[Herpetology • 2026] Calamaria flavicollaris • Integrative Taxonomy reveals A New Species of Calamaria (Squamata: Calamariidae) from the Tenasserim Range, Western Thailand

 

 Calamaria flavicollaris

 Aksornneam, Rujirawan, Yodthong, Pawangkhanant, Sung & Aowphol, 2026

 

Tenasserim Collared Reed Snake | งูพงอ้อบ่วงบาศ ||  DOI: doi.org/10.1163/18759866-bja10102 

 Photographed by Parinya Pawangkhanant

Abstract

A new species of Calamaria is described from the Tenasserim Range, Ratchaburi Province, western Thailand based on morphological and molecular evidence. Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following morphological characters: 1) rostral scale wider than high; 2) portion of rostral scale visible from above greater than the half the length of the prefrontal suture; 3) prefrontal length shorter than frontal length, not entering orbit and in contact with first two supralabials; 4) five or six scales surrounding paraparietal scale; 5) preocular and postocular present; 6) four supralabials, the second and third in contact with the eyes; 7) eye diameter smaller than eye-mouth distance; 8) five infralabials, the first pair separating the mental scale from anterior chin shields; 9) seven modified maxillary teeth; 10) 180 ventral scales with three preventral scales; 11) 13 divided subcaudal scales; 12) cloacal plate single; 13) tail relatively short (4.5% of the total length), tapering, gradually to a pointed tail tip; 14) dorsum dark brown with eleven dark longitudinal stripes; 15) ventral surface yellow with a median line of dark flecks on underside of tail; and 16) dark collar followed by yellow ring at nuchal region. Genetically, the new species exhibits a pairwise distance of ≥17.56% from all other congeners based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene fragment. Furthermore, we provide cranial osteological description of the new species based on micro-CT scanning. Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. is currently known only from the type locality and represents the fourth species of the genus recorded for Thailand. 

Keywords: cranial osteology; herpetofauna; Isthmus of Kra; molecular; reed snake; Southeast Asia

Holotype of Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. (ZMKU R 01131) in life. A small figure shows the yellow color on the ventral side of this species 

 Photographed by Parinya Pawangkhanant

Head of  Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. (ZMKU R 01131).
A–B lateral view C–D dorsal view E–F ventral view

Holotype of  Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. (ZMKU R 01131)
in preservative. A dorsal view B ventral view C lateral view at the midbody D dorsal view of tail E ventral view of tail

Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters (Tables 3, 4; Suppl. Table 1): 1) rostral scale wider than high; 2) portion of rostral scale visible from above greater than the half the length of the prefrontal suture; 3) prefrontal length shorter than frontal length, not entering orbit, and in contact first two supralabials; 4) five or six scales surrounding the paraparietal scale; 5) preocular and postocular present; 6) four supralabials, the second and third in contact the eyes; 7) eye diameter smaller than eye-mouth distance; 8) five infralabials, the first pair separating the mental scale from anterior chin shields; 9) seven modified maxillary teeth; 10) 180 ventral scales with three preventral scales; 11) 13 divided subcaudal scales; 12) cloacal plate single; 13) tail relatively short (4.5% of the total length), tapering, gradually to a pointed tail tip; 14) dorsum dark brown with eleven dark longitudinal stripes; 15) ventral surface yellow with a median line of dark flecks on underside of tail; and 16) a dark nuchal collar followed by a yellow ring along neck.

Four Calamaria species in Thailand:
A Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. from Suan Phueng District, Ratchaburi Province B C. lumbricoidea from Than To District, Yala Province
C C. schlegeli from Betong District, Yala Province D C. pavimentata from Kaeng Hang Maeo District, Chanthaburi Province 

Photos by Parinya Pawangkhanant (A–C) and Attapol Rujirawan (D)

Etymology. The specific epithet flavicollaris is derived from the Latin words “flavo” (yellow), “collare” (collar or neck), and the suffix “-aris”, which refers to the appearance of the yellow nuchal ring of this species. 

We suggested an English common name “Tenasserim Collared Reed Snake” and the Thai common name “งูพงอ้อบ่วงบาศ” (Ngu Phong O Buang Bat) for this species.

