmed localities for the new species, and it seems likely that the table has RBS + ventral plates, we tentatively assign these localities to the distribution of O. kutchensis sp. nov. ( Figure 1 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Relief map of India showing the known distribution of the Ophisops microlepis complex. Bold lines designate international borders, fine lines show Indian state borders. Solid symbols indicate sampled localities (numbers referenced in Table 1) and white-filled symbols previously published localities or visual records; stars indicate the distribution of Ophisops microlepis, squares Ophisops pushkarensis sp. nov., triangles Ophisops kutchensis sp. nov.; hollow circles represent literature records of members of the O. microlepis complex not assigned to a species. Inset left, maximum likelihood phylogeny of the O. microlepis complex (cytochrome b, bootstrap support> 75% depicted by solid circles at nodes; outgroups not shown).

Figure 4. Dorsal view of (a) Ophisops microlepis, NCBS AU747; (b) holotype of Ophisops pushkarensis sp. nov., BNHS 2031; (c) holotype of Ophisops kutchensis sp. nov., NCBS AU760. Scale bar 10 mm.

Figure 5. Ventral view of (a) Ophisops microlepis, NCBS AU747; (b) holotype of Ophisops pushkarensis sp. nov., BNHS 2031; (c) holotype of Ophisops kutchensis sp. nov., NCBS AU760. Scale bar 10 mm.

Figure 6. Dorsal, ventral and right lateral views of head of (a) Ophisops microlepis, NCBS AU747; (b) holotype of Ophisops pushkarensis sp. nov., BNHS 2031; (c) holotype of Ophisops kutchensis sp. nov., NCBS AU760. Scale bar 10 mm.

Figure 7. Members of the Ophisops microlepis complex in life: (a) Ophisops microlepis, NCBS AU739; (b) Ophisops pushkarensis sp. nov., holotype BNHS 2031; (c) Ophisops kutchensis sp. nov., paratype BNHS 2024.

Figure 10. Type series of Ophisops kutchensis sp. nov.