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Issue: Vol. 5750 No. 4: 22 Jan. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-01-22
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5750.4.2
Page range: 482-504
Abstract views: 14
PDF downloaded: 0

First description of the male of Lycodon irwini Naveen, Zeeshan, Mirza, Choure & Chandramouli, 2025 (Squamata: Colubridae), with an updated account of the herpetofauna of the Great Nicobar Islands, India

The School of Medicine & Pharmacy; Duy Tan University; Da Nang; 550000; Vietnam; Center for Entomology & Parasitology Research; Duy Tan University; Da Nang; 550000; Vietnam
Wildlife Trust of India; Noida; India
Zoological Survey of India; FPS Building; Indian Museum Campus; Kolkata; West Bengal; India
Zoological Survey of India; FPS Building; Indian Museum Campus; Kolkata; West Bengal; India
Department of Vertebrate Zoology; Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninskiye Gory; GSP–1; Moscow 119991; Russia
Institut de Systématique; Évolution et Biodiversité (ISYEB); Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle; Sorbonne Université; École Pratique des Hautes Études; Université des Antilles; CNRS; CP 30; 57 rue Cuvier; F-75005 Paris; France
Reptilia Lycodon subcinctus complex morphology distribution taxonomy Nicobar Archipelago

Abstract

Lycodon irwini Naveen, Zeeshan, Mirza, Choure & Chandramouli, 2025 was recently described from three female specimens collected in the Nicobar Islands, India. Until now, no male individuals had been reported, leaving potential sexual dimorphism and several diagnostic characters insufficiently understood. Here, we provide the first morphological description of the male and refine the species diagnosis using information from both sexes. In addition, an updated identification key to the species of the Lycodon subcinctus complex is presented. We also compile an updated checklist of 74 species of amphibians and reptiles recorded from the Nicobar Islands.

 

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How to Cite

Nguyen, T.V., Harikrishnan, S., Ray, S., Mohapatra, P.P., Poyarkov, N.A. & David, P. (2026) First description of the male of Lycodon irwini Naveen, Zeeshan, Mirza, Choure & Chandramouli, 2025 (Squamata: Colubridae), with an updated account of the herpetofauna of the Great Nicobar Islands, India. Zootaxa, 5750 (4), 482–504. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5750.4.2