A new skink from the Thal Desert of Pakistan

7 Pages·1997·2.3 MB·

by  Muhammad S Khan

1997 AsiaticHerpetologicalResearch Vol. 7, pp. 61-67
A New skink from theThai Desert of Pakistan
Muhammad S. Khan and Muhammad R. Z. Khan
HerpLaboratory, 15/6 DarulSaddarNorth, Rahwah35460, Pakistan.
Abstract. - A new skink belonging to the genus Eumeces is morphologically described and compared with its
Pakistani congeners.
Key words: Eumeces indothalensis new species, description. Sauria, Scincidae,Eumeces
1
60'
Vol. 7. p. 6: AsiaticHerpetologicalResearch 1997
flecks which extend on limbs and tail. While both E.
zarudnyi and E. blythianus are included in the
schneiderii group, which has no postnasal scale, fron-
tal is not in contact with interparietals, has a pair of
median dorsal row of wider scales on dorsum with
striped or unicolour pattern. However. Mertens
( 1946) gives E. zarudnyi and E. blythianus subspecies
status of the widely distributed Saharo-Sindhian E.
schneiderii. The new species has strong affinities
with E. schneiderii.
Eumeces indothalensis, sp. nov.
Holotype: BMNH 1990.6 (MSK 0423.85, Fig. 2.A).
Figure 2A (top) and B (bottom). Eumeces indothalen- a young male.from under roots of a common reed
sis new species. plant, Sachharum moonja, near village Bar Ginga, 9
Introduction Km SW of Bakkar. midwestern Punjab. Pakistan.
pIanieraorlfyesviusmcmeerrat.ed19s8k4i.nktshewistehnioarvaiuvtihdodrorpsiaclkesdtruippeda v3a2t°i.o5n0'7N5. 7m.1°NE,azaalronMguwhesatmbmaandk ocfolIlnedcutosr,Riv1e6r,Juellye,-
pattern from a heap of E. taeniolatus skinks. Mr. 1984.
Nazar Muhammad, an animal and plant collector for Paratype: (1): MSK 0422.85. (Fig. 2, B). an adult
local Hakims (physicians), was eviscerating almost a male, data as holotype, except 17 July, 1984.
sackful of living mass of writhing and struggling Diagnosis: Medium sized skink, with dorsal pattern
Eumeces taeniolatus skinks. He hadcollected the ani- of 5-7 dark brown stripes separated by alternating
mhaalrsumfmrooomnjtah,e crlooostestoofviclloamgemoBanr Greaendg-ab.us9h.kmSaSchW- slicgahtttenreadrrsocwaelressotrfipdeisf,feerxetntencdoilnoguronontothtehebotdaiyl,annod
of Bakkhar. District Mianwali, western Punjab. Paki- limbs; nasal scale resting on first supralabial; nasal
stan. The eviscerated lizards were to be sun-dried and suture horizontal; no postnasal; interparietal about
sold in the market as reg mahi at Rs. 500-800 per 500 half the size of frontal and is of the same shape: two
gram. Dried skinks are in great demand since the azygos postmentals: 52-56 scales in paired middorsal
stuff is used in several aphrodisiac preparations row of wider scales; posterior loreal and presubocu-
(Khan. 1991. in press). lars longer than deep; no intercalary scales between
Laboratory examination of the striped pair of subdigital lamellae.
skinks proved that they belong to a new species, Description of holotype: Rostral as high as
which is being described here. broad.triangular. its part visible from above distinctly
Abbreviations used: BMNH=Bntish Museum narrower than frontonasal, broadly truncate posteri-
(Natural History). London; MCZ=Museum of Com- orly. Supranasals lateral, about thrice as long as
parative Zoology, Harvard University. Cambridge. broad, reaching mesially to form a suture above
USA; MSK=Herp Laboratory. 15/6 Darul Saddar nasals, the length of which equals the breadth of the
North, Rabwah 35460, Pakistan. rostral visible from above. Frontonasal transverse,
much smaller than prefrontals, extend considerably
Taxonomic Considerations forward between supranasals. laterally contacting
anterior loreal. Prefrontals two. hexagonal, forming a
The cosmopolitan genus Eumeces is represented by median suture, contacting on sides with both loreals
three species in Pakistan: E. taeniolatus (Blvth. and first supraciliary. Frontal as long as its distance
1854), E. blythianus (J. Anderson. 1871) and E. from rostral tip. abruptly truncated to a median point
zarudnyi Nikolsky. 1899 (Minton. 1966; Mertens, at anterior and posteriorend, its length about twice its
1969; Khan and Mirza, 1977) (Fig. 1). Taylor (1935) greatest breadth, in contact with three supraorbitals.
