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Issue: Vol. 5647 No. 2: 13 Jun. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-06-13
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.2.2
Page range: 117-130
Abstract views: 228
PDF downloaded: 7

A new species of Riopa Gray, 1839 (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) from the Eastern Ghats, India

Freshwater Biology Regional Centre; Zoological Survey of India; Hyderabad; Telangana; P. G. Department of Zoology; Fakir Mohan University; Vyasa Vihar; Nuapadhi; Balasore- 756089; Odisha
Zoological Survey of India; FPS Building; Indian Museum campus; Kolkata- 700016; West Bengal; India
Freshwater Biology Regional Centre; Zoological Survey of India; Hyderabad
Freshwater Biology Regional Centre; Zoological Survey of India; Hyderabad
Newcastle University; Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU; United Kingdom; Senckenberg Dresden; KönigsbrückerLandstraße 159; 01109 Dresden; Germany; Department of Life Sciences; The Natural History Museum; London SW7 5BD; UK
Department of Life Sciences; The Natural History Museum; London SW7 5BD; UK
Reptilia Andhra Pradesh Deccan Peninsula Eastern Ghats Endemic skink Taxonomy Telangana

Abstract

We describe a new species of Riopa from the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states, India. The new species is diagnosed by the following suite of characters: lower eyelid with a semi-transparent disk, 108–109 paravertebral scale rows, 8 or 9 lamellae on the 4th toe, dorsum with 16 distinct longitudinal lines, five fingers and five toes, preanal scales not enlarged, and ear opening covered by scales. Our mitochondrial molecular data supports the placement of the species in the genus Riopa and the new species is 4.1–9.2 % divergent from genetically sampled congeners. This study adds in understanding the cryptic diversity of lizard fauna in the Eastern Ghats in peninsular India. Based on our findings we provide a dichotomous key to the genus Riopa.

 

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How to Cite

Bhupathi, B., Ray, S., Karuthapandi, M., Jaiswal, D., Deepak, V. & Mohapatra, P.P. (2025) A new species of Riopa Gray, 1839 (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) from the Eastern Ghats, India. Zootaxa, 5647 (2), 117–130. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.2.2