 Akrachai Aksornneam, Attapol Rujirawan, Siriporn Yodthong, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Yik-Hei Sung, and Anchalee Aowphol. 2026. Integrative Taxonomy reveals A New Species of Calamaria (Squamata: Calamariidae) from the Tenasserim Range, Western Thailand.  Contributions to Zoology. 95(4); 366–410. DOI: doi.org/10.1163/18759866-bja10102 [22 Sep 2026]

งูพงอ้อหัวแดง Calamaria schlegeli; 

งูพงอ้อหลากลาย Calamaria lumbricoidea; 

งูพงอ้อท้องเหลือง Calamaria pavimentata

[Herpetology • 2025] Limnonectes sirindhornae • A New Caruncle-bearing Limnonectes (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from the Phu Phan Mountain Range in Northeastern Thailand

Limnonectes sirindhornae  Rujirawan, Yodthong & Aowphol, 

in Rujirawan, Yodthong, Wanchai, Stuart et Aowphol, 2025.

กบเขาหินทรายเจ้าฟ้า || Tropical Natural History. Suppl. 8; 

DOI: doi.org/10.58837/tnh.25.8.266987

Abstract

We describe a new species of dicroglossid frog in the genus Limnonectes from the Phu Phan Mountain Range, Sakon Nakhon Province, northeastern Thailand. Molecular phylogenetic analyses, based on the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene, revealed that Limnonectes sirindhornae Rujirawan, Yodthong & Aowphol, sp. nov. is closely related to L. lauhachindai but has mean uncorrected pairwise genetic divergences of 4.25%. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by having the combination of SVL 36.7–44.7 mm (n = 8) in adult males, 40.2–45.6 mm (n = 8) in adult females; adult males with hypertrophied heads; adult males with interorbital caruncle weakly developed, low-profiled, U-shaped, without free posterior margin; two enlarged odontoid processes on anterior margin of lower jaw, larger in males than in females; vocal sac opening in males absent; and yellowish coloration in life on ventral surfaces absent.

Keywords: phylogeny, morphology, fanged frog, Indochina, Khorat Plateau

Paratypes of Limnonectes sirindhornae sp. nov. in life.
A. adult males B. adult females.

Limnonectes sirindhornae Rujirawan, Yodthong & Aowphol, sp. nov. 

Diagnosis.– Limnonectes sirindhornae sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Limnonectesbased on its phylo-genetic relationship (Fig. 2), the presence of fang-like odontoid processes on the lower jaw (Emerson et al., 2000; Lambertz et al., 2014), and adult males with hypertrophied heads (Lambertz et al., 2014). The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by having the following combination of characters: SVL 36.7–44.7 mm (40.8 ± 3.0; n = 8) in adult males, 40.2–45.6 mm (42.7 ± 2.2; n = 8) in adult females; adult males with hypertrophied heads; adult males with interorbital caruncle weakly developed, low-profiled, U-shaped, without free posterior margin; two enlarged odontoid processes on anterior margin of lower jaw, larger in males than in female; vocal sac opening in males absent; and yellowish coloration in life on ventral surfaces absent.

Etymology.–The specific epithet is a matronym in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, recognizing her significant contributions to the conservation of Thailand's biodiversity and environment.

Habitat of Limnonectes sirindhornae sp. nov. at the type locality in Rai Subdistrict, Phanna Nikhom District, Sakon Nakhon Province, Thailand.
A. rocky stream and B. pool along side of intermittent stream in dry season (January) C. sandstone cave in wet season (October).

Attapol Rujirawan, Siriporn Yodthong, Pratyaporn Wanchai, Bryan L. Stuart and Anchalee Aowphol. 2025. A New Caruncle-bearing Limnonectes (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from the Phu Phan Mountain Range in Northeastern Thailand. Tropical Natural History. Supplement 8; 258-275. DOI: doi.org/10.58837/tnh.25.8.266987 [2025-10-14]

[Herpetology • 2025] Cnemaspis enneaporus • Another New Karst-dwelling Rock Gecko in the Cnemaspis siamensis group (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand

Cnemaspis enneaporus Rujirawan, Aksornneam & Aowphol, 

in Rujirawan, Aksornneam, Yodthong, Pawangkhanant, Stuart et Aowphol, 2025.

