Species:

Mesalina bishnoi  RAY, KHANDAL, SHARMA, DAS, ROY, SETHY & MOHAPATRA

Common names:

Bishnoi-Wüstenrenner (German)
Bishnoi`s Sand Lizard (English)

Types:

Holotype: ZSI-R-29523, collected by D. Khandal and V. Sharma, on 6 August 2025.

Terra Typica:

Near Gajner, Bikaner district, Rajasthan, India (27.940725°N, 73.006918°E).

Taxonomic notes:

Genetically, this species belongs to the Mesalina watsonana species complex. It resolves the long-standing uncertainty regarding the occurrence of this genus in India. The historical record by Malcolm A. Smith (1935) was never substantiated by voucher specimens.

Relevant taxonomic literature:

• Ray, S. & Khandal, D. & Sharma, V. & Das, A. & Roy, P. & Sethy, P.G.S. & Mohapatra, P.P. (2026) -  Description of a novel species of Mesalina Gray, 1838 (Reptilia: Sauria: Lacertidae) from Rajasthan, India. -  Zoological Survey of India: Vol. 126(2)/141-151, 2026    

  ×

  We describe a new species of the genus Mesalina from Rajasthan, India. The new species is genetically distinct and belongs to the M. watsonana species complex, and differs from all other congeners in a combination of morphological characters, such as 10 upper labials; eight lower labials; two large transparent shields of lower eyelid accompanied with three smaller shields; scales on tibia keeled; ventral plates in eight straight longitudinal series and 30 transverse rows; 34 dorsal granular scales across middle of back; nine collars; five submaxillaries; 24 gulars; four supraoculars; six or seven supraciliaries; one very large preanal shield surrounded above and at the sides by two rows of smaller scales; 14 femoral pores on each side of the thigh, narrowly separated by two scales; 21 lamellae under fourth toe.