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Issue: Vol. 4514 No. 1: 6 Nov. 2018
Type: Article
Published: 2018-11-05
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4514.1.10
Page range: 126–136
Abstract views: 136
PDF downloaded: 4

A review of the relationships of Xenochrophis cerasogaster Cantor, 1839 (Serpentes: Colubridae) to its congeners

Help Earth, 16, RNC Path, Lachitnagar, Guwahati 781007, Assam, India Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, Jalukbari, Guwahati 781014. Assam, India
Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, Jalukbari, Guwahati 781014. Assam, India
Help Earth, 16, RNC Path, Lachitnagar, Guwahati 781007, Assam, India
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Tezpur University, Napaam, Tezpur 784028, Assam, India
Help Earth, 16, RNC Path, Lachitnagar, Guwahati 781007, Assam, India Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, Jalukbari, Guwahati 781014. Assam, India
Myriapoda Xenochrophis X. piscator X. cerasogaster Rhabdophis Assam India morphology phylogenetic relationship

Abstract

We sampled snakes of the genus Xenochrophis from across Northeast India. The snakes were evaluated for both morphological and molecular parameters. Phylogenetic relationship was reconstructed using mitochondrial genes (Cytb, 12s rRNA, ND4). The genus Xenochrophis was found to be paraphyletic, X. piscator complex and X. punctulatus form a single clade with Atretium schistosum as their sister taxon. X. cerasogaster forms a distinct lineage. X. vittatus and X. trianguligerus are related to the genus Rhabdophis. Herein it is recommended that X. piscator complex, i.e. X. asperrimus, X. flavipunctatus, X. melanzostus, X. piscator, X. sanctijohannis, X. schnurrenbergeri and X. tytleri, as well as X. punctulatus be reallocated to the genus Fowlea

 

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