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| Afroedura gorongosa
Branch, Guyton, Schmitz, Barej, Naskrecki, Farooq, Verburgt & Rödel, 2017
Gorongosa Flat Gecko || DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4324.1.8 |
Abstract
A new species of flat gecko, Afroedura gorongosa sp. nov., is described from Gorongosa National Park, Sofala Province, central Mozambique. The new species is morphologically similar to A. transvaalica and A. loveridgei, from both of which it is genetically distinct (15–17% divergence; 400 bp of 16S rRNA). Morphologically it can be distinguished from both species by having fewer midbody scale rows (97–101) and a higher number of precloacal pores in males (8–13). The type series was collected on the western flanks of Mount Gorongosa (900 and 1100 m a.s.l.) in comparatively cool and moist microclimates, where it is threatened by illegal deforestation. Additional material was collected as low as 212 m a.s.l. on an inselberg near Mount Gorongosa. The new discovery adds to the growing number of endemic montane reptiles discovered in Mozambique in recent years, and highlights the need for a national conservation assessment of the country’s herpetofauna and continued protection of the Mount Gorongosa region.
Keywords: Reptilia, Afroedura gorongosa sp. nov.; Afroedura loveridgei; Afroedura transvaalica; biodiversity; endemism; lizards
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| FIGURE 4. Afroedura gorongosa sp. nov. a) male holotype (ZMB 83293, Mount Gorongosa, Mozambique; photo: M. - O. Rödel); b) female paratype (ZMB 83292, Mount Gorongosa, Mozambique; photo: P. Naskrecki) showing dorsal pattern and regenerated tail; c) Afroedura gorongosa (ZMB 83289, Bunga Inselberg, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique; photo: C. Dorse). |
Etymology. The specific name refers to Mount Gorongosa and Gorongosa National Park in Central Mozambique, to which the species is endemic. We suggest Gorongosa Flat Gecko is a suitable common name. Afroedura, based on Oedura, is feminine and the specific epithet is treated as a noun in apposition.
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| FIGURE 5. Afroedura gorongosa sp. nov. female paratype (PEM R 22229, previously ZMB 83291, Mount Gorongosa, Mozambique; photos: P. Naskrecki); a) general habitus and dorsal coloration; b) close up of nasal region showing diagnostic features of: presence of internasal granules, and posterior projection of rostral to border the nostril; c) close up of lower side of left forelimb; and d) close up of right hind foot showing two paired scansors. |
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| FIGURE 6. Habitats of Afroedura gorongosa sp. nov. on Mount Gorongosa (a – c); a) edge of rainforest on Mount Gorongosa, the holotype was collected in a rock-crack of an isolated boulder in an open area close to the rainforest at 1038 m a. s. l. (b) and in rocky areas of the Murombodzi river (c; compare Fig. 7); d) rocky habitat on the top of Bunga Inselberg, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique (photos: M. - O. Rödel). |
William R. Branch , Jennifer A. Guyton, Andreas Schmitz, Michael F. Barej, Piotr Naskrecki, Harith Farooq, Luke Verburgt and Mark-Oliver Rödel. 2017. Description of A New Flat Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Afroedura) from Mount Gorongosa, Mozambique. Zootaxa. 4324(1); 142–160. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4324.1.8
ResearchGate.net/publication/320043814_Description_of_a_new_flat_gecko_Squamata_Gekkonidae_Afroedura_from_Mount_Gorongosa_Mozambique
Resumo: Aqui descreve-se uma nova espécie de osga, Afroedura gorongosa sp. nov., do Parque Nacional da Gorongosa, na Provín-cia de Sofala, centro de Moçambique. Do ponto de vista morfológico, a nova espécie assemelha-se às osgas A. transvaa-lica e A. loveridgei, sendo geneticamente distinta de ambas (divergência de 15–17%; 400 bp de 16S rRNA). Distingue-se morfologicamente de ambas as espécies por ter um número inferior de fileiras de escamas na secção mediana (97–101) e um número superior de poros pré-cloacal nos machos (8–13). A série-tipo foi recolhida nos flancos ocidentais da Serra da Gorongosa (900 e 1100 m a.s.l.), em microclimas relativamente mais frios e húmidos, onde se encontra ameaçada pela desflorestação ilegal. Estas osgas foram também recolhidas à altitude de 212 m a.s.l., num inselberg e próximo da Serra da Gorongosa. A nova descoberta junta-se ao crescente número de répteis endémicos de montanha descobertos em Moçambique nos últimos anos, e realça a necessidade de uma avaliação da conservação da herpetofauna do país a nível nacional, bem como a proteção da região do Monte Gorongosa.
Palavras-chave: Afroedura gorongosa sp. nov.; Afroedura loveridgei; Afroedura transvaalica; biodiversidade; endemis-mo; lagartos
