New skink species discovered in Eastern Ghats adds to India's reptile diversity
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Hyderabad: A new species of skink has been discovered in the hillscapes of the Eastern Ghats, marking a significant addition to India's reptile diversity.
Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India along with scientists from the Natural History Museum, London, described the species as Riopa deccanensis, or the Deccan Gracile Skink.
The finding was published in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa and is the first new Indian species in the Riopa genus to be described in over eight decades.
Origin and Morphology
The species was identified from the Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve in Andhra Pradesh and the Amrabad Tiger Reserve in Telangana. It is characterised by a slender body, semi-transparent lower eyelids, distinct longitudinal dorsal stripes, five fingers and five toes, and 108–109 paravertebral scale rows.
It also exhibits eight or nine lamellae on the fourth toe, with the ear opening covered by scales and no enlarged preanal scales.
The mitochondrial DNA analysis confirms its placement within the genus Riopa, revealing a genetic divergence of 4.1% to 9.2% from other known congeners.
"This discovery sheds light on the cryptic reptile diversity of the Deccan landscape and underlines the importance of systematic field studies and molecular tools in unveiling cryptic species," said Dr.
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Dhriti Banerjee, ZSI director.
Biogeographic and Taxonomic Significance
Riopa deccanensis is the ninth described species in its genus and only the sixth from India. It is the first of its kind to be recorded from the region in over 84 years. The species name reflects its origin in the Deccan Peninsula Biogeographic Zone and specifically from the Nallamala hill ranges, which straddle both the entral plateau and Deccan south provinces.
"This is part of our broader effort under the programmes 'Fauna of the Deccan Peninsula Biogeographic Zone' and 'Fauna of Amrabad Tiger Reserve', supported by the chief wildlife wardens and forest departments of AP and Telangana," said Dr Deepa Jaiswal, Officer-in-Charge, ZSI-Freshwater Biology Regional Centre, Hyderabad.
Currently, AP accounts for 14 known skink species and Telangana for eight. With this discovery, both states see an expansion in their known herpetofaunal records.
Evolutionary Insight
The study contributes to understanding limb and digit evolution in squamate reptiles. The genus Riopa showcases variability in digit configurations – some species such as R. lineata and R. vosmaerii – exhibit partial digit loss. This pattern aligns with global findings that demonstrate repeated digit loss and re-evolution across lizard lineages, as observed in genera such as Bachia (South America) and Lerista (Australia).
"Among skinks in India, a striking morphological spectrum exists – from completely limbless snake-like forms to reduced limbs and digits," the study said.
The research provides groundwork for further inquiry into developmental and evolutionary mechanisms underlying these traits.
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