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| Cnemaspis thackerayi
Khandekar, Gaitonde & Agarwal, 2019
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Abstract
We present a preliminary ND2 phylogeny of South Asian Cnemaspis, recovering a number of deeply divergent clades within Indian Cnemaspis, endemic to the southern and northern Western Ghats besides the Mysore Plateau and hills of Tamil Nadu. There are a number of unnamed lineages that are >5% divergent on ND2 across the phylogeny, including three from the gracilis clade on an elevation gradient (800–1400 m asl.) around Yercaud in the Shevaroy massif, Salem district, Tamil Nadu. We describe two of these as new species— Cnemaspis shevaroyensis sp. nov. and Cnemaspis thackerayi sp. nov. are both allied to Cnemaspis gracilis and can be diagnosed from all other Indian Cnemaspis by the absence of spine-like scales on flank, heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis, presence of femoral and precloacal pores, tail with enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles forming whorls, a median row of enlarged and smooth sub-caudals. They differ from C. gracilis and each other in body size, the number of tubercles around midbody, the number of tubercles in paravertebral rows, the number of femoral and precloacal pores, the number of poreless scales in-between precloacal pores and between femoral and precloacal pores, and subtle colour pattern differences; besides uncorrected mitochondrial sequence divergence (7.9–16.6 %). We also provide a description of Cnemaspis yercaudensis from its type locality and an additional locality. The discovery of two endemic species and a third unnamed divergent lineage from an isolated massif in peninsular India outside the Western Ghats indicate that many other such understudied hill ranges may harbour high endemic biodiversity.
Keywords: Reptilia, Cryptic species, Dwarf geckos, Gekkonidae, mountains, peninsular India, taxonomy, Tamil Nadu
Akshay Khandekar, Nikhil Gaitonde and Ishan Agarwal. 2019. Two New Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Shevaroy massif, Tamil Nadu, India, with A Preliminary ND2 Phylogeny of Indian Cnemaspis. Zootaxa. 4609(1); 68–100. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4609.1.3
researchgate.net/publication/333262387_Two_new_Cnemaspis_from_the_Shevaroy_massif_Tamil_Nadu_India
We are delighted to announce the addition of two beautiful species of geckos from Yercaud in Shevaroy massif, Tamil Nadu, India! Both the species belong to the genus Cnemaspis, commonly known as Day or Dwarf geckos.
Cnemaspis thackerayi sp. nov.: We have named this beautiful gecko after our good friend, Tejas Thackeray in recognition of his contributions to natural history and systematic zoology, and his constant encouragement and support to us to do taxonomy. He also collected the holotype of this species.
Cnemaspis shevaroyensis sp. nov.: The specific epithet shevaroyensis is a toponym for the Shevaroy massif in Salem district of Tamil Nadu, the type and only known locality for this species. Highlighting the endemic squamate diversity across the steep elevation gradient of this ancient mountain range.
In this paper, we also provide diagnosis, natural history and distribution of poorly known Cnemaspis yercaudensis.
We are delighted to announce the addition of two beautiful species of geckos from Yercaud in Shevaroy massif, Tamil Nadu, India! Both the species belong to the genus Cnemaspis, commonly known as Day or Dwarf geckos.
Cnemaspis thackerayi sp. nov.: We have named this beautiful gecko after our good friend, Tejas Thackeray in recognition of his contributions to natural history and systematic zoology, and his constant encouragement and support to us to do taxonomy. He also collected the holotype of this species.
Cnemaspis shevaroyensis sp. nov.: The specific epithet shevaroyensis is a toponym for the Shevaroy massif in Salem district of Tamil Nadu, the type and only known locality for this species. Highlighting the endemic squamate diversity across the steep elevation gradient of this ancient mountain range.
In this paper, we also provide diagnosis, natural history and distribution of poorly known Cnemaspis yercaudensis.
