https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=WallaceophisWallaceophis - Revision history2026-09-07T13:17:24ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wallaceophis&diff=545469&oldid=prevKathleenQdc: Adding New Article Basic Info2025-12-16T04:01:44Z<p>Adding New Article Basic Info</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Genus of snakes}}<br />
{{speciesbox<br />
| image = Wallaceophis gujaratensis.png<br />
| image_caption = Male [[holotype]] from Gujarat, India<br />
| status = LC<br />
| status_system = IUCN3.1<br />
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author=Vyas, R. |year=2021 |title=''Wallaceophis gujaratensis'' |volume=2021 |article-number=e.T127935974A127936059 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T127935974A127936059.en |access-date=August 10, 2023}}</ref><br />
| genus = Wallaceophis<br />
| parent_authority = Mirza, Vyas, Patel & Sanap, 2016<br />
| species = gujaratensis<br />
| authority = Mirza, Vyas, Patel & Sanap, 2016<br />
}}<br />
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'''''Wallaceophis''''' is a genus of snake in the family [[Colubridae]].<ref name=RDB/> It was first described in 2016. The sole species is '''''Wallaceophis gujaratensis''''' which is found in the [[India]]n state of [[Gujarat]].<ref name=RDB/><ref name=":0"/> ''Wallaceophis gujaratenisis'' is presently known from just seven localities of Gujarat and virtually nothing is known about its biology.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Mirza|first1=Zeeshan A.|last2=Vyas|first2=Raju|last3=Patel|first3=Harshil|last4=Maheta|first4=Jaydeep|last5=Sanap|first5=Rajesh V.|title=A new Miocene-divergent lineage of Old World racer snake from India |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=11 |issue=3 |article-number= e0148380|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0148380|pmc=4774991 |pmid=26934509 |year=2016|bibcode=2016PLoSO..1148380M|doi-access=free}}</ref> Common names '''Wallace's striped snake''' and '''Wallace's racer''' has been suggested for it.<ref name=RDB/><ref name=":0"/><br />
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==Etymology==<br />
The genus has been named ''Wallaceophis'' in honour of the legendary 19th century British naturalist [[Alfred Russel Wallace]] (1823–1913), considered the father of biogeography. The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]] ''gujaratenisis'' commemorates the western Indian state where it was discovered.<ref name=":0"/><br />
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==Description==<br />
''Wallaceophis'' is a medium-sized snake in relation to members of the family, measuring {{convert|250|-|930|mm|abbr=on}} in snout–vent length. The [[holotype]] measured {{convert|501|mm|abbr=on}} in SVL and had {{convert|61|mm|abbr=on}} long tail. A 3–4 dorsal scale row wide black longitudinal stripe runs from the post nasal to the tail tip on each side on a wheat colored [[Dorsum (anatomy)|dorsum]].<ref name=":0"/><br />
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== Diagnosis ==<br />
The genus differs from most colubrid genera in lacking hypapophyses on posterior dorsal vertebrae and in bearing nine maxillary teeth (the posterior-most teeth are subequal) and nine palatine teeth. Dorsal scale reduction is characterized by vertebral reductions, increase of scale rows posterior to neck, a single lateral reduction at midbody, and regular vertebral reductions in posterior half of the body. The [[rostral scale]] is not visible from above; a small [[presubocular scale]] is present. There are eight [[Supralabial scale|supralabials]], the fourth and fifth ones are in contact with the orbit. The [[anal scale]] is undivided. There are 215–216 [[ventral scales]] and 51–54 [[subcaudal scales]]. The [[hemipenis]] is subcylindrical and spinose throughout.<ref name=":0" /><br />
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''Wallaceophis'' may be distinguished from most members of the family Colubridae by its lack of hypapophyses on posterior dorsal vertebrae. This condition is present in racers and whip snakes of the genera ''[[Platyceps]]'', ''[[Hemorrhois]]'', ''[[Spalerosophis]]'', ''[[Hemerophis]]'', ''[[Dolichophis]]'', ''[[Hierophis]]'', ''[[Eirenis]]'', ''[[Orientocoluber]]'', ''[[Coluber]]'', ''[[Macroprotodon]]'', ''[[Bamanophis]]'', and ''[[Lytorhynchus]]''. ''Wallaceophis'' differs from these genera in bearing unique vertebral dorsal scale reductions (vs. lateral reductions in ''Platyceps'', ''Hemorrhois'', ''Hemerophis'', ''Dolichophis'', ''Hierophis'', ''Eirenis'', ''Orientocoluber'', ''Coluber'', ''Macroprotodon'', ''Bamanophis'', and ''Lytorhynchus''); nine maxillary teeth (vs. 15–17 in ''Spalerosophis'', 14–19 in ''Platyceps'', 13–16 in ''Hemorrhois'', 17–20 in ''Hemerophis'', 16–18 in ''Hierophis'', 16–26 in ''Eirenis'', 15–19 in ''Bamanophis''); presubocular present (vs. absent in ''Macroprotodon'', ''Orientocoluber'', ''Bamanophis''). The genus is closely related to the genus ''[[Lytorhynchus]]'' based on ~3047bp of nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences. However, it differs from that genus in having vertebral dorsal scale reduction (vs. lateral in ''Lytorhynchus'') and in having nine palatine teeth (vs. 3–5 in ''Lytorhynchus'').<ref name=":0" /><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist|refs=<br />
<ref name=RDB>{{NRDB genus|genus=Wallaceophis |date=3 May |year=2017}}</ref><br />
}}<br />
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q24050052}}<br />
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[[Category:Colubrinae]]<br />
[[Category:Monotypic snake genera]]<br />
[[Category:Snakes of Asia]]<br />
[[Category:Endemic reptiles of India]]<br />
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