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Issue: Vol. 4514 No. 1: 6 Nov. 2018
Type: Article
Published: 2018-11-05
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4514.1.4
Page range: 53–64
Abstract views: 107
PDF downloaded: 2

On the taxonomy and phylogeny of the rare Selangor Mud Snake (Raclitia indica) Gray (Serpentes, Homalopsidae) from Peninsular Malaysia

School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Dyche Hall, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, Kansas 66045-7561, USA.
Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Biology, La Sierra University, 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, California 92515 USA.
School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia. Center for Marine and Coastal Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
Reptilia Reptile Squamata Enhydris conservation endemic biodiversity

Abstract

The taxonomic position of the rare Selangor Mud Snake (Raclitia indica) Gray to other species of homalopsids has remained uncertain due to the scarcity of specimens in collections and the lack of genetic material for comparison. Here we report the first molecular phylogenetic examination of this species based on recently acquired material. The study recovered R. indica nested within the clade of advanced, fanged homalopsids and the sister species to Erpeton tentaculatus Lácèpede. We also present notes on variation observed in the new specimens as well as range extensions for the species.

 

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