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| Cyrtodactylus vanarakshaka Bharali, Thaosen, Vabeiryureilai, Lalremsanga, Purkayatha, Bhattacharjee, Das, Bohra & Hazarika, 2025 Vanarakshaka Bent-toed Gecko || DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2025.06.008 |
ABSTRACT
A new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus is described from Dima Hasao, Assam based on an integrative approach combining morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic evidence derived from the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene. Molecular phylogenetic analysis places the new species as the sister taxon to the clade comprising C. namtiram and C. barailensis, from which it differs by an uncorrected pairwise genetic distance of at least 11% in the ND2 gene. In addition to molecular evidence, it is morphologically distinguishable from all known congeners based on the combination of precloacal pore count, mid-ventral scale rows, number of paravertebral tubercles, and dorsal tubercle arrangement. This increases the number of Cyrtodactylus in Assam to five species, highlighting the region’s importance as a hotspot for herpetofaunal endemism.
Keywords: lizard, ND2, North-east India, systematics, taxonomy
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| Cyrtodactylus vanarakshaka sp. nov. in life [A: holotype (MZMU4036); B: (MZMU4037)]. |
Cyrtodactylus vanarakshaka sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Cyrtodactylus vanarakshaka sp. nov. is a moderately sized gecko with a maximum SVL up to 65 mm (n=4), having 9–11 supralabials and 9–10 infralabials. Dorsum is characterized by smooth granular scales interspersed with somewhat regularly arranged enlarged tubercles that are mostly oval, bluntly conical, and usually feebly keeled; dorsal tubercles are usually 5–7 times the size of dorsal granular scales; the mid-dorsum has 21–22 longitudinal rows of tubercles; 35–36 paravertebral tubercles (PVT2) between the level of the axilla and groin; 52–55 paravertebral tubercles (PVT1), originating from the most anterior tubercle on the occiput to the mid-sacrum; there are 38–41 mid-ventral scale rows between the weakly developed ventrolateral folds. Males possess a continuous series of 10 precloacal pores with no visible pitted scales, and females show a continuous series of 10 visible precloacal pits; finger IV has 16–17 subdigital lamellae (excluding non-lamellar scales between the proximal and apical lamellae), and toe IV has 16–20 subdigital lamellae (excluding non-lamellar scales between the proximal and apical lamellae). The dorsum displays 9–10 paired, somewhat irregularly shaped, dark-brown transverse paravertebral blotches that are somewhat parallel. The tail bears a continuous series of alternating dark and light transverse bands and lacks a single row of transversely enlarged subcaudal scales.
Etymology. The specific epithet vanarakshaka is derived from the Sanskrit words vana, meaning "forest," and rakshaka, meaning "protector" or "guardian." It is intended as a tribute to the Assam Forest Department, referred to here as vanarakshaka—the protectors of forests. The name acknowledges the department’s crucial role in conserving biodiversity and safeguarding natural habitats across the state. The epithet is treated as a noun in apposition.
Suggested common name. Vanarakshaka Bent-toed Gecko
Manmath Bharali, Krijoboti Thaosen, Mathipi Vabeiryureilai, Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, Jayaditya Purkayatha, Rupankar Bhattacharjee, Madhurima Das, Sanath Chandra Bohra and Arup Kumar Hazarika. 2025. A New Species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the montane forests of Dima Hasao District, Assam, India. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. In Press. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2025.06.008 [18 July 2025]
