25. Oligodon tillacki

Bandara, Ganesh, Kanishka, Danushka, Sharma, Campbell, Ineich, Vogel & Amarasinghe, 2022

Publication :

Bandara SK, SR Ganesh, AS Kanishka, AD Danushka, VR Sharma, PD Campbell, I Ineich, G Vogel & AAT Amarasinghe (2022). Taxonomic composition of the Oligodon arnensis (Shaw 1802) species complex (Squamata: Colubridae) with the description of a new species from India. Herpetologica 78 (1): 51–73.

Remarks :

We discovered Oligodon tillacki from the western India. This species is allied to O. russelius distributed in eastern and northern India, and O. arnensis in Sri Lanka. Oligodon tillacki is the 21st Oligodon species reported from India.

Etymology:
The specific epithet is a noun in the singular genitive case, honoring Dr. Frank Tillack, a renowned herpetologist and the Collection Manager (Herpetofauna) of ZMB for his enormous contribution to the herpetological research, especially on the systematic research on snake fauna. We use the modern name ‘‘Tillack’’ formed in case of singular masculine adding the suffix (-i).

English name: Tillack’s Kukri