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| Live coloration among different populations of Diploderma fasciatum in China. Photos by Kai Wang, Jian Wang, Jianyue Qiu, Xinqiang Song, Yulong Li, and Chenqi Lu. |
Abstract
While taxonomic research of the genus Diploderma has made considerable progress in the past decade, far less attention was given to the arboreal species in the subtropical areas. Combining mitochondrial genetic and morphological data, we evaluated the current taxonomic hypotheses of one of the subtropical, arboreal species complexes, the D. fasciatum complex, based on examination of the type series and newly collected specimens. Mitochondrial genealogy shows that D. jinggangense, D. fasciatum, and D. szechwanense together form a monophyletic group, and D. jinggangense is paraphyletic to D. szechwanense. Although there are moderate genetic divergences among populations, such divergence differences are gradual geographically. Morphological comparisons of all commonly used diagnostic characters fail to differentiate the three species. In particular, the previously proposed diagnosis, the presence of transverse gular fold, is variable in this species complex. Our data support the previous taxonomic hypothesis that D. szechwanense and D. fasciatum are synonyms, and we also add D. jinggangense as another junior synonym of D. fasciatum. With newly available specimens, we revise the diagnostic characters of D. fasciatum, describe its coloration in life, and expand its distribution in southwestern and southern China. Our discovery of D. fasciatum in Guangdong Province represents a new provincial herpetofauna record. Finally, we highlight the taxonomic uncertainties on the species status of D. grahami with respect to D. fasciatum and discuss the issue on the recent unnecessary changes of the Chinese common names of the genus Diploderma, recommending maintaining stability of Chinese common names and continuous usage of “Long Xi” as the common name for Diploderma.
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| Comparisons of preserved specimens of the Diploderma fasciatum complex, showing dorsal overview (1), ventral overview (2), lateral head (3), dorsal head (4), and ventral head view (5). (A) Holotype of D. fasciatum (SMF 9871); (B) specimen from the vicinity of the type locality of D. fasciatum from southeastern Yunnan, China (KIZ 040192); (C) holotype of D. szechwanense (CIB 2620); (D) holotype of D. jinggangense (SYS r00988); (E) male specimen from Guangdong, China (SYS r001441); (F) male specimen from northeast Yunnan, China (KIZ 044140); and (G) holotype of D. grahami (USNM 65500). Photos by Gunther Kohler, Shuo Qi, Kai Wang, and Chenqi Lu. |
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| Comparisons of live coloration (1: dorsolateral; 2: lateral head and oral cavity/tongue; and 3: ventral head) among different populations of Diploderma fasciatum in China. (A–E) Vouchered specimens, (F–H) non-vouchered individuals. (A) Topotypic D. fasciatum, young adult female, KIZ 040192 (population 1); (B) SYS r001583, adult male (population 6); (C) KIZ 037765, adult male (population 4); (D) KIZ 044140, adult male (population 11); (E) SYS r001847, adult male (population 13); (F) adult male (population 1); (G) adult female (population 6); and (H) adult female (population 10). Photos by Kai Wang, Jian Wang, Jianyue Qiu, Xinqiang Song, Yulong Li, and Chenqi Lu. |
Kai Wang, Shuo Qi, Jian Wang, Gunther Köhler, Chen-Qi Lu, Zhi-Tong Lyu, Jian Wang, Ying-Yong Wang, and Jing Che. 2022. Revision of the Diploderma fasciatum (Mertens, 1926) Complex (Reptilia: Agamidae: Draconinae). Ichthyology & Herpetology. 110(3); 511-525. DOI: 10.1643/h2021123
