Himalayan upliftment and Shiwalik succession act as a cradle for divergence in Bengal monitor lizard Varanus bengalensis (Reptilia: Varanidae) in India.

The Himalayan foothills and associated environment are well-known for driving the rapid diversification of many species and the formation of biodiversity hotspots. The effects of environmental change since the Miocene have accelerated species diversification, and hence are useful for studying population genetic structure, and evolutionary relationships via genetic approaches. To date, the effects of climatic fluctuations on the biogeography of large-bodied lizards have not been assessed comprehensively. Herein, we examine the diversification of Varanus bengalensis, focusing on its genetic structure to provide insights into how landscape structure and climatic fluctuations have shaped species differentiation. We confirm the existence of two distinct lineages within V. bengalensis distributed across the Himalayan foothills and the remainder of mainland India. Divergence analyses revealed the split between the Himalayan foothills and the remainder of the mainland lineages of V. bengalensis in the mid-Pliocene ~3.06 Ma, potentially as a consequence of the Siwalik broadening and climatic fluctuations across the Himalayan foothills. The results suggest recognition of a new lineage of V. bengalensis from the Himalayan foothills as a distinctive evolutionarily significant unit.

Systematic status of the rare Himalayan wolf snake Lycodon mackinnoni Wall, 1906 (Serpentes: Colubridae).

Lycodon mackinnoni is a poorly known Himalayan endemic snake known from Western Himalaya. Since the original description of L. mackinnoni almost 112 years ago, this species was not reported from its type locality and its phylogenetic position remain unknown. We herein, provide detail morphological description, comparison with type material, phylogenetic relationship with its congeners and new natural history information.

Complete mitogenome of Kashmir musk deer (Moschus cupreus) and its comparative phylogenetic relationships.

Kashmir musk deer, Moschus cupreus (KMD) is one the most threatened species endemic to the Himalayan region of Kashmir, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Herein, we have sequenced, annotated and characterized the complete mitogenome of M. cupreus. The investigation and comparison of the mitogenome provide crucial information for phylogenetic analysis to understand the evolutionary relationships. The mitogenome of KMD was 16,354 bp long, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) and non-coding control region. Its composition was highly A+T biased 68.42%, and exhibited a positive AT-skew (0.082) and negative GC-skew (- 0.307). The phylogenetic analysis suggested that KMD was a primitive and extant species in the genus Moschus, whereas Alpine musk deer (M. chrysogaster) and Himalayan musk deer (M. leucogaster) were the closest relatives. It indicated the placement of M. cupreus within the monotypic family Moschidae of musk deer. Hence, it provides a better understanding of lineage identification and musk deer evolution for further research.

Identification of anuran species diversity of the Panna Tiger Reserve, Central India, using an integrated approach.

We present a comprehensive inventory of amphibians from Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh based on morphological, molecular and bioacoustic data. Representatives of 15 anuran species were collected, corresponding to roughly four fifths of the known amphibian species of Madhya Pradesh. The main results of this study are: (1) Description of advertisement calls of eleven species, including the first-time description of advertisement calls of Sphaerotheca pashchima. (2) Identification of cryptic species using acoustic and molecular techniques. (3) Five new significant range extensions and new state records. (4) Description of geographical variation in call properties in three anuran species. This study also provides morphological descriptions with ecological and natural history notes for each species that may be useful in management planning for amphibian conservation in Panna Tiger Reserve.

Sequencing and characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Mishmi takin (Budorcas taxicolor taxicolor) and comparison with the other Caprinae species.

Mishmi takin (Budorcas taxicolor taxicolor) is an endangered and least studies species. We sequenced and annotated a 16,584 bp long complete mitogenome of Mishmi takin (B. t. taxicolor). It was encoded by 37 genes: 13 Protein-Coding Genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA, and non-coding control region. All tRNA genes show a typical secondary cloverleaf structure, except tRNAser(AGY) in which dihydrouridine arm did not form a stable structure. We observed 82 bp nucleotide deletions in the control region of Mishmi takin. The overall analysis of 13 PCGs, two rRNA and 22 tRNA of Mishmi takin indicates its close relationship with the B. t. tibetana than the B. t. bedfordi. The overall genetic similarity indicated that all takin species is closely related to the P. nayaur than the C. ibex and Ovibos moschatus. This study provides a useful resource for further studies on conservation and population genetics of Budorcas.