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| Calotes zhaoermii Wang, Shu, Li, Guo, Che, in Wang, Shu, Li, Dong, Mu, Su, Zhu, Zhang, Guo et Che, 2025. |
Abstract
Based on both morphological and genetic data, we describe a new cryptic species of Calotes from southeastern Xizang Autonomous Region, China. The new species was confused with C. paulus, and it is morphologically most similar to members of the C. paulus complex (namely C. paulus, C. sinyik, and C. zolaiking), but the new species shows considerable genetic divergence from closely resembled congeners and can be diagnosed morphologically by having more vertebral crest scales, more scale rows at mid body, and more caudal vertebrae. With the description of the new species, we also remove C. paulus from the reptile fauna of China.
Reptilia, cryptic diversity, Draconinae, Himalaya, herpetofauna, taxonomy
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| Holotype of Calotes zhaoermii sp. nov. in life. Photos by Ke-Ji GUO. |
Calotes zhaoermii sp. nov. Wang, Shu, Li, Guo, Che
Etymology. The new species name, zhaoermii, is derived from the name of the landmark Chinese herpetologist, Dr. Zhao Er-Mi, who had conducted extensive surveys back in 1973 in Muotuo County of Xizang Autonomous Region where the new species is native to and contributed substantially to the herpetological knowledge both in China and across Asia. We name the new species after Dr. Zhao in honoring his contribution to herpetologicalr esearch. We suggest “赵氏树蜥” (Pinyin: Zhao Shi Shu Xi) as its Chinese common name, and Zhao’s tree agamidas its English common name.
Kai WANG, Fu SHU, Ling LI, Wen-Jie DONG, Hao-Nan MU, Ming SU, Wen-Bo ZHU, Meng-Fei ZHANG, Ke-Ji GUO and Jing CHE. 2025. A New Cryptic Species of Calotes (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) from Southeastern Xizang Autonomous Region, China. Zootaxa. 5609(2); 275-285. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.8 [2025-03-20]