Sphenomorphus maculatus

Borah, Pranoy Kishore, Grismer, L. Lee, Das, Abhijit, Purkayastha, Jayaditya, Deuti, Kaushik, Lalremsanga, Hmar Tlawmte & Datta-Roy, Aniruddha, 2024, What is Sphenomorphus maculatus (Blyth, 1854 “ 1853 ”) (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae)? Validating cryptic diversity and the designation of a neotype, Zootaxa 5543 (4), pp. 579-590 : 585-587

Sphenomorphus maculatus ( Blyth, 1854 “1853”)

Lissonota maculata Blyth 1854 “1853”: 653

Hinulia maculata Theobald 1868: 25

Lygosoma maculatum Boulenger 1887: 242

Sphenomorphus maculatus Pope 1935: 483

Sphenomorphus maculatus maculatus Yamasaki et al. 2001: 29

Neotype (designated herein). Adult female. ZSI-28718 , SVL 57.0 mm, from Nilachal Hills , Kamakhya temple complex, Guwahati, Assam, India (26º1’0’7.53” N, 91º42’17.03” E). Collected by Sanath C. Bohra.

Description of the Neotype. Adult female, 57.0 mm SVL, pointed head; head length (HL) 9.4 mm; head width (HW) 7.5 (HL 16.50% of SVL, HL 31.01% of axilla to groin distance, HW 79.36% of HL, HW 13.15% of SVL). Midbody scale rows 39. Number of para-vertebrals 82. Number of ventrals 80. Head distinct from neck. Rostral scale concave in dorsal view. Prefrontals widely separated, contacting first supraocular and supraciliary. Seven supralabials on each side, 4 th –6 th beneath eyes [ Figure 3 (b) & (c)]. Eight infralabials on each side. Eight infralabials on either side. Eight and nine supraciliaries on left and right side respectively, first largest [1–9 in Figure 3 (b); 1–8 in Figure 3 (c)]. Nuchal scales absent. Five supraocular scales on each side, first largest. Snout length 4.4 mm; eye to nostril distance 2.8 mm; nostril to snout tip distance 1.2 mm; and eye diameter 1.4 mm. Tympanum moderately large, anteroposteriorly compressed, oval, and diameter 1.4 mm. Eye to tympanum distance 3.6 mm; inter-narial distance 2.6 mm; and inter-orbital distance 5.8 mm. Brachium length 5.9 mm; antebrachium length 6.2 mm; and palm length 5.6 mm. Fourth finger with 10 unicarinate lamellae [ Figure 3 (d)]; fourth finger length 3.7 mm; and axilla groin distance 30.5 mm. Finger lamellae on I, II, III, and V fingers are respectively 6, 9, 10, and 7. Thigh length 9.0 mm; shank length 8.9 mm; and foot length 9.7 mm. Fourth toe with 15 unicarinate lamellae [ Figure 3 (e)], and fourth toe length 6.8 mm. Toe lamellae on I, II, II, and V toes are respectively 8, 11, 11, and 8. Paired median cloacal shields present, enlarged, overlapping lateral pairs. Limbs robust and well-developed; tail extremely slender. (see Figure 3 ). For comparison of morphometric and meristic data of the neotype with the other specimens, see supplementary material S5

Colour in life. Dorsum: Bronze to brownish-pink. Lateral features are darker, with a blackish patch extending from the naris to the tail tip, with light spots on the patch. Two rows of dark spots on the dorsum. Limbs variegated with dark markings on dorsal surfaces.

Colour in preservative. In 70% alcohol, the bronze/brownish colour turns to a darker shade of brown/black after fixation in formalin, and the colouration changes further while keeping them in ethanol. The spots or speckles become indistinct.

Figures

FIGURE 3. (a) Neotype (ZSI–28718), (b) & (c) features of lateral side of head with supraciliaries numbered, (d) & (e) forelimb and hindlimb with unicarinate lamellae numbered.