revised the genus Eumeces distinguishing it into sev- Frontoparietals hexagonal, forming a median suture
eral species groups: placing E. taeniolatus in the Tae- which is in line with that ofprefrontals.
niolatus Group, which is characterized by the
ppsacrraeilseeetsan,lc,edoaorfssiuangmploessotrlnoadwseanolf,ymefelrldonoitwaainlshdinowrcisotanhltmalciugtchthwiatwnhiddiendntaeerrdk- tlpohesnatgnIetnrhftireooorrfnpltryfoirepbotanaorltiraedltelaraolesnnd,gdebaroybfrtfutihphretastlnsypaabtimrrreouaonsdfch,anatupecaedh,baoalmutstu.bcohhtPahalrlfioeenntdgtasehl,er,
1997 AsiaticHerpetologicalResearch Vol. 7, p. 63
Table 1. Pholidosic counts and measurements of the type series of the new species Eumeces indothalensis
(br=broken).
Character
Vol. 7, p. 64 AsiaticHerpetologicalResearch 1997
to the posterior ofeye, separating supraciliaries from Limbs short, anterior when stretched forward
pelpebral scales. claws reaching to eye, posterior reaching to the level
A series of 7 supraciliaries. first largest, a little of mid-abdomen; when thighs are bent at right angle
smaller than first supraocular, extending on to head to the body, toes freely overlap. Limbs with smooth
top to contact with prefrontal, second longest, while cycloid scales in parallel longitudinal rows, 17 at mid-
seventh about as high as first but half of its size. A upper arm. 14 mid-fore arm. mid-thigh 22 and 14
pair of small postoculars and three oblique rows of rows scales, no intercalary scales. Claws strong with
granular scales touching lower palpebrals. Supraocu- a basal solid part and long sharp broadertip.
lars 4, first three in contact with frontal, parietal sepa- Color (in formalin): Seven vivid dark brown longi-
rates fourth from upper secondary temporal. A single tudinal stripes on body: a single median dorsal starts
primary temporal, quadrangular, oblique; secondary from behind inter parietal and extends to the level of
temporals two, upperas broad as parietal, lowerverti- vent; second dorsal, paired, from behind parietals to
cal, produced anteriorly to touch primary temporal. the level of vent, join each other at the level of vent,
Two tertiary temporals, upper smaller, lower vertical, do not extend on tail; third pair, from behind eye
about twice as long as broad. extends laterally to groin than along lateroventral side
Eight supralabials, first five anterior to eye, sixth of tail; fourth pair from behind ear above shoulder to
subocular about twice as long as high, first smallest, groin. The dark brown stripes separated from each
subtriangular, narrower along oral orifice. 7th and 8th other by narrower lighter stripes, making the pattern
subequal and largest, 8th supralabial separated from distinct. Head uniform brownish, lips, chin and ven-
ear by four scales occupying a space equaling the trum light yellowish. Measurements (in mm): Snout
width of8th supralabial. A slightly distinct preocular vent length (SVL) 57. tail length (TL) 40 (broken),
from pelpebral scales. Ear opening vertical, oval, snout to eye 4, snout to ear 13 snout to fore limb 21,
preauricular lobes 3/3, upper two broad reaching to axilla to groin 30. head length 13, head breadth 9.
the middle of the auditory meatus, third very small. Variation: Table 1 summarizes pholidosic and mea-
Mental scale broader than rostral. A pair of azygos surement variations in the type series. Both specimen
postmentals, first as broad and as long as mental, sec- have broken tails, MSK 0422.84 after I Ith subcaudal
ond about twice broader than first, mesially produced while holotype after 33rd. Snout region of MSK
backwards between first pair of chin shields; chin 0422.84 is injured, not allowing detailed morphologi-
shields three pairs, first in contact, second separated cal study. A part differences in snout-vent length and
from each other by a scale while third by three scales. some minor differences in scale counts the type series
Infralabials seven, 7th largest. is consistent in other pholidosic characteristics, how-
MSK
Body scales smooth, polished, imbricate, regular, ever. 0422.84 has 9 stripes on dorsum, while
arranged in parallel longitudinal rows; scales of there are seven in holotype.
