Saturday, April 20, 2024

[Herpetology • 2024] Hemiphyllodactylus gengmaensis • A New Species of Hemiphyllodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from southwest Yunnan, China

 

Hemiphyllodactylus gengmaensis
Zhou, Li, Shen,  Liu & Rao, 2024

Gengma Slender Gecko | 耿马半叶趾虎   ||  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1197.117359
 
Abstract
A new species of gekkonid, Hemiphyllodactylus gengmaensis sp. nov., is described based on six specimens from Gengma Dai and Wa Autonomous County, Yunnan, China. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a significant genetic divergence of greater than 9.7% in the mitochondrial ND2 gene and a combination of the following characters: a maximum SVL of 43.24mm; 8 or 9 chin scales; six circumnasal scales; 2 or 3 internasal scales; 9–11 supralabial scales; 8 or 9 infralabial scales; 11–18 dorsal scales; 8–10 ventral scales; a manual lamellar formula of 5–5–5–4 or 5–6–5–4 and a pedal lamellar formula of 5–5–6–5; 20–25 precloacal and femoral pore-bearing scales contiguous in males; dark postorbital stripes or striping on body; dark dorsal transverse blotches present; and a brown postsacral mark bearing anteriorly projecting arms. The discovery of this new species brings the number of Hemiphyllodactylus species in China to 15.

Key words: Gengma Dai and Wa Autonomous County, Hemiphyllodactylus gengmaensis sp. nov., integrative taxonomy, molecular phylogeny, slender gecko


Hemiphyllodactylus gengmaensis sp. nov.
A holotype, 2014002302, dorsal view in alcohol B holotype, 2014002302, ventral view in alcohol C paratype, 2014002301, dorsal view in alcohol.

 Hemiphyllodactylus gengmaensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Hemiphyllodactylus gengmaensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: maximum SVL of 43.24 mm; 8–9 chin scales; enlarged postmentals; 6 circumnasal scales; 2–3 internasal scales; 9–11 supralabial scales; 8–9 infralabial scales; 11–18 dorsal scales; 8–10 ventral scales; a manual lamellar formula of 5–5–5–4 or 5–6–5–4 and a pedal lamellar formula of 5–5–6–5; 20–25 precloacal and femoral pore-bearing scales contiguous in males. dark postorbital stripes or striping on body; dark dorsal transverse blotches; and a brown postsacral mark bearing anteriorly projecting arms.

Etymology: The scientific name “gengmaensis” is derived from its type locality Gengma Dai and Wa Autonomous County in Yunnan province. We suggest Gengma Slender Gecko in English and “耿马半叶趾虎 (Gěng Mǎ Bàn Yè Zhǐ Hǔ)” in Chinese.


Hongxin Zhou, Shimin Li, Ziqi Shen, Shuo Liu and Dingqi Rao. 2024. A New Species of Hemiphyllodactylus (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from southwest Yunnan, China. ZooKeys. 1197: 197-213. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1197.117359