 |
| Cyrtodactylus fluvicavus, C. rivularis, Cyrtodactylus uthaiensis, Cyrtodactylus kochangensis Grismer, Aowphol, Yodthong, Ampai, Termprayoon, Aksornneam & Rujirawan, 2022 Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus group |
Abstract
Species delimitation and species diagnosis must remain separate operati ns to avoid constructing taxonomies comprised of non-monophyletic species based on morphological similarity as opposed to phylogenetic propinquity. This is particularly true for highly specialized species such as the range-restricted upland taxa in the Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus group of Indochina where strong selection pressure for an arboreal lifestyle has contributed to morphologically similar but distantly related species. This in turn, has resulted in a history of erroneous taxonomies that have actually obscured rather than revealed the diversity within this group. A Bayesian phylogeny of the C. brevipalmatus group recovered at least 15 putative species-level lineages, at least seven of which are undescribed, and of which four are described herein. A total evidence morphological data set comprised of 16 normalized morphometric, 15 meristic, and seven categorical characters scored across 51 individuals was subjected to a multiple factor analysis (MFA) and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) to diagnose the putative species. These new species descriptions contribute to focusing attention to the unrealized diversity in upland tropical ecosystems, which due to climate change, are some of the most impearled ecosystems on the planet. Thus, it is paramount that taxonomies do not conflate species identities and underrepresent true diversity.
Keywords: geckos, genetics, morphology, Southeast Asia, taxonomy
 |
| Distribution of nominal species and unnamed populations and specimens of the Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus group. Stars denote type localities. White circles are literature localities from which specimens were not examined and remain unidentified. Locality data for all material examined is in Table 1. |
 |
| Cyrtodactylus fluvicavus sp. nov. from Thailand, Kanchanaburi Province, Si Sawat District. |
Cyrtodactylus fluvicavus sp. nov.
Suggested Common Name: Tham Than Lot Bent-toed Gecko
ตุ๊กกายถ้ำธารลอด
Cyrtodactylus sp. Yodthong, Rujirawan, Stuart, Grismer, Aksornneam, Termprayoon, Ampai & Aowphol, 2022: 161.
Diagnosis: Cyrtodactylus fluvicavus sp. nov. can be separated from all other species of the brevipalmatus group by the combination of having 11–13 supralabials, 9 or 10 infralabials, 26–30 paravertebral tubercles, 14–18 rows of longitudinally arranged tubercles, 30–39 transverse rows of ventrals, 154–175 longitudinal rows of ventrals, 9–11 expanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 10–13 unexpanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 19–22 total subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; 7–9 expanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger, 9–11 unexpanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger, 17–19 total subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger; 9–12 total enlarged femoral scales, 8–11 total femoral pores in males; 14 or 15 precloacal pores in males; 14 or 15 enlarged precloacals; enlarged femorals and enlarged precloacals not continuous; proximal femorals less than one-half the size of the distal femorals; small tubercles on forelimbs and flanks; small dorsolateral caudal tubercles and narrow ventrolateral caudal fringe; ventrolateral caudal fringe composed scales of different size; tail circular in cross-section; slightly enlarged unpaired medial subcaudals not posteromedially furrowed; maximum SVL 78.2 mm; three dark transverse body bands (Tables 4–6).
Distribution: Cyrtodactylus fluvicavus sp. nov. is currently known from the type locality at Tham Than Lot Noi-Tham Than Lot Yai Nature Trail in Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park, Si Sawat District, Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand (Fig. 1).
Etymology: The specific epithet fluvicavus comes from the Latin fluvius, meaning stream, river, or flow and the Latin cavus, meaning hollow or hole and refers to a landmark cave in the Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park which has a stream that flows through it.
 |
| Type series of Cyrtodactylus rivularis sp. nov. from Thailand, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Hua Hin District, Huai Sat Yai Subdistrict, Kaeng Krachan National Park, Pa La-U Waterfall A holotype ZMKU R 00947 B paratype ZMKU R 00946. |
Cyrtodactylus rivularis sp. nov.
Suggested Common Name: Pa La-U Bent-toed Gecko
ตุ๊กกายป่าละอู
Diagnosis: Cyrtodactylus rivularis sp. nov. can be separated from all other species of the brevipalmatus group by the combination of having 12 or 13 supralabials, 9–11 infralabials, 33 or 34 paravertebral tubercles, 18–20 rows of longitudinally arranged tubercles, 34–37 transverse rows of ventrals, 160–166 longitudinal rows of ventrals, nine expanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 12 or 13 unexpanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 21 or 22 total subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; eight expanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger, 10–12 unexpanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger, 18–20 total subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger; 14–16 total enlarged femoral scales; 15 enlarged precloacals; enlarged femorals and enlarged precloacals not continuous, and lacking pores; proximal femorals less than one-half the size of the distal femorals; small tubercles on forelimbs and flanks; large dorsolateral caudal tubercles and wide ventrolateral caudal fringe; ventrolateral caudal fringe composed generally homogeneous scales; tail square in cross-section; single enlarged unpaired medial subcaudals not posteromedially furrowed; maximum SVL 73.9 mm; three or four dark transverse body bands (Tables 4, 5).
