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| Cyrtodactylus zhenkangensis Liu & Rao, 2021 |
Abstract
A new species of Cyrtodactylus is described on the basis of five specimens collected from the karst formations of Zhenkang County, Yunnan Province, China. Cyrtodactylus zhenkangensis sp. nov. is recognized by having a unique combination of morphological characters, the most diagnostic being: 12–15 enlarged femoral scales on each thigh; 2–5 femoral pores on each thigh in males, 0–3 pitted scales on each thigh in females; eight or nine precloacal pores in a continuous row or separated by one poreless scale in males, 7–9 pitted scales in females; subcaudals enlarged, arranged alternately as single and double on anterior and mostly single at middle and posterior; dorsal surface of head with obvious reticulations. Phylogenetic analyses show that the new species is a member of the C. wayakonei species group and a sister taxon to a clade consisting of C. wayakonei and C. martini based on Maximum Likelihood analyses and Bayesian Inference and differs from its congeners by at least 12.0% genetic divergence in a fragment of the COI gene.
Keywords: Bent-toed gecko, Cyrtodactylus wayakonei, karst-dwelling, taxonomy, Zhenkang
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| Figure 4. The holotype (KIZL20200049) of Cyrtodactylus zhenkangensis sp. nov. in life A dorsal view B lateral view. |
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| Figure 5. The paratypes of Cyrtodactylus zhenkangensis sp. nov. in life A subadult male (KIZL2020046) B subadult female (KIZL2020047) C adult female (KIZL2020048) D adult female (KIZL2020050). |
Cyrtodactylus zhenkangensis sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Cyrtodactylus zhenkangensis sp. nov. differs from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: medium size (SVL 78.1–87.4 mm); ventrolateral folds present with interspersed tubercles; 12–15 enlarged femoral scales on each thigh; 2–5 femoral pores on each thigh in males, 0–3 pitted scales on each thigh in females; eight or nine precloacal pores in a continuous row or separated by one poreless scale in males, 7–9 pitted scales in females; two or three postcloacal tubercles on each side; 18–21 lamellae under finger IV, 21–23 lamellae under toe IV; subcaudals enlarged, arranged alternately as single and double on anterior and mostly single at middle and posterior; dorsal surface of head with obvious, light-colored reticulations; eight or nine irregular transverse bands on the dorsum of body.
Etymology: The name refers to Zhenkang County, where the new species was found.
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| Figure 7. Habitat of Cyrtodactylus zhenkangensis sp. nov. at the type locality in Zhenkang County, Yunnan Province, China. |
Distribution: The new species is currently known only from the type locality in Zhenkang County, Yunnan Province, China.
Natural history: All specimens were found at night between 19:00 and 21:00 on limestone cliffs of the karst formations. The surrounding habitat was primary forest with a stream nearby. No eggs or juveniles were found.
Shuo Liu and Dingqi Rao. 2021. A New Species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Yunnan, China. ZooKeys. 1021: 109-126. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1021.60402
