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| Hemiphyllodactylus simaoensis [A-D] Hemiphyllodactylus yanshanensis Agung, Chornelia, L. L. Grismer, J. L. Grismer, Quah, Lu, Tomlinson & Hughes, 2022 |
Abstract
Karst habitats are hotspots of diversity and endemism. Their naturally fragmented distributions across broad geographic landscapes have led to the complex array of smaller evolutionary ecosystems that present unique challenges from a conservation perspective. Comprehensive biodiversity assessments of karst habitats have revealed that these ecosystems contain an almost unparalleled level of endemism, and many site-restricted species remain undescribed, thus posing considerable challenges for effective conservation management. Small rock-dwelling species, such as geckos, may be particularly prone to such isolation. In this paper, we discuss one such genus, i.e., Hemiphyllodactylus, and explore its diversity across karst landforms in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. Based on morphological and genetic data, we describe two new species of Hemiphyllodactylus from karst habitats in Simao District and Yanshan County. A phylogenetic tree for Hemiphyllodactylus was constructed using 1 039 base pairs (bp) of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene (ND2). The Simao and Yanshan specimens can be distinguished from all other congeners within their respective subclades based on uncorrected genetic pairwise distances greater than 6.3% and 4.3% respectively, as well as significant morphological differences. The discovery and description of these two new species brings the total number of described Hemiphyllodactylus species in China to 14 and indicates many more undescribed species from unsurveyed karst regions await discovery. Our findings suggest that karst ecosystems in Yunnan support a higher diversity of Hemiphyllodactylus than previously known. This study also highlights the importance of karst ecosystems as refugia for site-specific endemic species and the need for heightened conservation efforts.
Keywords: Discovery, Endemism, Geckos, Reptiles, South China
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| Hemiphyllodactylus simaoensis sp. nov. A: Holotype, KIZ 062064, male in life; B: Paratype, KIZ 062065, female, in life; C: Paratype, KIZ 062072, male in life; D: Paratype, KIZ 062076, female in life. A and B were collected in Simao District (photos by Ade P. Agung), C and D were collected in Ning'er County (photos by Evan S. H. Quah). Habitat of Hemiphyllodactylus simaoensis sp. nov. View of karst area in Simao District (A) and building where specimens KIZ 062063-KIZ 062070 were collected (B) (photos by Ade P. Agung). |
Hemiphyllodactylus simaoensis sp. nov.
Suggested English name: Simao slender gecko
Suggested Chinese name: 思茅半叶趾虎
Diagnosis: Hemiphyllodactylus simaoensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all congeners by a unique combination of the following characters: maximum SVL 40.87 mm; chin scales 7–10; enlarged postmentals; circumnasal scales 5–6; internasal scales 1–4; supralabial scales 8–12; infralabial scales 8–11; subdigital lamellae on fingers II–V (3 or 4)-(3–5)-(3–5)-(3 or 4); subdigital lamellae on toes II–V (3 or 4)-(3–5)-(3–5)-(3 or 4); dorsal scales 11–15; ventral scales 5–7; pale-gray base color on body, two lines of dark blotches running from neck to sacrum on dorsal side; dark postorbital stripe extending at least to base of neck; dorsolateral stripe indistinct or completely absent; ventrolateral stripe on trunk absent; dark postsacral markings bearing anteriorly projecting arms.
Distribution: Hemiphyllodactylus simaoensis sp. nov. is currently only known from Simao District and Ning’er County, Pu’er City, Yunnan Province, China.
Natural history: The holotype and seven paratypes (KIZ 062063, KIZ 062065–KIZ 062070) were collected on the evening of 6 July 2019 from a wall of a vacant building rarely used by humans in a forested karst area. The left and right sides of the building were densely covered by shrubs and trees. The back of the building was bordered by forested karst hills. The front of the building faced an old basketball court with several artificial lights, with the main road located further in front (Figure 7). The other 14 paratypes from Ning’er County (KIZ 062072–KIZ 062077, KIZ 062079–KIZ 062084, KIZ 062087–KIZ 062088) were collected one year earlier, on the evenings of 16 and 17 August 2018, from a cement wall in a forested karst area.
Etymology: The specific epithet simaoensis refers to the name of the district where the holotype originates, Simao District, Pu’er City, Yunnan Province, China.
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| Variations in color and patterns of Hemiphyllodactylus yanshanensis sp. nov. A: Holotype, KIZ 062090, male, in life; B: Paratype, KIZ 062091, female, in life; C: Paratype, KIZ 062092, female, in life; D: Paratype, KIZ 062093, female, in life. Habitat of H. yanshanensis sp. nov. B: Karst hill where specimens were spotted; C: Deposited eggs of H. yanshanensis sp. nov. in karst crevices (photos by Ade P. Agung). |
Hemiphyllodactylus yanshanensis sp. nov.
Suggested English name: Yanshan slender gecko
Suggested Chinese name: 砚山半叶趾虎
Diagnosis: Hemiphyllodactylus yanshanensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all congeners by a unique combination of the following characters: maximum SVL 46.28 mm; chin scales 8–11; enlarged postmentals; circumnasal scales 5–6; internasal scales 1–3; supralabial scales 9–12; infralabial scales 9–12; ventral scales 7–13; dorsal scales 11–22; subdigital lamellae on fingers II–V (4 or 5)-(5–7)-(5–7)-(4 or 5); subdigital lamellae on toes II–V (4 or 5)-(5 or 6)-(5–7)-(5 or 6); subdigital lamellae wider than long on first finger (4 or 5); subdigital lamellae wider than long on first toe (5 or 6); pale brown color base on body with various transverse blotched patterns on dorsum; dark postorbital stripe extending at least to base of neck; dorsolateral stripe on trunk present; ventrolateral stripe on trunk absent; postsacral marking bearing anteriorly projecting arms.
Distribution: Hemiphyllodactylus yanshanensis sp. nov. is only known from the type locality in Yanshan County, Yunnan Province, China (Figure 9).
Natural history: All specimens were collected during the evening of 1 July 2019 on the surface of a forested karst hill in Yanshan County, Yunnan Province, China (Figure 10). There were several gravid females among the specimens collected, each containing two eggs. We also found two eggs placed together loosely in the crevices of the same hill, which we assumed were laid by Hemiphyllodactylus yanshanensis sp. nov. based on their size (Figure 10), indicating that its reproductive season extends into July (see reports on other Hemiphyllodactylus species in Cobos et al. (2016) and Grismer et al. (2015)). The karst hills were surrounded by paddy fields and several huts and houses were nearby.
Etymology: The specific epithet yanshanensis refers to the name of Yanshan County where the specimens were found.
Ade Prasetyo Agung, Ada Chornelia, L. Lee Grismer, Jesse L. Grismer, Evan S. H. Quah, Jian-Mei Lu, Kyle W. Tomlinson and Alice C. Hughes. 2022. Description of Two New Species of Hemiphyllodactylus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from karst landscapes in Yunnan, China, highlights complex conservation needs. Zoological Research. 43(5); 767-786. DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.105
