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| Gekko fengshanensis Z. Huang, H.-T. Wang, Qi, Song, Y. Huang, Y.-Y. Wang & Mo, 2025 |
Abstract
A new species of the genus Gekko Laurenti, 1768, Gekko fengshanensis sp. nov., is described based on six specimens from Fengshan County, Hechi City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. It is placed into the subgenus Japonigekko based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses, and distinguished from consubgeners of Japonigekko by a combination of morphological characters in body size, cephalic proportions, and pholidosis features. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial 16S and ND2 sequences reveal that G. fengshanensis sp. nov. forms a sister relationship with G. kwangsiensis, collectively forming a clade with G. liboensis and G. paucituberculatus endemic to southern China’s karst ecosystems. This discovery increases the number of recognized Gekko species in the South China Karst to five, underscoring the role that fragmented karst landscapes play in driving speciation and maintaining high levels of biodiversity in this unique ecosystem.
Key words: Gekko fengshanensis sp. nov., G. liboensis, Guangxi, integrative taxonomy, Japonigekko, South China Karst
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| Type specimens of Gekko fengshanensis sp. nov. in life. A. Holotype NHMG 202408004, adult male; B. Paratype NHMG 202408005, adult male; C. Paratype NHMG 202408007, adult male. Photos by Zhong Huang. |
Gekko fengshanensis sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Gekko fengshanensis sp. nov. is assigned to the subgenus Japonigekko and distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) moderate body size, SVL 60.0–79.9 mm in the adult male and SVL 62.2 in the adult female; (2) nares in contact with rostral, internasal absent; (3) enlarged postmentals two; (4) tubercles flattened, present from the region behind the eyes along the neck to the tail base, 8–11 rows at midbody ; (5) ventral scales between mental and cloacal slit 193–213; (6) midbody scale rows 149–161; (7) ventral scale rows 40–49; (8) subdigital lamellae on first fingers 11–13, on fourth fingers 12–16, on first toes 12–14, on fourth toes 13–15,and fingers and toes webbing weakly developed; (9) continuous precloacal pores 9–12 in males, absent in the female; (10) a single postcloacal tubercle on each side.
Etymology. The specific epithet fengshanensis refers to Fengshan County, the type locality in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The common name “Fengshan gecko” (English) and formal Chinese name “凤山壁虎” (fèng shān bì hǔ) are proposed.
Zhong Huang, Hao-Tian Wang, Shuo Qi, Han-Ming Song, Yong Huang, Ying-Yong Wang and Yun-Ming Mo. 2025. A New Species of Karst-adapted Gecko (Squamata, Gekkonidae, Gekko) from Guangxi, southern China. ZooKeys. 1245: 289-310. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1245.153769
