Calamaria mizoramensis Lalremsanga, Malsawmdawngliana, Bal, Vabeiryureilai, Hruaia, Korolev, Vogel, Poyarkov & Nguyen, 2026DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5741.1.2  Rese... Read more  Calamaria mizoramensis Lalremsanga, Malsawmdawngliana, Bal, Vabeiryureilai, Hruaia, Korolev, Vogel, Poyarkov & Nguyen, 2026DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5741.1.2  Researchgate.net/publication/399437048  facebook.com/tansifasv AbstractWe describe a new species of the genus Calamaria from Mizoram State, Northeast India, based on a combination of morphological and molecular evidence. Calamaria mizoramensis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a unique combination of morphological characters, including: 8–11 enlarged maxillary teeth; rostral higher than wide; prefrontal shorter than frontal and contacting the first two supralabials; mental not in contact with anterior chin shields; dorsal scales in 13–13–13 rows, smooth throughout; a single preocular and postocular; four supralabials, with the 2nd and 3rd ones contacting the eye; five infralabials; six scales surrounding the paraparietal; 147–175 ventrals; 13–27 paired subcaudals; a relatively short tail (10.3–13.1% in males, 4.7–6.5% of total length), thick and nearly cylindrical, terminating in an obtuse tip; dark brown to blackish-brown, with three to six longitudinal rows of slightly paler or dark-edged scales forming indistinct stripes of variable clarity along the body and a faint pale nuchal ring; a yellow ventral surface with dark outer corners on the ventral scales; and a broad, distinct median black stripe on the ventral surface of the tail. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene suggests that the new species represents a deeply divergent lineage within the genus Calamaria, with sister relationships to a clade that includes the remaining species from Indochina and East Asia. The genetic divergence of the new species from all its congeners for which the homologous sequences are available is also very high (minimal uncorrected p-distance of 15.3%). The new species is currently known from montane evergreen forests of Mizoram State, India (from elevations of 670–1,295 m asl.). This discovery adds to the growing number of herpetological findings in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and reinforces the need to reassess the complex taxonomy of the genus Calamaria. In addition, we provide the first comprehensive and updated checklist of the herpetofauna of Mizoram State, documenting 169 species, including 52 amphibians and 117 reptiles.Reptilia, Calamaria mizoramensis sp. nov., morphology, mtDNA, taxonomy, Indo-Burma RegionCalamaria mizoramensis sp. nov., adult male holotype (MZMu 3744) before preservation:Photographs in life and in situ of Calamaria mizoramensis sp. nov. from Mizoram, India.(A) Sawleng, Saitual (MZMU 865); (B) North Hlimen, kolasib (MZMU 915); (C) Chanmari West, Aizawl (MZMU 867); (D) Sihphir, Aizawl(MZMU 2411); (E) kawrthah, Mamit (MZMU 866); (F) Tlangpui, Mamit (uncollected). Photographs by H.T. Lalremsanga (A,E), J.C. Alfred Van Sanglura (B), Vanlal Hrima (C), Lalzarzoa (D), and Lal Muansanga (F). Calamaria mizoramensis sp. nov.  Hmar Tlawmte LALREMSANGA, Fanai MALSAWMDAWNGLIANA, Amit Kumar BAL, Mathipi VABEIRYUREILAI, Vanlal HRUAIA, Alexey M. KOROLEV, Gernot VOGEL, Nikolay A. POYARKOV and Tan Van NGUYEN. 2026. A New Species of the Genus Calamaria H. Boie in F. Boie, 1827 (Squamata: Calamariidae) from Mizoram State, India.  Zootaxa. 5741(1); 49-86. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5741.1.2 [2026-01-05] Researchgate.net/publication/399437048_A_new_species_of_the_genus_Calamaria_from_Mizoram_State_India facebook.com/tansifasv/posts/122237651108144982 Show less

Beyond the genes.

EurekAlert! Researchers have developed a low-cost visible light communication (VLC) system using commercially available hardware that enables stable data transmission even under strong...

SAMSUNG has revealed a bunch of mega TVs including a massive 130-inch telly with bonus features for football fans. Experts are predicting a huge "TV upgrade effect" this year with the World Cup and... Read more SAMSUNG has revealed a bunch of mega TVs including a massive 130-inch telly with bonus features for football fans. Experts are predicting a huge "TV upgrade effect" this year with the World Cup and the end of the typical 6-7-year replacement cycle. Sales of bigger TVs surged during the pandemic - and now six years... Show less

Tarenna khoonmengiana Junhao Chen & Y.H.Cheah,in Chen et Cheah, 2025.  Sandakania. 27; A new species, Tarenna khoonmengiana (Rubiaceae), from Peninsular Malay... Read more Tarenna khoonmengiana Junhao Chen & Y.H.Cheah,in Chen et Cheah, 2025.  Sandakania. 27; A new species, Tarenna khoonmengiana (Rubiaceae), from Peninsular Malaysia and Peninsular Thailand is described and illustrated here. Notes on the ecology, etymology and morphological distinctions from similar species are provided here.Tarenna khoonmengiana Junhao Chen & Y.H.Cheah, sp. nov.Similar to Tarenna stellulata (Hook.f.) Ridl. and Tarenna insularis (Ridl.) Ridl. in having corolla lobe tips that are divergent in the bud, but differing from the former in the glabrous lower leaf lamina surface that is smooth to the touch (vs minute erect hairy lower leaf lamina surface that is rough to the touch), glabrous (vs conspicuously ciliate) corolla lobe margins and acute (vs awl-like) corolla lobe apex, and differing from the latter in the broadly triangular (vs linear) calyx lobes 0.5–1 mm long (vs 1.5–3 mm long) and glabrous (vs densely short-puberulent) corolla outer surface in bud.Junhao Chen & Y.H. Cheah. 2025. Tarenna khoonmengiana (Rubiaceae), A New Species from Peninsular Malaysia and Peninsular Thailand. Sandakania. 27; 49-58.   Show less

Les médecins de ville et cliniques débutent lundi un mouvement de grève qu'ils prédisent très suivi, afin de dénoncer le budget "insuffisant" de la sécurité sociale 2026 et exprimer leur crainte de... Read more Les médecins de ville et cliniques débutent lundi un mouvement de grève qu'ils prédisent très suivi, afin de dénoncer le budget "insuffisant" de la sécurité sociale 2026 et exprimer leur crainte de la remise en question de leur liberté d'exercice. La grève, qui doit durer dix jours, lancée par les organisations professionnelles représentatives, des syndicats étudiants et de la jeune génération de médecins, devrait conduire à la fermeture des cabinets et à l'annulation d'opérations, prédisent ces derniers. Une manifestation est aussi prévue à Paris, le 10 janvier. Show less

It's noisy in there.

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