Molecular identification of mimetic Mock Viper, Psammodynastes pulverulentus (Boie, 1827) (Reptilia: Squamata: Lamprophiidae) from Northeast India

Authors

  • Shantanu Kundu
     Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore – 700053, Kolkata
  • Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga
     Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University Aizawl – 796004, Mizoram
  • Lal Biakzuala
     Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University Aizawl – 796004, Mizoram
  • Kaomud Tyagi
     Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore – 700053, Kolkata
  • Kailash Chandra
     Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore – 700053, Kolkata
  • Vikas Kumar
     Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore – 700053, Kolkata

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v121/i4/2021/154552

Keywords:

Mimicry, Mitochondrial DNA, Ophidian, Phylogeny, Taxonomy.

Abstract

The genetic information (mtCytb) of wide-spread Mock Viper, Psammodynastes pulverulentus is restricted to China and Myanmar. We collected the live individual of P. pulverulentus from Mizoram state in northeast India and generate the partial mtCytb data to affirm the morphology-based species identification. The generated DNA data showed 94.67% similarity with the sequences generated from Myanmar; however, 92.59% to 92.98% similarity with the sequences generated from China through BLAST results. In comparison with other recognized families and subfamilies of alethinophidian and scolecophidians snakes, the studied species depicted discrete clade in the Bayesian Inference (BI) analysis and closely related with the sister species Psammodynastes pictus. The haplotype network revealed distinct haplotype of P. pulverulentus collected from northeast India with 6.6% and 8.9% to 9.6% Kimura 2 parameter (K2P) genetic distance with the Burmese and Chinese collections respectively. The study elucidates the possible cryptic diversity of P. pulverulentus within its wide range distribution, which requires further large-scale attempts with more genetic information to adjudicate the actual diversity.

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Author Biographies

Shantanu Kundu, Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore – 700053, Kolkata

Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division

Zoological Survey of India

CSIR Pool Scientist

Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University Aizawl – 796004, Mizoram

Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, India.

Associate Professor

Lal Biakzuala, Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University Aizawl – 796004, Mizoram

Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, India.

Doctoral Student

Kaomud Tyagi, Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore – 700053, Kolkata

Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division

Zoological Survey of India

Scientist C

Kailash Chandra, Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore – 700053, Kolkata

Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division

Zoological Survey of India

Scientist G and Director

Vikas Kumar, Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore – 700053, Kolkata

Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division

Zoological Survey of India

Scientist E 

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Published

2022-02-21

How to Cite

Kundu, S., Lalremsanga, H. T., Biakzuala, L., Tyagi, K., Chandra, K., & Kumar, V. (2022). Molecular identification of mimetic Mock Viper, <I>Psammodynastes pulverulentus</I> (Boie, 1827) (Reptilia: Squamata: Lamprophiidae) from Northeast India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 121(4), 521–526. https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v121/i4/2021/154552

Issue

Volume 121, Issue 4, 2021

Section

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