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Cyrtodactylus papeda Riyanto, Faz, Amarasinghe, Munir, Fitriana, Hamidy, Kusrini & Oliver, 2022 cecak jarilengkung Obi | Obi Bent-toad Gecko || DOI: 10.1655/Herpetologica-D-21-00028 |
Abstract
Based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence, we describe a new species of Cyrtodactylus from Obi Island in the northern Moluccas, Indonesia. The new species is genetically and morphologically allied to the Melanesian species Cyrtodactylus papuensis but is distinguished by its larger body size, fewer midbody scale rows, deep precloacal groove in males, and enlarged nonpored femoral scales and pored precloacal scales arranged in a continuous series. The new species is also genetically divergent from C. papuensis (p-distances of 19.0%–20.1% in the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene). Four species of Cyrtodactylus are now known from the northern Moluccas, but it is likely additional species remain unrecognized.
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| Cyrtodactylus papeda sp. nov. Adult male holotype (MZB.Lace. 14052), from Kawasi, Obi Island, Halmahera Selatan, Maluku Province, Indonesia |
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| Precloacal depression posterior and enlarged femoral and precloacal scales of (A) Cyrtodactylus papeda sp. nov. holotype MZB.Lace. 14052 and (B) C. papuensis holotype ZMA.RENA 10937. Illustrations by A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe (not to scale). |
Cyrtodactylus papeda sp. nov.
Etymology.— The specific epithet is an invariable noun in apposition and refers to papeda (in Indonesian language), a traditional fiber-rich, cholesterol-low food in Moluccas and West Papua made from sago (Metroxylon sagu, family Arecaceae) starch. Here, we used this epithet to honor (promote) a traditional culinary feature of Obi Island and to showcase this new endemic gecko species to the public. Papeda is white in color, with the texture resembling sticky glue, and the cuisine is usually served with tuna fish and flavored with saffron. Suggested vernacular names are ‘‘cecak jarilengkung Obi’’ and Obi Bent-toad Gecko, in Bahasa Indonesia and English, respectively.
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| (A) The holotype of Cyrtodactylus papeda sp. nov. (MZB.Lace. 14052) and (B) the habitat at Kawasi, Obi Island. Photographs by F.H. Faz. |
Awal Riyanto; Fata H. Faz; A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe; Misbahul Munir; Yuli S. Fitriana; Amir Hamidy; Mirza D. Kusrini and Paul M. Oliver. 2022. A New Bent-Toed Gecko of the Cyrtodactylus marmoratus Group (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from Obi Island, Indonesia. Herpetologica.
