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| Trigonodactylus persicus |
Abstract
In the present study we provide evidence for the validity of the genus Trigonodactylus Hass, 1957, improve the diagnosis for this genus and describe a new species that belongs to it—Trigonodactylus persicus sp. nov., from the sand dunes in Khuzestan Province, southwestern Iran. The new species is closely related to Trigonodactylus [Stenodactylus] arabicus sensu Hass, and can be distinguished by the following morphological characteristics: small size, maximum SVL 34 mm; SVL/TailL—approximately 1:1; ventral scales roundish, weakly keeled, 54–61 longitudinal rows at midbody and 190–25 along midbody. No enlarged postmentals. Fingers and toes slightly flattened dorso-ventrally. Lateral edge of digits fringed by series of projecting triangular scales. No web between digits. No preanal and femoral pores. Dorsal color pattern formed by thin, dark, irregular vermicular patches and spots. Sometimes these dark dorsal patterns blend with each other and form transverse bands. There is a narrow, dark, longitudinal line between forelimbs and hindlimbs on lateral sides. Dark, well developed ʌ-shaped marking on snout, which continues behind orbit on tympanum region, approaches the upper ear opening and ends on the pectoral arch. Labial scales white, in some cases with grey-brown dots. Dorsal surfaces of limbs and digits with irregular dark bands. Dorsal surface of tail with 8–10 wide, dark brown bands with irregular margins, same size as alternating light bands. Ventral surface of body and limbs white, tail with dark spots that become more distinct posteriorly.
Keywords: systematics, taxonomy, Reptilia, Middle East, zoogeography, new species, COI, DNA-barcoding,
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| FIGURE 2. ML-tree of studied Stenodactylus and Trigonodactylus species based on the analyses of 602 bp COI mtDNA gene fragment. Node colour indicates support values: black for well-supported and sufficiently supported nodes, grey for moderately or poorly supported nodes. Node support values are shown above or below tree nodes for ML BS/MP BS/BI PP analyses respectively. |
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| Holotype of Trigonodactylus persicus sp. nov. in situ |
Trigonodactylus persicus sp. nov.
Etymology: The new species was named after the geographic region, where it was found, Persia.
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| FIGURE 5. Members of the genus Trigonodactylus in situ: a—Trigonodactylus persicus sp. nov.; b—T. sharqiyahensis (Metallinou & Carranza, 2013); c—T. arabicus Hass, 1957. |
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| FIGURE 4. Dorsal (upper row), lateral (median row) and mental (lower row) views of heads of all members of the genus Trigonodactylus: T. arabicus holotype CAS 84321 (a; f; k); T. arabicus ZMMU R-14666-1 (b; e; l); Trigonodactylus persicus sp. nov. ZMMUR-14669 (c; h; m); T. sharqiyahensis ZMMU R-14667-1 (d; i; n); T. pulcher holotype BMNH 1946.8.23.38. (e; j; o). |
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