median dorsal two rows 3-4 times broader than long, Head uniform brownish in both specimens, how-
52. from parietal to the level ofvent. All ventrals sim- ever, supralabials and preauricular lobules are with
ilarexcept abdominals which are slightly larger; mid- brownish specks in the paratype.
ventrals 60, from postmental to the level of vent; 33 Etymology: The name indothalensis refers to the
around neck, axilla 41: mid-abdomen 26, around part of the Thai Desert lying on the western bank of
groin 29 and 51 from armpit to groin. Indus River, northwestern Punjab. Pakistan, from
Median dorsal pair of enlarged scales extends on where the new species was collected.
the tail dorsum. At base, the tail squarish in cross sec- Comparison: According to the collector, Mr. Nazar
tion, becoming round at middle, with a very gradual Muhammad. Eumeces taeniolatus is sympatric with
taper to its pointed tip. A median ventral series of the new species in the type locality and is much more
transversely enlarged subcaudals, 33 in holotype, as common. E. taeniolatus differs from the new species
tail is broken. A pair of large median preanal scale in having apostnasal, single row ofbroadened median
suiTounded anterolaterally by 8 smaller scales, over- dorsals, frontal in contact with interparietal, dorsum
lapped later ally by the median large scales; a distinct pale grey to bronze, speckled with creamy specks,
tubercular large scale on each side of the anal slit; three dark brown stripes on dorsum with pale specks,
fourpostanal transverse rows ofsmallerscales, with a tail and limbs similarly speckled. On the other hand
shallow transverse postanal pit; 22 scales round the absence ofpostnasal scale, median dorsal double row
tail base just posterior to the lateral anal tubercular ofbroadened scales, a pairofazygos postmentals and
scale. separation of frontal from inteiparietal warrant inclu-
sion ofthe new species in theSchneideriiGroup (Tay-
lor, 1935).
1997 AsiaticHerpetologicalResearch Vol. 7, p. 65
Table 2. Comparison of pholidosic and measurement data of Eumecesindothalensisnew species with its con-
geners; br=broken. (Data except of type series and E.zarudnyifrom Taylor, 1935. Data for E. zarudnyipartially
through courtesy Dr. Rosaldo [per. comm.] for material in Museum of Comparative Zoology collected by Loveridge
[1959] from Balochistan).
Character
Vol. 7, p. 66 AsiaticHerpetologicalResearch 1997
Table 2 summarizes comparison of the new spe- Acknowledgments
cSicehsn,eidE.eriiindGortohuapl:ensEi.sblwyitthhianituss (cAonndgeernseorns) okfnotwhne Our special thanks are due to Mr. Jose P. Rosado,
from Punjab, differs from the new species in having a CMuursateourimalofAsCsoomcpiaatrea.tivDeepZaorotlmoegnyt. HoafrvHaerrdpeUtnoilvoegry-,
sscianlgelse fproosmtmoecnctiaplu,t3t0o asbcoavleesanruosu,nd3 pmaiidrbsoodfy,nuc5h0a-l6s0. sity, Cambridge. USA. for providing photographs,
T(aBylMoNrH(9189.375.,12.P1l)atfero6m)AfirlilduistrcaotuesntrEy (Wbalzyitrhiisatnauns. mleecatseudrbeymeDnrt.sLoavnedrisdcgaelefrcoomunBtasloocfistthaen ( 1s9k5i9n)k.s Ocoulr-
thanks are also due to Dr. Robert W. Murphy, Royal
southern borderline of N.W.F.P. with Afghanistan, Ontario Museum Toronto, Canada, for exchange of
asriemai.larTlayyloFri'nsnph(o1t8o9g8)raphhasshaolswosrdeorpsoarltepdatitterfnroofmltohne- ideas and providing pertinent literature which made
gitudinal stripes on olive-brown dorsum separated by this study possible.