Sai Yok Rock Gecko | จิ้งจกนิ้วยาวไทรโยค  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1226.138464 

 Abstract

A new species of the Cnemaspis siamensis group is described from Wang Khrachae District, Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand based on morphological and molecular data. The new species, Cnemaspis enneaporus Rujirawan, Aksornneam & Aowphol, sp. nov., is distinguished from other species in the C. siamensis group by having the combination of SVL 42.2 mm in adult male (n = 1), 43.7 mm in adult female (n = 1); eight supralabials; seven or eight infralabials; ventral scales smooth; nine continuous precloacal pores in male; 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles linearly arranged; tubercles on lower flanks present; lateral caudal furrows present; no caudal tubercles in the lateral furrows; ventrolateral caudal tubercles present on original portion of tail; caudal tubercles not encircling tail; subcaudals smooth; no enlarged median subcaudal row; two postcloacal tubercles on each side of tail; no shield-like subtibial scales; subtibial scales smooth; no enlarged submetatarsal scales; 26–28 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; sexually dimorphic for dorsal and ventral colour pattern; prescapular marking absent; gular marking absent; and yellow colouration in life on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in adult male. Phylogenetically, the new species is recovered as the sister taxon to C. huaseesom, but the two species are separated by 8.3–9.4% uncorrected pairwise genetic divergences in the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene and flanking tRNAs.

Key words: Cnemaspis enneaporus, karst formations, molecular phylogenetics, morphology, Tenasserim Mountain Range

Adult male holotype of Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. (ZMKU R 01100) immediately after euthanasia.
A dorsal (supranasal and internasal scales outlined in black) and ventral views of head (mental, postmental, and first infralabial scales outlined in black) B lateral view of head C palmar view of the right manus D plantar view of the right pes E precloacal region with precloacal pores (outlined in black).

Adult male holotype of Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. (ZMKU R 01100).
A dorsolateral view in life B dorsal and ventral views immediately after euthanasia. Scale bar: 10 mm.

Adult female paratype of Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. (ZMKU R 01101).
A dorsolateral view in life B dorsal and ventral views immediately after euthanasia. Scale bar: 10 mm.

 Cnemaspis enneaporus Rujirawan, Aksornneam & Aowphol, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis: Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species in the C. siamensis group by having the unique combination of the following characters: SVL 42.2 mm in adult males (n = 1), 43.7 mm in adult females (n = 1); eight supralabials; seven or eight infralabials; ventral scales smooth; nine continuous precloacal pores in single male specimen; 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles linearly arranged; tubercles on lower flanks present; lateral caudal furrows present; no caudal tubercles in the lateral furrows; ventrolateral caudal tubercles present on original portion of tail; caudal tubercles not encircling tail; subcaudals smooth; no enlarged median subcaudal row; two postcloacal tubercles on each side of tail; no shield-like subtibial scales; subtibial scales smooth; no enlarged submetatarsal scales; 26–28 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; sexually dimorphic for dorsal and ventral colour pattern; prescapular marking absent; gular marking absent; and yellow colouration in life on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in adult male.

Habitat of Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. at the type locality, Wang Khrachae Subdistrict, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.
A landscape view of karst formation B karst microhabitat structure C adult female of Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. (not collected) photographed in situ at the type locality.

Etymology. The species epithet enneaporus is derived from ennea (G.) for nine and porus (L.) for pore in reference to the male holotype of the new species having nine precloacal pores.

Suggested common name: Sai Yok Rock Gecko (English), Jing Jok Niew Yao Sai Yok ,จิ้งจกนิ้วยาวไทรโยค (Thai).

Attapol Rujirawan, Akrachai Aksornneam, Siriporn Yodthong, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Bryan L. Stuart and Anchalee Aowphol. 2025. Another New Karst-dwelling Rock Gecko in the Cnemaspis siamensis group (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) from Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand. ZooKeys. 1226: 1-24. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1226.138464 

[Herpetology • 2024] Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit • A New Species of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Surat Thani Province, Thailand Underscores This Group’s Remarkable Diversity on the Thai-Malay Peninsula

Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit

 Termprayoon, Rujirawan, Grismer & Aowphol, 2024

 

ตุ๊กกายกาญจนดิษฐ์  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3390/ani14223226

Abstract

An integrative taxonomic study recognized a new species of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus group from Kanchanadit District, Surat Thani Province, Southern Thailand. Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial ND2 gene revealed a new species, Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit sp. nov., that is closely related to C. lekaguli. The new species differs from its sister lineage by bearing mean genetic divergence of 4.53% and significant differences in both mensural and morphometric characters (p < 0.05). Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit sp. nov. can be differentiated from the remaining members of the C. pulchellus species group because of its genetic divergence of ≥7.99% and a combination of differences in body size: 11–15 supralabial and 10–12 infralabial scales, 29–35 paravertebral tubercles, 18–23 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles, 32–37 rows of ventral scales, 20–23 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 32–37 femoroprecloacal pores in adult males, and four or five dark body bands; weak tuberculation on body; absence of tubercles in the ventral body fold, absence of precloacal pores in females, and absence of scattered pattern of white tubercles on dorsum; presence of precloacal groove depression; and maculated white caudal bands. Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit sp. nov. is currently known from its type locality.

