Virender Kumar Bhardwaj

A new species of fossorial natricine snake, Trachischium lalremsangai sp. nov ., is described from the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. The holotype was collected from Murlen National Park, Mizoram, near the India–Myanmar border, while the paratype originated from Haka Township, Chin State, Myanmar. Based on morphological and molecular data, the new species is related to T. reticulata (Blyth); however, it can be diagnosed from members of the genus Trachischium by possessing 13 dorsal scale rows, two postoculars, one anterior temporal scale, and two posterior temporal scales, in addition to distinctive colouration and other scalation details. The discovery of several new snake species within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot underscores the need for increased research efforts and funding dedicated to this region in the near future.

The members of the genus Cyrtodactylus Gray (1827) have received unprecedented attention in India in the recent past, especially in northeast India and the eastern Himalayas. However, the western Himalayas have, and in large, been less well-investigated. A recent herpetological survey in the western Himalayas led to the discovery of two new species from the states of Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh. The phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial NADH subunit 2 gene indicates that the new species belong to the C. lawderanus group. The new species from Jammu and Kashmir is most similar to C. chamba Agarwal, Khandekar & Bauer 2018 and the one from Himachal Pradesh to C. lawderanus (Stoliczka 1871) in general appearance. The new species differ from previously described taxa to which they are allied in several morphological features, in addition to exhibiting substantial DNA sequence divergence.

Colubrid snakes of the genus Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826, are an integral part of the snake fauna of the Oriental region, with at least ninety species. Despite the speciose nature of the genus, most members are elusive and poorly studied. One such member of the genus is O. juglandifer (Wall, 1909), which is known to science from a handful of specimens. It is thought to have a narrow distribution range and is classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN regarding its conservation status. Recent fieldwork near the type locality led to the discovery of the species, which allowed us to review our current knowledge of the species and present molecular data for the species to assess its phylogenetic relationship. Morphological data based on a freshly collected specimen and existing museum material and molecular data suggest that O. lipipengi Jiang, Wang, Li, Ding, Ding & Che in Che et al. 2020 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of O. juglandifer (Wall, 1909).

Schneider 1802), have been recorded in Himachal Pradesh (Saikia et al.

The natricine snake genus Smithophis Giri, Gower, Das, Lalremsanga, Lalronunga, Captain, and Deepak, 2019, is represented by four species, three of which are distributed in northeast India and Bangladesh, and a single species in Yunnan and Myanmar. In the past, S. bicolor (Blyth, 1855) was said to be widespread across northeast India and Myanmar; however, recent studies have shown it to be a species complex. Here, we describe a new species of the complex from the Indian state of Mizoram that resembles S. bicolor. The new species differs in bearing a patterned dorsum, a darker venter, and moderately keeled sacral scales. Re-examination of types of S. arunachalensis Das, Deepak, Captain, Wade, and Gower, 2020, shows the presence of strongly keeled sacral keels in males, which is an important diagnostic character. A revised key to members of the genus is presented with notes on S. arunachalensis.

Laudakia tuberculata plays a crucial ecological role by serving as prey for predators including the Many Banded Catsnake (Boiga multifasciata) and the Black-Headed Royal Snake (Spalerosophis articeps) (Kapoor et al. 2023). Laudakia tuberculata is omnivorous (Dodsworth 1913; Bhatnagar 1968; Waltner 1991; Eremchenko and Kästle 2002). However, Acharji and Kripalani (1952) found no vegetation in the diet of L. tuberculata in the Kullu and Kangra Valleys of the western Himalayas. Dodsworth (1913) noticed L. tuberculata frequently nibbling on flower petals in gardens and recorded a diet consisting of ants, butterflies, and other insects. Bhatnagar (1968) highlighted the seasonal variation in the composition and proportion of the diet by examining the gut content of 162 individuals collected near Dehradun,

The current study results from a two-month faunal assessment survey of the Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh. In total, 54 species from six Lepidoptera families were documented. Herein we present a preliminary checklist procured from the data collected during the short duration of two months. This checklist establishes a baseline for the Rhopalocera diversity of Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary.