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| Cnemaspis rashidi Sayyed, Kirubakaran, Khot, Thanigaivel, Satheeshkumar, Sayyed, Sayyed, Purkayastha, Deshpande & Sulakhe, 2023 |
ABSTRACT
In this study, we present the description of a previously undocumented species of Cnemaspis found in the region of Tamil Nadu, India. Molecular analysis of the species reveals its placement within the Cnemaspis beddomei Theobald, 1876 clade, with a range of genetic divergence on the ND2 gene, spanning from 9.5% to 30.2% in comparison to its congeners. Although bearing a resemblance to the well-known Cnemaspis ornata Beddome, 1870, the new species exhibits a distinct set of non-overlapping morphological characteristics that set it apart. These findings are supported by molecular data, solidifying the distinction between the newly described species and its close relatives.
Key words: Cnemaspis beddomei clade, phylogeny, systematics, taxonomy, ND2.
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| Colour in life of Cnemaspis rashidi sp. nov., holotype, BNHS 2921 male. Photos by Amit Sayyed |
Cnemaspis rashidi sp. nov.
Diagnosis. A medium sized, Cnemaspis with adult SVL<50 mm (n=4); dorsal scales heterogeneous; circular granular scales intermixed with enlarged, fairly regularly arranged, strongly keeled, pointed, conical tubercles; scales on flanks small, granular, smooth, slightly raised, conical and spine-like tubercles absent on either side of the lower flanks; 7–8 supralabials; 7 infralabials; 10–11 longitudinal rows of enlarged tubercles on dorsal body; mid-dorsal scales 73–75; scales on snout and canthus rostralis large, round, juxtaposed, un-keeled; scales on nape, ventral surface of neck, occipital and temporal region granular, small, round, un-keeled; ....
Etymology. Specific epithet is a patronym in honour of Prof. Rashid Sayyed, father of the first author.
Suggested Common Name: Rashid’s dwarf gecko
Amit Sayyed, Samson Kirubakaran, Rahul Khot, Thanigaivel A, Satheeshkumar M, Ayaan Sayyed, Masum Sayyed, Jayaditya Purkayastha, Shubhankar Deshpande and Shauri Sulakhe. 2023. A New Species of the Genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the higher elevations of Tamil Nadu, India. Asian Journal of Conservation Biology. 12(2); 179–188. DOI: 10.53562/ajcb.83427 https://ajcb.in/archive_dec_23.php
