Mesalina Bishnoi Recorded in India for First Time

Mesalina bishnoi is a newly described lizard species from Rajasthan and the first confirmed record of the genus Mesalina in India. The formal description was published on 1 June 2026 after specimen collection from an open semi-desert habitat near Gajner in the Bikaner district.

Taxonomy and Identification

Mesalina bishnoi belongs to the genus Mesalina and was placed within the Mesalina watsonana species complex. Scientists used morphological examination and genetic analyses to confirm it as a previously unknown species.

Discovery Site and Field Survey

A field survey in August 2025 led to the collection of the specimen near Gajner in western Rajasthan. The habitat was an open semi-desert zone, which is part of the arid landscape of the Thar region.

Species Features and Naming

The lizard is a small-bodied species with a snout-vent length of about 39.2 mm. It has a greyish to olive-brown body colour with distinct stripes and markings. The species name bishnoi honours the Bishnoi community, which is known in India for wildlife conservation traditions.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Zoological Survey of India is a scientific organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• The genus Mesalina belongs to the family Lacertidae, which includes many Old World lizards.
• Rajasthan contains major arid and semi-arid habitats, including parts of the Thar Desert.
• Malcolm A. Smith was a British zoologist known for herpetological work in the Indian subcontinent.

Historical Reference and Scientific Context

A 1935 reference by Malcolm A. Smith mentioned Mesalina watsonana in Jaisalmer, but specimen-based confirmation was absent until this discovery. The record adds a verified Indian locality for the genus Mesalina.