nsaalrrpoatwteerrnliogfhtthsetrnipeews espxeaccitelsy (mFaitg.ch2i,nAg,Bw)i.thAthseimdiolra-r Literature Cited
striped young E. blythianus from Karachi (Minton. Finn, F. 1898. Notes on a specimen ofthe rare scin-
1966, plate 19, 2). is reported to have unicolour pink coid lizard Eumeces blythianus (Anderson) from the
adult phase (Fig. 2). Mertens (1969) reports similar Afridi country, with exhibition ofthe type-specimens.
lizards from Astola Island off the Karachi coast. A Proceedings ofAsiatic Society ofBengal:189.
pinkish unicolour skink has been reported from Ingoldby. C. M. and J. B. Proctor. 1923. Notes on a
Sheikh Manda near Quetta. Balochistan by Khan and collection of reptilia from Waziristan and the adjoin-
Ahmed ( 1987). E. princeps also has a striped adult ing portion of the N. W. Frontier Province. Journal
pattern, however, its juveniles are pattemless Bombay Natural History Society 29:117-130.
(Mertens, 1969).
Khan. M. S. 1987. Checklist, distribution and zoo-
The second species. E. zarudnyi, nikolsky, from geographical affinities of amphibian and reptiles of
southwestern Iran and southern Balochistan (Lover-
Baluchistan. Proceedings of 7th Pakistan Zoological
idge. 1959), differs from the new species in having 5- Congress 1987:105-112.
6 preauricular lobules, wider head, and uniform grey
dorsum. While the wide ranging Saharo-Sindhian Khan. M.S. 1991. Endangered species ofreptiles of
skink E. schneiderii which is known from Mekran to Pakistan and suggested conservation measures.
Handbook Pakistan Wildlife Conservation Founda-
Waziristan, differs from E. indothalensis in having 66
scales in the mid dorsal row. 24 scales around mid- tion, Islamabad42-45
body, subocular as wide as high, dorsum brown or Khan. M. S. in press. Colour guide to the Reptiles
olive, median dorsal rows shaded dark with light and Amphibians ofPakistan. Robert E. Krieger. Pub-
spots, a very dim dorsolateral line and spotted hind lishing Company. Melbourne. Florida.
limbs. Khan. M. S. and Mirza, M. R. 1977. An annotated
The new species, Eumeces indothalensis, is checklist and key to the reptiles of Pakistan. Part II:
unique among Pakistani eumecid lizards in having the Sauria (Lacertilia). Biologia (Lahore) 23:41-64.
nasal scale resting exactly on the first supralabial Khan, M. S. and Naeem Ahmed. 1987. On a collec-
which is triangular and does not touch second labial; tion of amphibians and reptiles from Baluchistan.
horizontal nasal suture which passes above nostril, the Pakistan. Pakistan Journal ofZoology 19:361-370.
nostril lies posterior to rostral-labial suture: dorsal Loveridge, A. 1959. Reptiles and amphibians col-
part ofrostral much narrowerthan frontonasal; suboc- lected by the expedition in Saudi Arabia and in Bal-
ular longer than broad, its ocular side longer than uchistan and Bahawalpur, West-Pakistan. Paper
labial side; second loreal longerthan broad; presuboc- Peabody Museum Arch. Ethnol. Harvard University
ular much longer than broad; interparietal as long as 52:226-227.
psiazrei;etatlsh,reeexapcrtelayuorfictuhlearshalpobeuloefs,frountpaplerbuttwhaolfmoufciths Mertens. R. 1946. Dritte Mitteilung ber der Rassen
broader than long, third much smaller; 1-2 pairs of dir glattechse Eumeces schneiderii. Senckenbergiana
nuchals with an additional azygos nuchal; no interca- biology, Frankfurt a.M. 27:53-62.
lary scales between subdigital lamellae; dorsum with Mertens, R. 1959. Bereiniuge seltene Eidechsen aus
seven dark brown stripes, which increase to nine in West-Pakistan. Aquar-Terra-Zeits. 12:307-310.
adult (paratype) rather to disappear and become uni-
colouras in E. blxthianus (Minton. 1966).
1997 Asiatic HerpetologicalResearch Vol. 7, p. 67
Mortens. R. 1969. Die Amphibien unci Reptilien Taylor. E. H. 1935. A taxonomic study ofthe cosmo-
West-Pakistans. Stuttgarter Beitrage zur Naturkunde politan scincoid lizards ofthe genus Eumeces with an
197:1-96. accountofthe distribution and relationships ofits spe-
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