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A, C 中国树蜥 Calotes wangi B, D 中国树蜥雷公马亚种 C. wangi hainanensis E, F habitats G oral cavity view.Huang, Li, Wang, Li, Hou & Cai, 2023 |
Abstract
Calotes wangi sp. nov., a new species of the agamid genus Calotes Cuvier, 1817, from southern China and northern Vietnam, is described. This species can be distinguished from all known congeners by a combination of morphological characteristics and genetic divergence in the mitochondrial tRNA, ND2, and CO1 genes. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that the new species was formed as a monophyletic group and that considerable genetic divergence existed between its congeners (minimum p-distance, 4.6%). Calotes wangi sp. nov. is distinguished by a combination of the following characteristics: average SVL < 90 mm for adult males; 10–14 dorsal eyelid scales; scales on side of neck and adjacent shoulder area pointing obliquely upward; keels on neck scales weakly to strongly developed; fold in front of the shoulder absent; pair of dark triangular patches extending from the front of the shoulder to the jaw angles; and orange coloration of the tongue. Calotes wangi sp. nov. is similar to C. irawadi but differs in having scales between the nasal shield and the orbit and a fourth toe with a claw that can reach between the eyes and tympanum (even to the snout when hind the limbs are adpressed forward). Phylogenetic analyses revealed two well-supported subspecies, Lineages A and B in C. wangi sp. nov., with mean uncorrected p-distances between them of 2%. We propose that Lineage A, which is mainly from the central and southern Wuzhi Mountains on Hainan Island, is a subspecies, C. w. hainanensis ssp. nov. Lineage B mainly comprises individuals from other sites on the island plus the adjacent mainland, and is described as subspecies, C. w. wangi ssp. nov. A diagnostic key to all Calotes species of China is also provided.
Key words: Calotes irawadi, Calotes wangi sp. nov., garden lizard, southern China, taxonomic review
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| Photographs of live specimens and their habitats A holotype of Calotes wangi GXUCM-H202291534 B holotype of Calotes wangi hainanensis CIB095629 C allotype of Calotes wangi GXUCM-H202291533 D allotype of C. w. hainanensis CIB095630 E, F habitats G oral cavity view. |
Calotes wangi sp. nov.
Etymology: The species name wangi is named after Prof. Yuezhao Wang, a former director of the Amphibian and Reptile Research Laboratory (CIB, CAS) and Museum of Herpetology (CIB, CAS) for his research on Chinese herpetology and his contributions in leading the Amphibian and Reptile Research Laboratory through many difficulties.
We suggest the English common name Wang’s garden lizard and the Chinese name 中国树蜥 (zhōng guó shù xī).
Calotes wangi hainanensis ssp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet of hainanensis refers to Hainan Island where the new subspecies was discovered.
We suggest the English common name Hainan garden lizard and the Chinese name 中国树蜥雷公马亚种 (zhōng guó shù xī léi gōng mǎ yà zhǒng), which comes from a colloquial name for Calotes wangi hainanensis in Hainan Province, China, meaning Thor’s mount that can predict the weather.
Yong Huang, Hongyu Li, Yilin Wang, Maojin Li, Mian Hou and Bo Cai. 2023. Taxonomic Review of the Calotes versicolor Complex (Agamidae, Sauria, Squamata) in China, with Description of A New Species and Subspecies. ZooKeys. 1187: 63-89. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1187.110704
