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| Gekko (Ptychozoon) mizoramensis Lalremsanga, Muansanga, Vabeiryureilai & Mirza, 2023 Photo by Lal Muansanga. facebook.com/HtLalremsanga |
Abstract
The Parachute Gecko Gekko lionotum (Annandale, 1905) has been reported to be distributed across parts of Mizoram state (India), Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia. A phylogeographic study revealed that the species is paraphyletic and comprises multiple cryptic species. Earlier studies included samples from most parts of the species range except for India, and the status of the Indian population remained unresolved. We conducted surveys in Mizoram and collected specimens, which allowed us to assess the systematic status of the Indian population. Morphology and molecular data suggest that the Indian population represents a distinct species and is here described as new. The new species is most similar to its sister species Gekko popaensis, from which it differs in having an uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence of 7–14% and by discrete differences in morphology and colour pattern. The discovery of the new species and several other reptiles from northeast India highlights the poor state of biodiversity documentation and the need for dedicated efforts to document this region’s biota.
Key words. Squamata, new species, phylogeny, taxonomy, biodiversity hotspot, northeastern India.
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| Gekko mizoramensis sp. n., coloration in life, holotype NCBS NRC-AA-4514. Photo by Lal Muansanga. |
Gekko mizoramensis sp. n.
Diagnosis. Gekko mizoramensis sp. n. differs from all other members of the genus Gekko (other than the subgenus Ptychozoon) in bearing patagia along the forelimbs, trunk and hind limbs. The new species differs from all members of the subgenus Ptychozoon by exhibiting the following unique combination of characters: maximum SVL 100 mm; supranasals not in contact; 11–13 supralabials of which the 9th or 10th is situated at mid-orbit; 9–10 infralabials; caudal tubercles present; 32 ventral scales; no enlarged femoral scales; 12 enlarged non-pored (at least in females) precloacal scales in a transverse row; 5 rows of enlarged post-precloacal scales; 14–17 subdigital lamellae under the fourth toe; enlarged dorsal caudal scales form whorls.
Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the state of Mizoram in which the new species was discovered.
The suggested common English name is Mizoram Parachute Gecko.
Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, Lal Muansanga, Mathipi Vabeiryureilai and Zeeshan A. Mirza. 2023. A New Species of Parachute Gecko of the Subgenus Ptychozoon (Sauria: Gekkonidae: Gekko) from the Indo-Burma Region. SALAMANDRA. 59(2): 125–135.
MIZORAM AṬANGIN AWKE-KEPHAN CHI THAR, A HMINGAH MIZORAM HMINGCHAWIIN GEKKO MIZORAMENSIS:
Awke-kephan/Awke-thlawk ti a kan hriat te hi Gekko genus huamchhung a subgenus Ptychozoon hnuai a awm niin, khawvel pumhuapah species 13 chauh awmin Asia chhimchhak lamah deuh hlir hmuh ṭhin an ni. Ptychozoon (Flying/Gliding/Parachute gecko ti a koh) te hian an taksa sirtuakah thla ang deuhin hlap an neih bakah an mei te hi a phekbial te te inzawmkhawm (lappets) anga awmin kephan an nei ṭhin bawk. Heng avang hian an khawsakna thingzar pakhat aṭangin thingzar dang a zuankai (glide) an awlsam phah hle.
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