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| Gekko alpinus Ma, Shi, Shen, Chang & Jiang, 2024 |
Abstract
A new Gekko (subgenus Japonigekko) species, Gekko alpinus sp. nov., is described from the Jinsha River Basin in southwestern China, between the border of Mangkang County, Xizang Autonomous Region and Batang County, Sichuan Province, according to the integrative taxonomic results combining molecular data and morphological characters obtained from the type series comprising 11 specimens. Our molecular phylogeny inferred from the mitochondrial 16S and ND2 gene fragments indicated that this new species is most closely related to Gekko jinjiangensis, but a considerable amount of genetic divergence exists between them (p-distance: 3.6%-4.1% (16S) and 7.1%–9.1% (ND2)). The new species can be distinguished from its congeners via a combination of series morphological characters. The discovery of this new species marks the highest altitudinal range (2400 to 2542 m a.s.l.) recorded for the subgenus Japonigekko and also represents a new provincial record for the genus in Xizang Autonomous Region.
Key words: Gekko alpinus sp. nov., Gekko jinjiangensis, Gekkonidae, molecular phylogeny, morphological characters, new provincial genus record
Gekko alpinus sp. nov.
Diagnosis: (1) body size moderate, SVL 56.44–74.16 mm in adults; (2) head relatively narrow, HW/HL 0.51–0.79; (3) midbody scale rows 92–114, 98–114 in males and 92–106 in females; (4) interorbital scales between anterior corners of the eyes 22–28; (5) ventral scale rows 32–39; (6) tubercles present on dorsal body, forelimbs, hindlimbs and tails; (7) precloacal pores 4–7 in males and absent in the females; (8) subdigital lamellae on first finger 8–11, on fourth finger 12–14, on first toe 8–11, on fourth toe 12–15, no webbing between the fingers and toes; (9) ventral scales between mental and cloacal slit 158–189; (10) nares in contact with rostral; (11) postcloacal tubercles one or two; (12) dorsal surface of body with six or seven large dark taupe bands between nape and sacrum.
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| Habitats of Gekko alpinus sp. nov. A macrohabitat: Jinsha River dry-hot valley in Zhubalong Village at the border between Batang County, Sichuan Province and Mangkang County, Xizang Autonomous Region B microhabitat: house walls C one individual found on the dry rocky cliffs D one individual found in the rock crevices on cliff Photos by S-C Shi. |
Etymology: The specific name alpinus is derived from Latin, alpinus, -a, -um, meaning from Alpēs (“the Alps”) + -īnus, of or pertaining to the Alps, alpine. This refers to the “great high mountains”, referring to not only its distribution range in the great high Hengduan Mountains, but also the highest distribution elevation for all currently known Japonigekko species. The suggested common English name is “Alpine Gecko” and the Chinese name is “高山壁虎” (Gāo Shān Bì Hŭ).
Shun Ma, Sheng-Chao Shi, Cheng Shen, Li-Ming Chang, Jian-Ping Jiang. 2024. Discovery of A New Species of the Subgenus Japonigekko (Squamata, Gekkonidae, Gekko) from the Hengduan Mountains, southwestern China: the Best Japonigekko Mountaineer. ZooKeys. 1215: 289-309. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1215.125043
