Corresponding author: Zeeshan A. Mirza (
Academic editor: Peter Bartsch
A new species of green pit vipers of the genus
The pit vipers of the genus
During a herpetological expedition, Arunachal Pradesh was visited between 25 June 2019 and 5 August 2019. Arunachal Pradesh belongs to the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot and shows a high degree of heterogeneity in its landscape with elevation ranging from 100 to 7000 m and distinct climatic regimes that harbour diverse flora and fauna. Most of the state is part of the undulating terrain of the Himalayas, intersected by numerous rivers, which flow from the Himalayas and form a longitudinal network of parallel flowing rivers, which ultimately meet the River Brahmaputra. The lowland area bordering Assam mostly shares a similar biotope to that of northern Assam. During the expedition, near Pakke Tiger Reserve, we collected two specimens of a green pit viper, which resembled
The study was conducted under permit no. CWL/Gen/173/2018-19/Pt.V11/2421-33 and CWL/Gen/173/2018-19/Pt.V11/2434-43 issued by the Forest Department of Arunachal Pradesh. Two specimens of the new species were collected by hand in the field, photographed, and later euthanized with halothane within 24 h of capture following ethical guidelines for animal euthanasia (
Micro-CT scan were generated for the male holotype using a Bruker Skyscan 1272 (Bruker BioSpin Corporation, Billerica, Massachusetts, USA). Head of the specimen was scanned for 210 minutes at resolution of 5.4 µm and recording data for every 0.4° rotation for 360° with (AL) 1 mm filter. The source voltage for the scan was 65 kV and source current was 153 uA. Volume rendering was performed with CTVox (Bruker BioSpin Corporation, Billerica, Massachusetts, USA) and images were edited in Adobe Photoshop CS6. Osteological description is based on volume renders retrieved from CTVox following terminology of the skull described by
Comparative material examined:
Genomic DNA was isolated from the preserved tissues of the type specimens using QIAGEN DNeasy kits following protocols directed by the manufacturer. Molecular methods largely follow
The specific epithet is a noun in apposition for J.K. Rowling’s fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’s co-founder, Salazar Slytherin. He was a Parselmouth that links him to serpents. Suggested common name: Salazar’s pit viper.
A species of the genus
The new species is here compared to all species of the genus
The new species is most similar to
Summary of selected characters for members of the clade containing
Species | Dorsal colouration | Colour of lateral stripe on head | Dorsal scale rows at midbody | Ventrals | Subcaudals | Hemipenis | |
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Green | White | 21 | 0.19–0.24 | 149–173 | 48–67 | bilobed, long |
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Brown or black | – | 23 or 25 | 0.16 | 171–183 | 53–74 | bilobed, long |
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Green or brown | White | 27 or 31 | 0.12–0.20 | 170–176 | 44–73 | bilobed, long |
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Green | White | 23 | 0.16/0.21 | 151–174 | 49–67 | bilobed, long |
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Brown | – | 21 | 0.18–0.21 | 158–163 | 63–65 | bilobed, long |
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Green or blue | – | 21 | 0.21–0.22 | 156–167 | 54–75 | bilobed, long |
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Black to dark brown | – | 23 to 27 | 0.16–0.19 | 152–183 | 54–79 | bilobed, long |
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Green | White | 21 | 0.19–0.24 | 160–181 | 55–83 | bilobed, long |
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Green | Reddish orange | 19 or 21 | 0.14–0.18 | 163–171 | 59–74 | bilobed, short |
The specimen is in a good state of preservation, set in a coil with its head placed out of the coil (Fig.
Body long and thin,
Micro-CT volume rendered images of the skull and mandibles of the holotype male
Body scalation: 21 dorsal scales one head length behind the head; 19 dorsal scales at midbody; 15 dorsal scales one head length anterior to the vent; dorsal scales rhomboid, moderately keeled except for the first row which is smooth; three preventrals; 167 ventral scales; 71 subcaudal scales; paired; anal shield entire. Eye large, with
Colouration in life (Figs
Colouration in preservative (Figs
Variation: the paratype female
Natural history notes: the type specimens were found during night search between 1800–2200 hours along a road. Both individuals were found coiled on shrubs along the road. A third individual was seen but escaped in the thick undergrowth. Three individuals were seen during night searches in six nights. Other serpent species observed at the locality include
Phylogenetic relationships within the genus
This is the second species of snake discovered after
We thank the Forest Department of Arunachal Pradesh for issuing the necessary permits (permit no. CWL/Gen/173/2018-19/Pt.V11/2421-33 to GG and CWL/Gen/173/2018-19/Pt.V11/2434-43 to ZM) to conduct surveys across the state. Singinawa Conservation Foundation supported ZAM. HB and his team extend their most heartfelt gratitude to Shripad Halbe and Brihad Bharatiya Samaj for their generous support in funding the expedition. We also thank Sandesh Kadur, Buban Gogoi and Debabrata Phukon for his help with the logistics, and Deepak Apte and Rahul Khot
Genbank accession numbers for sequences used in the current study.
