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| Cnemaspis jayaweerai Karunarathna, Ukuwela, De Silva, Bauer, Madawala, Poyarkov, Botejue, Gabadage, Grismer & Gorin, 2023 |
Abstract
Sri Lanka is a local hotspot for Cnemaspis day geckos with 40 currently known species with 100% endemism. In this paper, we evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of Cnemaspis species belonging to the alwisi group of the podihuna clade and describe two additional new species of Cnemaspis from Sri Lanka; one from Galgiriya mountain, Kurunegala District, and another from Ethagala mountain, Ampara District. These new species were recorded from granite caves within forested areas in isolated mountains in the dry bioclimatic zone (point-endemics). Both new species are microhabitat specialists with narrow niches limited to humid, cool, canopy-shaded granite caves and old buildings associated with granite caves, where they are camouflaged by their cryptic morphology and body colouration. Furthermore, both species prefer narrow (~ 6–12 mm), long (~ 120–450 mm) and deep (~ 80–260 mm) crevices as refugia. The regions in which these habitats are located receive relatively low annual rainfall (1,000–1,500 mm). These new species are medium in size (28.5–36.8 mm SVL) and can be differentiated from all other Sri Lankan Cnemaspis by the presence of clearly enlarged, subhexagonal subcaudal scales and the absence of precloacal pores in males. Both species described here are categorised herein as Critically Endangered (CR) under the IUCN Red List criteria. The major threats for these new species are habitat loss due to expansion of commercial-scale agriculture, illicit forest encroachments, and forest fires. Therefore, we recommend that relevant authorities take immediate conservation action to ensure the protection of these forest areas with their buffer zones in the near future.
Keywords: Biodiversity hotspots, dry zone forest, genetic distance, granite caves, mtDNA, natural history, species delimitation, systematics
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| Cnemaspis jayaweerai sp. nov. female paratype (NMSL.2019.23.02): A dorsal view in life in-situ, B ventral aspect showing gular, ventral, and tail coloration, C lateral aspect of male holotype (NMSL.2019.23.01) in life in-situ. Photos: Suranjan Karunarathna. |
Cnemaspis jayaweerai sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Cnemaspis jayaweerai sp. nov., is readily distinguished from its Sri Lankan congeners by a combination of the following morphological and meristic characteristics and also color pattern: maximum SVL 36.8 mm; dorsum with homogeneous, smooth granular scales; 2/2 supranasals, 1 internasal and 1/1 postnasal present; 3 enlarged postmentals; postmentals bounded by 5 or 6 chin scales (Fig. 4); smooth chin and gular scales, granular, juxtaposed; pectoral and abdominal scales smooth; 6 or 7 poorly developed tubercles on posterior flank; 121–126 paravertebral granules linearly arranged; 22 or 23 belly scales across the venter; precloacal pores absent in males, 9–12 femoral pores on each side in males, separated by 15–17 unpored interfemoral scales, 5–7 unpored posterior femoral scales; 121–129 ventral scales; 70–77 midbody scales; subcaudals smooth, subhexagonal, enlarged, subequal, forming a regular median row; 7–9 supralabials; 7 or 8 infralabials; 15 or 16 total lamellae on digit IV of manus, and 17 or 18 total lamellae on digit IV of pes. It is also differentiated by its significanltly different morphospatial placement in the PCoA and the MFA except for C. gunasekarai in the latter.
Etymology: The specific epithet (jayaweerai) is a Latinized eponym in the masculine genitive singular, honouring Mr. Shanthasiri Jayaweera (a senior member and former president of the Young Zoologists’ Association (YZA) of Sri Lanka; founder of the Junior YZA; senior instructor of the Fish study group of the YZA; renowned wildlife artist; a great educator; wildlife conservationist) for his friendship and valuable contribution to environmental conservation in Sri Lanka.
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| Body coloration of Cnemaspis nanayakkarai sp. nov.: A dorsal view in life in-situ of female paratype (NMSL.2021.06.03), B ventral aspect of male holotype (NMSL.2021.06.01) showing gular, ventral, and tail coloration, and C lateral aspect of male holotype in life in-situ with parasites. Photos: Suranjan Karunarathna. |
Cnemaspis nanayakkarai sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Cnemaspis nanayakkarai sp. nov., can be readily distinguished from its Sri Lankan congeners by a combination of the following morphological and meristic characteristics and also color pattern: maximum SVL 32.6 mm; dorsum with homogeneous, smooth granular scales; 2/2 supranasals, 3 internasals and 1/1 postnasal; 4 enlarged postmentals; postmentals bounded by 6 chin scales; smooth chin and gular scales, granular, juxtaposed (Fig. 8); pectoral and abdominal scales smooth and subimbricate; 5 or 6 poorly developed tubercles on posterior flank; 122–131 paravertebral granules linearly arranged; 25–27 belly scales across the venter; precloacal pores absent in males, 7 or 8 femoral pores in males, on each side separated by 20–22 unpored interfemoral scales, 6 or 7 unpored posterior femoral scales; 116–122 ventral scales; 86–99 midbody scales; subcaudals smooth, subhexagonal, enlarged, subequal, forming a regular median row; 7–9 supralabials; 7 or 8 infralabials; 16 or 17 total lamellae on digit IV of manus, and 17 or 18 total lamellae on digit IV of pes. It is also differentiated by its significantly different morphospatial placement in the multivariate analyses.
Etymology: The specific epithet (nanayakkarai) is a Latinized eponym in the masculine genitive singular, honouring Mr. Ananda Lal Nanayakkara (a senior member and a senior instructor of the reptile study group of the Young Zoologists’ Association (YZA) of Sri Lanka; reputed lawyer; policy maker, researcher) for his friendship and valuable contribution to reptile conservation in Sri Lanka.
Suranjan Karunarathna, Kanishka D. B. Ukuwela, Anslem De Silva, Aaron M. Bauer, Majintha Madawala, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Madhava Botejue, Dinesh Gabadage, L. Lee Grismer and Vladislav A. Gorin. 2023. A Phylogenetic and Taxonomic Assessment of the Cnemaspis alwisi Group (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) in Sri Lanka with A Description of Two New Species from isolated Misty-Mountains. Vertebrate Zoology. 73: 205-236. DOI: 10.3897/vz.73.e90979
