 |
| Cyrtodactylus phukhaensis Chomdej, Pradit, Pawangkhanant, Naiduangchan & Suwannapoom, in Chomdej, Pradit, Pawangkhanant, ... et Suwannapoom. 2022. ตุ๊กกายภูคา || facebook.com: นก หนู งูเห่า |
Abstract
Here, a new species of bent-toed gecko, Cyrtodactylus phukhaensis sp. nov., is described from Doi Phu Kha, Nan province, Thailand based on molecular and morphological evidence. A phylogeny based on NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) and its flanking tRNAs places the new species in the chauquangensis group as a sister taxon to Cyrtodactylus wayakonei. The new species can be differentiated from other members of the chauquangensis group by having a unique combination of 7 or 8 supralabials, 23–28 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles, 8–10 infralabials, 9 femoral pores, 7 precloacal pores, 40–47 ventral scales, and a lack of bands crossing the temporal area. In addition, results from a chromosome study of C. phukhaensis sp. nov. showed that the new species has a diploid chromosome number of 40 with a fundamental number of 46. The formula of the karyotype was as follows: 2n (40) = 2m + 4sm + 34t. Our findings suggest that further studies of Cyrtodactylus biodiversity in northern Thailand are needed.
Keywords: bent-toed gecko; Cyrtodactylus wayakonei; Cyrtodactylus chauquangensis; karyotype; phylogeny; taxonomy
 |
| Distributions of the Cyrtodactylus chauquangensis group. Red star indicates the type locality of Cyrtodactylus phukhaensis sp. nov. in Nan Province, Thailand. Red dots represent the distributions of other Cyrtodactylus spp. including (1) C. zhenkangensis, (2) C. erythrops, (3) C. dumnuii, (4) C. doisuthep, (5) C. auribalteatus, (6) C. kunyai, (7) C. wayakonei, (8) C. vilaphongi, (9) C. spelaeus, (10) C. martini, (11) C. hekouensis, (12) C. sonlaensis, (13) C. otai, (14) C. puhuensis, (15) C. bobrovi, (16) C. huongsonensis, (17) C. cucphuongensis, (18) C. soni, and (19) C. chauquangensis. |
 |
| Dorsal view of live Cyrtodactylus phukhaensis sp. nov. from Doi Phu Kha, Pua and Bo Kluea District, Nan Province, northern Thailand. Habitat of Cyrtodactylus phukhaensis sp. nov. at the Doi Phu Kha, Nan Province, Thailand, i.e., the type locality. |
 |
| The specimen observed on a large boulder near the stream in the habitat. |
Cyrtodactylus phukhaensis sp. nov.
Chomdej, Pradit, Pawangkhanant, Naiduangchan, and Suwannapoom
Phukha Bent-toed Gecko
Diagnosis Cyrtodactylus phukhaensis sp. nov. differs from all other species in the C. chauguangensis group by having a combination of 8 or 9 supralabials; 8–10 infralabials; 36–44 paravertebral tubercles; 23–28 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; 40 –47 ventral scales; 7 expanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 11 or 12 unmodified subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, and 18 or 19 total subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; 27–34 enlarged femoral scales; 10 –12 pore-bearing femoral scales in males; 8–11 enlarged precloacal scales; 7 pore-bearing precloacal scales in males; 3 rows of enlarged postprecloacal scales; 4–7 broken to hour glass-shaped dorsal body bands; 4–8 light-colored caudal bands (n = 2); 3–8 dark colored caudal bands (n = 2); raised and strongly keeled dorsal tubercles that extend beyond the base of the tail; enlarged femoral and precloacal scales that are nearly the same size and continuous; pore-bearing femoral and precloacal scales that are not continuous; medial subcaudals 2–3 times wider than long and extending onto the lateral side of the tail; green irises; a nuchal loop lacking an anterior azygous notch and bearing a jagged posterior border; dorsal bands bearing paravertebral elements that are generally equal in width to the interspaces, bear lightened centers, and are edged with white tubercles; dark markings in the dorsal interspaces; light caudal bands in adults bearing dark-colored markings; light-colored caudal bands that do not encircle the tail, and a mature regenerated tail that is not spotted (Table 3).
Etymology The specific epithet, phukhaensis, is derived from the place name of Doi Phu Kha where the type series was collected.
Siriwadee Chomdej, Waranee Pradit, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Chakkrapong Kuensaen, Apichaya Phupanbai, Mali Naiduangchan, Promporn Piboon, Korakot Nganvongpanit, Zhiyong Yuan, Yinpeng Zhang, Jing Che, Phuping Sucharitakul and Chatmongkon Suwannapoom. 2022. A New Cyrtodactylus Species (Reptila: Gekkonidae) from Nan Province, Northern Thailand. Asian Herpetological Research. 13(2); 96–108. DOI: 10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.210055