Distribution: Cyrtodactylus rivularis sp. nov. is currently known from the type locality at Pa La-U Waterfall, Kaeng Krachan National Park, Huai Sat Yai Subdistrict, Hua Hin District Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand.
Etymology: The specific epithet rivularis is derived from the Latin rivus, meaning stream, brook, or creek refers to rocky brook or stream habitat of the new species.
 |
| Cyrtodactylus fluvicavus sp. nov. from Thailand, Kanchanaburi Province, Si Sawat District. Holotype of Cyrtodactylus uthaiensis sp. nov. ZMKU R 00949 (field no. AA 06298) from Thailand, Uthai Thani Province, Lan Sak District, .. |
Cyrtodactylus uthaiensis sp. nov.
Suggested Common Name: Uthai Thani Bent-toed Gecko
ตุ๊กกายอุทัยธานี
Diagnosis: Cyrtodactylus uthaiensis sp. nov. can be separated from all other species of the brevipalmatus group by the combination of having 13–15 supralabials, 10–11 infralabials, 33 paravertebral tubercles, 17 rows of longitudinally arranged tubercles, 36 transverse rows of ventrals, 159 longitudinal rows of ventrals, eight expanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 12 unexpanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 20 total subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; seven expanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger, 11 unexpanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger, 18 total subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger; 16 total enlarged femoral scales, 12 total femoral pores; 14 enlarged pore-bearing precloacals; enlarged femorals and enlarged precloacals not continuous; proximal femorals less than one-half the size of the distal femorals; small tubercles on forelimbs and flanks; large dorsolateral caudal tubercles and wide ventrolateral caudal fringe; ventrolateral caudal fringe composed scales of different size; tail circular in cross-section; slightly enlarged medial subcaudals intermittent, medially furrowed, posteriorly emarginated; maximum SVL 58.1 mm; and six dark transverse body bands (Tables 5, 6).
Distribution: Cyrtodactylus uthaiensis sp. nov. is currently known from the type locality at Thung Na Ngam Subdistrict, Lan Sak District, Uthai Thani Province, Thailand.
Etymology: The specific epithet uthaiensis refers to the type locality, Uthai Thani Province, Thailand.
 |
| Holotype of Cyrtodactylus kochangensis sp. nov. ZMKU R 00945 (field no. AA 04439) from Thailand, Ranong Province, Mueng Ranong District, Ko Phayam Subdistrict, Ko Chang G holotype in life. |
Cyrtodactylus kochangensis sp. nov.
Suggested Common Name: Ko Chang Bent-toed Gecko
ตุ๊กกายเกาะช้าง หมู่เกาะพยาม
Diagnosis: (based on the holotype). Cyrtodactylus kochangensis sp. nov. can be separated from all other species of the brevipalmatus group by the combination of having 12 or 13 supralabials, nine infralabials, 34 paravertebral tubercles, 14 rows of longitudinally arranged tubercles, 35 transverse rows of ventrals, 172 longitudinal rows of ventrals, 8 or 9 expanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 11 or 12 unexpanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 19–21 total subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; eight expanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger, ten unexpanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger, 18 total subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger; 12 total enlarged femoral scales; 12 enlarged precloacal scales; enlarged femoral and enlarged precloacal scales not continuous; proximal femoral scales less than one-half the size of the distal femorals; small tubercles on forelimbs and flanks; large dorsolateral caudal tubercles and a wide ventrolateral caudal fringe not composed homogeneous scales; tail square in cross-section; slightly enlarged paired medial subcaudals not posteromedially furrowed; maximum SVL 60.1 mm; five dark transverse body bands (Tables 4, 5).
Distribution: Cyrtodactylus kochangensis sp. nov. is currently known only from the type locality at Ko Chang Island, Ko Phayam Subdistrict, Mueang Ranong District, Ranong Province, Thailand. The additional population of pending species status occurs in the Khlong Naka Wildlife Sanctuary, Suk Samran District Ranong Province.
Etymology: The specific epithet kochangensis is in reference to the type locality, Ko Chang, Ranong Province, Thailand
L. Lee Grismer, Anchalee Aowphol, Siriporn Yodthong, Natee Ampai, Korkhwan Termprayoon, Akrachai Aksornneam and Attapol Rujirawan. 2022. Integrative Taxonomy Delimits and Diagnoses Cryptic Arboreal Species of the Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus Group (Squamata, Gekkonidae) with Descriptions of Four New Species from Thailand. ZooKeys. 1129: 109-162. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1129.90535