[Herpetology • 2017] Lepidodactylus pantai • A New Species of Lepidodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Kei Islands, Maluku, Indonesia

Lepidodactylus pantai

Stubbs, Karin, Arifin, Iskandar, Arida, Reilly, Block, Kusnadi & McGuire, 2017

Beach Scaly-toed Gecko  ||  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4350.1.5 

Abstract

Lepidodactylus pantai is a new species of gecko from the Kei Islands, Maluku, Indonesia that is closely associated with intertidal habitats. This species does not fit cleanly into any of the three species groups described for the genus because it possesses the unique combination of both divided terminal scansors on all toes and a nearly completely cylindrical tail without fringes or evidence of dorsoventral compression. A phylogenetic analysis including this species demonstrates that it is the sister taxon of a population from Palau, and that this clade is sister to the clade containing Group III species for which we have molecular data.

Keywords: Reptilia, Wallacea, Phylogenetics, Gecko, Luperosaurus, Pseudogekko, Moluccas, intertidal, pantai

FIGURE 2. Photo in life of Lepidodactylus pantai sp. nov. from the type locality. (Photo by LMB, 2014).

Etymology. The species epithet, pantai, is the word for beach in the Indonesian national language (Bahasa Indonesia). It reflects the habitat in which the new species was discovered—a seemingly obligate association with the seashore. All specimens were found within 2 m of the high tide line. We suggest “Beach Scaly-toed Gecko” as the English common name for this species.

Alexander L. Stubbs, Benjamin R. Karin, Umilaela Arifin, Djoko T. Iskandar, Evy Arida, Sean B. Reilly, Luke M. Block, Agus Kusnadi and Jimmy A. McGuire. 2017. A New Species of Lepidodactylus (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Kei Islands, Maluku, Indonesia. Zootaxa. 4350(1); 91–105. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4350.1.5
ResearchGate.net/publication/321108873_A_new_species_of_Lepidodactylus_Reptilia_Squamata_Gekkonidae_from_the_Kei_Islands_Maluku_Indonesia