Morphology and Mitochondrial Lineage Investigations Corroborate the Systematic Status and Pliocene Colonization of Suncus niger (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla) in the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot of India.

The Indian highland shrew, Suncus niger (Horsfield, 1851), is the least studied soricid species from its original range distribution in Southern India, with several systematics conundrums. Following its discovery in 1851, the species was synonymized with Suncus montanus (Kelaart, 1850) (endemic to Sri Lanka) and subsequently identified as a separate Indian population. However, the systematic status of S. niger from topotype specimens in Southern India has yet to be determined through an integrated approach. Both taxonomy and mitochondrial genetic data (Cytochrome b and 16S ribosomal RNA) were used to re-examine the systematics of S. niger. The mtCytb gene clearly distinguished topotypic S. niger from other Suncus species, with high genetic divergences varying from 8.49% to 26.29%. Further, the Bayesian and maximum likelihood topologies clearly segregated S. niger from other congeners and corroborated the sister relationship with S. stoliczkanus with expected divergence in the late Pliocene (2.62 MYA). The TimeTree analysis also exhibits a strong matrilineal affinity of S. dayi (endemic to India) toward the African species. The current study hypothesizes that the ancestor of the soricids evolved in Africa and that genetic lineages were subsequently shifted by plate tectonic events that subsequently colonized different continents as distinct species during the late Miocene (Tortonian) to the Holocene era. In addition to the new range expansion and elevation records of S. niger in the Central Western Ghats, we propose that additional sampling across its distribution, as well as the use of multiple genetic markers, may be useful in determining the genetic diversity and population structure of this endemic species. The present study also recommends that more molecular data on the Soricomorphs lineages, and estimates of their divergence times, will shed light on the evolution of these small mammals on Earth.

Additions to the knowledge on the genus Tiphia Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae: Tiphiinae) from India with the description of ten new species.

The genus Tiphia Fabricius from India was studied, resulting in the description and illustration of five new species based on females, Tiphia (Tiphia) bijui Hanima & Girish Kumar sp. nov., T. (T.) novus Hanima & Girish Kumar sp. nov., T. (T.) rajeevani Hanima & Girish Kumar sp. nov., T. (T.) sahyadriensis Hanima & Girish Kumar sp. nov., and T. (T.) venkataramani Hanima & Girish Kumar sp. nov., and five new species based on males, T. (Punctotiphia) chareshi Hanima & Girish Kumar sp. nov., T. (T.) davidrajui Hanima & Girish Kumar sp. nov., T. (T.) hyalina Hanima & Girish Kumar sp. nov., T. (T.) kurumba Hanima & Girish Kumar sp. nov., and T. (T.) shajii Hanima & Girish Kumar sp. nov., from India. The male of T. lyrata Magretti, is newly reported with descriptions and illustrations. Seven species are reported for the first time from India. Range extensions of several species to various states of India are also augmented here. The male genitalia of 16 species were dissected and studied. A modified key to species of Tiphia from the Indian subcontinent is provided. An updated distributional checklist from India is also provided.