Keywords: bent-toed gecko; genetic; Southeast Asia; taxonomy

 Live specimen of the adult male holotype of Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit sp. nov. (ZMKU R 01091) from the type locality in Pa Ron Subdistrict, Kanchanadit District, Surat Thani Province, Thailand.

 Specimens of  Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit sp. nov. from the type locality show variation in coloration and body pattern.
(A) Adult male specimen (ZMKU R 01092) in preservative, (B) live adult female specimen (ZMKU R 01094),
(C) an individual from its habitat (not collected) showing four dark dorsal bands with an irregular pattern on the 3rd band, and (D) a juvenile (not collected) bearing four dark body bands and having light yellow color on the body with a white tail tip.

Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species of the C. pulchellus group by a combination of the following characters: (1) SVL 92.5–101.1 mm in adult males (n = 4), 108.2–108.5 mm in adult females (n = 2); (2) 11–15 supralabial and 10–12 infralabial scales; (3) weak tuberculation on body; (4) no tubercles on ventral surfaces of forelimbs, gular region, or in ventrolateral body folds; (5) 29–35 paravertebral tubercles; (6) 18–23 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; (7) 32–37 rows of ventral scales; (8) 20–23 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; (9) 32–37 femoroprecloacal pores in adult males; (10) absence of precloacal pores in adult females; (11) deep precloacal groove in males; (12) absence of scattered pattern of white tubercles on dorsum; (13) four or five dark dorsal body bands; (14) light caudal bands in adults infused with dark pigmentation; and (15) posterior portion of tail in hatchlings and juveniles white.

Etymology: The specific epithet kanchanadit refers to the type locality in Kanchanadit District, Surat Thani Province, Thailand.

Suggested common name: Kanchanadit Bent-toed Gecko ตุ๊กกายกาญจนดิษฐ์.

Habitat of Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit sp. nov. at the type locality Phet Phanomwat Waterfall, Kanchanadit District, Surat Thani Province. (A) Waterfall and (B) outcrop along the stream bank.

Photographs by Siriporn Yodthong.

 Korkhwan Termprayoon, Attapol Rujirawan, Larry Lee Grismer and Anchalee Aowphol. 2024. A New Species of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Surat Thani Province, Thailand Underscores This Group’s Remarkable Diversity on the Thai-Malay Peninsula. Animals. 14(22), 3226. DOI: doi.org/10.3390/ani14223226

Simple Summary: This study discovered a new Cyrtodactylus population from Phet Phanomwat Waterfall in Southern Thailand. It has genetic divergences pertaining to mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene of ≥3.97% from its sister lineage, C. lekaguli, and bearing ≥ 7.99% genetic divergence from the congeners in the C. pulchellus group. This population can be separated from C. lekaguli by its morphologically significant differences. Based on the molecular and morphological evidence, this population is described as a new species, Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit sp. nov. The discovery of this new species increases the total number of Cyrtodactylus species to 377, of which 57 occur in Thailand.

[Herpetology • 2024] Cyrtodactylus khlonghatensis • A New Species of Karst-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko of the Cyrtodactylus intermedius group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from eastern Thailand and the phylogenetic placement of C. intermedius

Cyrtodactylus khlonghatensis   

 Ampai, Rujirawan, Yodthong, Termprayoon, Stuart & Aowphol, 2024

Khlong Hat Bent-toed Gecko | ตุ๊กกายคลองหาด  ||  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1211.122563 

