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Issue: Vol. 5763 No. 2: 3 Mar. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-03-03
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.2.2
Page range: 205-224
Abstract views: 131
PDF downloaded: 4

A new species of Takydromus (Squamata: Lacertidae) from northeast India

Department of Zoology; School of Life Sciences; Sikkim University; Tadong; Gangtok; East Sikkim; India
Department of Zoology; School of Life Sciences; Sikkim University; Tadong; Gangtok; East Sikkim; India
Department of Zoology; School of Life Sciences; Sikkim University; Tadong; Gangtok; East Sikkim; India
Newcastle University; Newcastle upon Tyne; United Kingdom; Natural History Museum; London; United Kingdom
Department of Zoology; School of Life Sciences; Sikkim University; Tadong; Gangtok; East Sikkim; India
Reptilia Asian grass lizard genetic divergence phylogeny range expansion Takydromus Ultapani

Abstract

The diversity of lizards in the northeast Indian biodiversity hotspot is underestimated, as evidenced by many new species recorded in recent years. Here, we describe a new species of Takydromus from Ultapani, Kokrajhar District, Assam, India. This newly identified species is distinguished from its relatives in its distinctive morphological features and significant genetic variation in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA and COI genes. We have also added the missing molecular data for T. sikkimensis and T. khasiensis. In the light of these new data, we discuss the phylogenetic relationships of Takydromus species from the Indian subcontinent with their congeners.

 

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How to Cite

Chettri, B., Mothey, R., Ghatani, S., Deepak, V. & Rai, A. (2026) A new species of Takydromus (Squamata: Lacertidae) from northeast India. Zootaxa, 5763 (2), 205–224. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.2.2