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| Cyrtodactylus arnei Q. H. Do, Ngo, Nguyen, Le, Ziegler, D. T. Do & Pham, 2025 |
Abstract
A new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus is described from Khanh Hoa Province, South-central Vietnam based on genetic divergence and morphological differences. Cyrtodactylus arnei sp. nov. is distinguished from the remaining Indochinese bent–toed geckos of the Cyrtodactylus irregularis group by having the unique combination of the following characteristics: size medium (SVL 70.9–78.0 mm); dorsal tubercles in 15–17 irregular rows; 34 or 35 ventral scale rows; 12–15 enlarged femoral scales on each side, in continuous series without gap between precloacal and femoral scales; precloacal pores absent in females, 5–7 in males, in a continuous row; femoral pores absent; postcloacal spurs 0–3 on each side; 19–21 lamellae under toe IV; dorsal pattern between limb insertions consisting of four narrow light bands with dark edges and a transversal row of dark spots in the middle; subcaudal scales enlarged, forming broad transverse plates. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species was nested within the Cyrtodactylus irregularis group without any clear sister taxon. Genetically, Cyrtodactylus arnei sp. nov. is divergent from other species within the Cyrtodactylus irregularis group by at least 10.97% (COI) and 14.39% (ND2) based on two fragments of the mitochondrial gene.
Key words: Cyrtodactylus arnei sp. nov., Cyrtodactylus irregularis group, morphology, phylogenetic relationships, taxonomy
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| Cyrtodactylus arnei sp. nov. The male holotype (IEBR R.6365, SVL 74.8 mm, TL 107.2 mm) in life. The female paratype (IEBR R.6371, SVL 71.3 mm, TL 103.5 mm) in life. Photos: Cuong The Pham. |
Cyrtodactylus arnei sp. nov.
Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from other members of the Cyrtodactylus irregularis group by a combination of the following characteristics: size medium (SVL 70.9–78.0 mm); dorsal tubercles in 15–17 irregular rows; 34 or 35 ventral scale rows; 12–15 enlarged femoral scales on each side, in continuous series without gap between precloacal and femoral scales; precloacal pores absent in females, 5–7 in males, in a continuous row; femoral pores absent; postcloacal spurs 0–3 on each side; 19–21 lamellae under toe IV; dorsal pattern between limb insertions consisting four narrow light bands with dark edges and a transversal row of dark spots in the middle; subcaudal scales enlarged, forming broad transverse plates.
Etymology. The new species is named after Dr. Arne Schulze, Executive Director of the Zoological Society for Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP) to honor his great commitment and support for herpetological research and conservation in Vietnam, in particular within the scope of the Zoo Species of the Year – The Gecko Conservation Campaign 2024.
Quyen Hanh Do, Hanh Thi Ngo, Truong Quang Nguyen, Minh Duc Le, Thomas Ziegler, Dang Trong Do and Cuong The Pham. 2025. A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Hon Tre Island in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. ZooKeys. 1253: 195-218. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1253.149459