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Un-corrected p-distance (sequence divergence) for
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | ||
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1 |
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2 |
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0.03 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 |
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0.16 | 0.16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 |
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0.05 | 0.04 | 0.17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5 |
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0.14 | 0.14 | 0.19 | 0.15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 |
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0.05 | 0.03 | 0.16 | 0.05 | 0.14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7 |
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0.07 | 0.07 | 0.19 | 0.09 | 0.16 | 0.09 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8 |
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0.15 | 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 |
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0.16 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.16 | 0.17 | 0.15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
10 |
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0.15 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 |
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0.13 | 0.13 | 0.17 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
12 |
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0.15 | 0.14 | 0.18 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.11 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
13 |
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0.07 | 0.08 | 0.17 | 0.09 | 0.16 | 0.09 | 0.05 | 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.15 | |||||||||||||||||||||
14 |
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0.15 | 0.14 | 0.19 | 0.16 | 0.05 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.17 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
15 |
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0.16 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.15 | 0.17 | 0.14 | 0.16 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.17 | 0.17 | |||||||||||||||||||
16 |
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0.13 | 0.13 | 0.18 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.10 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.14 | ||||||||||||||||||
17 |
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0.13 | 0.13 | 0.16 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.08 | 0.11 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.12 | |||||||||||||||||
18 |
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0.13 | 0.13 | 0.17 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.11 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.11 | 0.12 | ||||||||||||||||
19 |
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0.17 | 0.17 | 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.17 | 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.17 | 0.14 | 0.16 | 0.14 | 0.16 | 0.16 | |||||||||||||||
20 |
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0.06 | 0.04 | 0.15 | 0.05 | 0.13 | 0.04 | 0.09 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.09 | 0.14 | 0.16 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.16 | ||||||||||||||
21 |
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0.13 | 0.12 | 0.17 | 0.14 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.17 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.07 | 0.16 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.16 | 0.13 | |||||||||||||
22 |
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0.15 | 0.15 | 0.17 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.16 | 0.10 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.10 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.12 | ||||||||||||
23 |
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0.05 | 0.06 | 0.17 | 0.07 | 0.15 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.14 | 0.16 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.07 | 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.07 | 0.14 | 0.16 | |||||||||||
24 |
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0.14 | 0.14 | 0.16 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.09 | 0.12 | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.11 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.15 | ||||||||||
25 |
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0.13 | 0.13 | 0.17 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.11 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.03 | 0.10 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.11 | 0.08 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.10 | |||||||||
26 |
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0.13 | 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.09 | 0.16 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.11 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.10 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.09 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.14 | ||||||||
27 |
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0.14 | 0.13 | 0.17 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.10 | 0.11 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.10 | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.14 | |||||||
28 |
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0.13 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.07 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.12 | ||||||
29 |
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0.15 | 0.15 | 0.17 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.16 | 0.13 | 0.08 | 0.11 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.07 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.14 | |||||
30 |
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0.15 | 0.15 | 0.19 | 0.16 | 0.04 | 0.15 | 0.17 | 0.15 | 0.17 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.06 | 0.17 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.08 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.16 | 0.16 | ||||
31 |
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0.14 | 0.13 | 0.17 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.11 | 0.09 | 0.12 | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.10 | 0.06 | 0.13 | 0.09 | 0.12 | 0.08 | 0.14 | |||
32 |
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0.13 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.10 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.06 | 0.09 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.09 | 0.07 | 0.12 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.10 | 0.06 | 0.13 | 0.10 | 0.11 | 0.07 | 0.14 | 0.07 | ||
33 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.16 | 0.08 | 0.15 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.09 | 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.07 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.06 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.13 |
Images of female paratype of