Reappraisal of the systematics of two sympatric coral snakes (Reptilia: Elapidae) from Northeast India

Abstract

Systematics of the Asian coral snake genus Sinomicrurus Slowinski et al., 2001, was recently reviewed; however, the lack of molecular data for S. macclellandi (Reinhardt, 1844), especially topotypical specimens, renders most taxonomic revisions mutable. This largely hinders the reappraisal of the putative synonyms of S. macclellandi which may be distinct and deserve recognition to highlight their evolutionary importance and eventual conservation. We reassessed the systematic status of Northeast Indian populations of S. macclellandi that also included topotypic material, based on the combination of morphology and genetic data (mitochondrial and nuclear genes). We uncovered morphological and genetic evidence for resurrecting S. gorei comb. nov., from the synonymy of S. macclellandi and elevating it to a full species rank, previously recognised as a colour variant of S. macclellandi. We redescribed the species based on a total of 36 adult specimens examined from Mizoram, along with the type material from Assam, as well as specimens from Bangladesh. Apart from the genetic distinction of S. gorei from the other congeners, it is also morphologically diagnosable from its closest sympatric species S. macclellandi var. typica, in bearing a suit of somatic and osteological features.

Key words:

• integrated taxonomy, molecular phylogenetics
• morphometric analysis
• natural history
• Sinomicrurus
• subspecies

Supplemental material

Supplemental material for this article can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2023.2289150.

Acknowledgements

We are deeply thankful to the Forest Department, Government of Meghalaya, and Environment, Forests & Climate Change Department, Government of Mizoram, for the herpetological specimen collection permits within the State of Meghalaya and Mizoram, respectively. We thank the curators and staff of APRC (Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India). We are deeply thankful for the assistance from Jayaditya Purkayastha, Vivek Sharma, Mathipi Vabeiryureilai, Fanai Malsawmdawngliana, Lal Muansanga, Ro Malsawma, Vanlal Hrima, Samuel Lianzela, Girish Choure, Kirty P. Nath and many other specimen collectors of MZMU (Departmental Museum of Zoology, Mizoram University, India). ZAM acknowledges Singinawa Conservation Foundation for their support and Max Planck Society’s IMPRS program.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was declared by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary materials.

Associate Editor: Dr Susan Tsang

Additional information

Funding

The author LB acknowledges the Rufford Foundation (UK) for the Rufford Small Grant he received (Grant No. 36737-1); HTL also acknowledges the following funding agencies for the various grants he received: DST-SERB, New Delhi (DST No: EMR/2016/002391); DBT, New Delhi (DBT-NER/AAB/64/2017); DRDO, New Delhi (DGTM/DFTM/GIA/19-20/0422); and DST-SERB, New Delhi (DST No: EEQ/2021/000243); HTL and LB appreciated Chicago Zoological Society, Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) Endangered Species Fund awards 2023.