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| Hemiphyllodactylus montawaensis
Grismer, Wood, Thura, Zin, Quah, Murdoch, Grismer, Li, Kyaw & Ngwe, 2017
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ABSTRACT
A phylogenetic taxonomy of the gekkonid genus Hemiphyllodactylus based on molecular, morphological, and ecological data recovered 28 species, including three new species from the upland regions of the Shan Plateau in eastern Myanmar. Hemiphyllodactylus linnwayensis sp. nov. is a forest-adapted species that may also be a human commensal and H. montawaensis sp. nov. and H. tonywhitteni sp. nov. are karst forest-adapted species. The discovery of three new species from montane regions in eastern Myanmar extends the distribution of a larger monophyletic group of Hemiphyllodactylus westward to the eastern edge of the Ayeyrawady Basin through a series of semi-contiguous, parallel mountain ranges originating in western China and northern Thailand. The discovery of the karst forest-adapted H. montawaensis sp. nov. and H. tonywhitteni sp. nov. further emphasizes the unrealized herpetological diversity endemic to karst ecosystems and the need for increased field work throughout such habitats in South-East Asia.
KEYWORDS: Phylogenetic taxonomy, new species, Myanmar, karst, Hemiphyllodactylus, Gekkonidae
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| Figure 9. (a) Adult female paratype (LSUHC 13012) of Hemiphyllodactylus montawaensis sp. nov. from the type locality of Montawa Cave 3.7 km south-west of Taunggyi, Taunggyi District, Shan State, Myanmar. |
Hemiphyllodactylus tonywhitteni sp. nov.
Phapant dwarf gecko
Etymology:
This specific epithet ‘tonywhitteni’ honours Dr Tony Whitten of Fauna & Flora International
who has championed a broad range of conservation efforts in Indonesia and the Asia
Pacific for well over a quarter of a century. His tireless efforts to conserve and help manage
karst ecosystems have been a great inspiration to the senior author (LLG) herein.
Hemiphyllodactylus montawaensis sp. nov.
Montawa dwarf gecko
Etymology: This specific epithet ‘montawaensis’ refers to the type locality of Montawa cave.
Hemiphyllodactylus linnwayensis sp. nov.
Linn-Way dwarf gecko
Etymology:
This specific epithet ‘linnwayensis’ refers to the type locality of Linn-Way Village.
L. Lee Grismer, Perry L. Wood Jr, Myint Kyaw Thura, Thaw Zin, Evan S. H. Quah, Matthew L. Murdoch, Marta S. Grismer, Aung Li, Htet Kyaw and Ngwe Lwin. 2017. Phylogenetic Taxonomy of Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with Descriptions of Three New Species from Myanmar. Journal of Natural History. DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2017.1367045
https://perryleewoodjr.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/grismer_et_al_2017_hemiphyllodactylus_myanmar.pdf
We just found nineteen new species of gecko in one tiny area
newscientist.com/article/2149587-we-just-found-nineteen-new-species-of-gecko-in-one-tiny-area/
newscientist.com/article/2149587-we-just-found-nineteen-new-species-of-gecko-in-one-tiny-area/
Fifteen new gecko species discovered in Myanmar