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Abstract

A new karst-dwelling bent-toed gecko of the Cyrtodactylus intermedius group is described from Khlong Hat District, Sa Kaeo Province, eastern Thailand, based on an integrative taxonomic analysis of genetic data and morphological characteristics. Phylogenetic analyses using the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene revealed that topotypes of C. intermedius were sister to a clade containing C. kulenensis from Cambodia, an unnamed lineage from Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, and the Khlong Hat lineage described here as Cyrtodactylus khlonghatensis sp. nov. Multivariate analyses of morphometric and meristic characters showed that C. khlonghatensis sp. nov. is morphologically distinct from all other species in the group by having the combination of SVL 76.5–82.8 mm in adult males and 88.5 mm in an adult female; eight supralabial and nine infralabial scales; 30–32 paravertebral tubercles; 20 or 21 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; 43 or 44 ventral scales; seven or eight expanded subdigital lamellae on the 4th toe; 12 unmodified subdigital lamellae on the 4th toe; 19 or 20 total subdigital lamellae on the 4th toe; 31 or 32 total number of enlarged femoral scales; enlarged femoral and precloacal scales continuous; 6–8 pore-bearing precloacal scales in males; three or four rows of enlarged post-precloacal scales; 1–3 postcloacal tubercles; proximal femoral scales less than one-half the size of distal femoral scales; absence of interdigital pocketing between digits of forefeet and hindfeet; and posterior border of the nuchal loop rounded. Uncorrected pairwise genetic divergences (p-distances) between the new species and other species of the intermedius group ranged from 4.73–22.55%. The discovery of this new species exclusively in isolated karst formations from the Thai-Cambodia border suggests that there may be further undiscovered Cyrtodactylus in unexplored karst landscapes along the border of eastern Thailand and western Cambodia.

Key words: Distribution, Gekkota, integrative taxonomy, ND2 gene, multivariate analysis

Adult male holotype of Cyrtodactylus khlonghatensis sp. nov. (ZMKU R 01068) from Tham Phet Pho Thong, Khlong Hat Subdistrict, Khlong Hat District, Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand, prior to preservation
A dorsal view B ventral view C palmar view of the right hand D plantar view of the right foot E lateral view of left side of head, and F precloacal region showing distribution of enlarged femeroprecloacal scales. Scale bar in dorsal and ventral views: 10 mm.

Variation in color pattern of Cyrtodactylus khlonghatensis sp. nov. Tham Phet Pho Thong, Khlong Hat Subdistrict, Khlong Hat District, Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand, in life
A adult male paratype (ZMKU R 01067) B adult male holotype (ZMKU R 01068)
C adult male paratype (ZMKU R 01069), and D adult female paratype (ZMKU R 01070).

 Cyrtodactylus khlonghatensis sp. nov.

  Suggested common name: Khlong Hat Bent-toed Gecko

 ตุ๊กกายคลองหาด

Diagnosis: Cyrtodactylus khlonghatensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species of the intermedius group by having the following combination of characters: (1) SVL of 76.5–82.8 mm (mean 80.5 ± 3.5 mm, n = 3) in adult males and 88.5 mm in an adult female (n = 1); (2) eight supralabial and nine infralabial scales; (3) 30–32 paravertebral tubercles; (4) 20 or 21 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; (5) 43 or 44 ventral scales; (6) seven or eight expanded subdigital lamellae on the 4th toe; (7) 12 unmodified subdigital lamellae on the 4th toe; (8) 19 or 20 total subdigital lamellae on the 4th toe; (9) 31 or 32 total number of enlarged femoral scales; (10) enlarged femoral and precloacal scales continuous; (11) 6–8 pore-bearing precloacal scales in males; (12) three or four rows of enlarged post-precloacal scales; (13) 1–3 postcloacal tubercles; (14) proximal femoral scales < 1/2 the size of distal femoral scales; (15) absence of interdigital pocketing between digits of forefeet and hindfeet; and (16) posterior border of the nuchal loop rounded.

Etymology: The specific epithet khlonghatensis is named after the type locality of Khlong Hat Subdistrict, Khlong Hat District, Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand.

Habitats of Cyrtodactylus khlonghatensis sp. nov. at the type locality of Tham Phet Pho Thong, Khlong Hat Subdistrict, Khlong Hat District, Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand
 A the isolated karstic mountain surrounded by karstic outcrops with dry deciduous forest B karstic trail C karst boulders.

 Natee Ampai, Attapol Rujirawan, Siriporn Yodthong, Korkhwan Termprayoon, Bryan L. Stuart and Anchalee Aowphol. 2024. A New Species of Karst-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko of the Cyrtodactylus intermedius group (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from eastern Thailand and the phylogenetic placement of C. intermedius. ZooKeys. 1211: 101-130. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1211.122563

 ตุ๊กกายคลองหาด Cyrtodactylus khlonghatensis 

ตุ๊กกายชนิดใหม่ ในกลุ่ม ตุ๊กกายตะวันออก (Cyrtodactylus intermedius complex) จากระบบนิเวศถ้ำและเขาหินปูนในอำเภอคลองหาด จังหวัดสระแก้ว 

