Description of two new species of Ptyctolaemus (Squamata: Agamidae) from northeast India

Abstract The genus Ptyctolaemus Peters, 1864 is currently represented by three species; P. gularis , P. collicristatus and P. chindwinensis . Previous molecular phylogenetic studies have highlighted additional lineages within P. gularis. Phylogenetic analysis using the ND2 mitochondrial gene recovered three distinct lineages in India. Multivariate analyses using morphological data placed the type specimen of P. gularis (ZMB 5004) with the samples collected from Meghalaya. We assign this lineage as P. gularis and describe the other two lineages as new species. Ptyctolaemus siangensis sp. nov. found west of Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh and Ptyctolaemus namdaphaensis sp. nov. found in Namdapha, Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Although phenotypically similar the two new species differ from its congeners in gular colouration and subtle morphological differences.