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[Herpetology • 2024] Leiolepis glaurung • the First Rock-dwelling Species of Butterfly Lizard Leiolepis Cuvier, 1829 (Squamata: Agamidae) from the Khorat Plateau in northeastern Thailand

 

Leiolepis glaurung 

Wanchai, Rujirawan, Murdoch, Aksornneam, Promnun, Kaatz, Gregory, Nguyen, Iderstein, Quah, L. L. Grismer, J. L. Grismer & Aowphol, 2024

Khorat Plateau Butterfly Lizard  | ยาบ, แย้ภู  ||  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1210.127557

Abstract

A new species of rock-dwelling Leiolepis is described from the Khorat Plateau in northeastern Thailand. Leiolepis glaurung sp. nov. can be differentiated from all other sexual species of Leiolepis by a combination of having a black gular region with a wide medial yellow stripe, a yellow ventrum with black mottling, bright red to orange subcaudal coloration, having reduced to no expandable flanks, and having only one black transverse bar on the flanks. This is the first rocky habitat-adapted Leiolepis. Leiolepis glaurung sp. nov. demonstrates numerous ecological adaptations to survive in these rocky habitats. Leiolepis are known for their expandable flanks with bright display colors, however Leiolepis glaurung sp. nov. has reduced or no ability to expand its flanks. We hypothesize this is an adaptation to reduce their body diameter to better fit into smaller rocky burrows unlike the larger and deeper burrows constructed in looser soils by other Leiolepis species. This discovery increases the number of Leiolepis species in Thailand to six, and worldwide to 11.

Key words: Conservation, Indochina, Leiolepis, phylogenetics, rock-dwelling

Dorsal and ventral views of the holotype and paratypes of Leiolepis glaurung sp. nov 
A male holotype THNHM 30909 B female paratype THNHM 30908
C male paratype THNHM 30910, and D male paratype THNHM 30911.

A Leiolepis glaurung sp. nov. Male paratype THNHM 30911 displaying the dorsal and lateral display colors and its rocky habitat in the background
B adult male Leiolepis rubritaeniata from southeastern Cambodia
C male paratype THNHM 30911 of Leiolepis glaurung sp. nov.

Leiolepis glaurung sp. nov.  

A Female paratype THNHM 30908 B male paratype THNHM 30911 

 Leiolepis glaurung sp. nov.

Suggested English name: Khorat Plateau Butterfly Lizard, 

ยาบ, แย้ภู 

Diagnosis: Leiolepis glaurung sp. nov. can be diagnosed from all sexual species of Leiolepis by having a black gular region with a wide medial yellow stripe, a yellow ventrum with black mottling, bright red to orange ventral tail coloration, having reduced to no expandable flanks, and having a maximum of one black transverse bar on the flank (Suppl. material 1). Leiolepis glaurung sp. nov. can be further diagnosed from all other sexual species by having the combination of a AG of 61.0–88.0 mm; BL of 11.0–16.8 mm; CW of 22.3–33.1 mm; DN of 4.3–6.7 mm; FA of 14.4–19.0 mm; HE of 5.6–7.1 mm; HH of 14.0–21.3 mm; HL of 28.8–41.9 mm; HW of 19.2–29.7 mm; PW of 10.5–17.0 mm; TIB of 24.34–29.0 mm; TE of 14.0–18.0 mm, RH of 9.7–14.3 mm; three dorsal stripes; 28–29 ventral scales; 21–24 dorsal caudal scales; 19–26 non-pore bearing scales between the pore-bearing femoral scales across the pelvis; maximum number of seven keeled scale rows across the forearm; 17–20 femoral pores per side; 6–8 scales across the frontal bone; maximum of nine subtibial scales; seven scales long the dorsal surface of the first toe; three enlarged subdigital lamellae on the third toe; and 32–34 scales along the dorsal surface of the fourth toe (Figs 7, 8).

Etymology: The specific epithet glaurung is in reference to the large, terrestrial, golden-colored, non-winged dragon, Glaurung in Middle-earth – a character created by J.R.R. Tolkien in The Silmarillion (1977). Glaurung the Golden is the father of all dragons and tunneled into the sides of mountains forming burrows. The reduced expandable lateral flanks, yellow ventral and dorsal colors, with the construction of burrows beneath rocky outcrops is similar to the descriptions of Glaurung mentioned above, from ‘The Silmarillion’ and ‘The Children of Húrin’ (Tolkien 1977, Tolkien and Tolkien 2007). Additionally, in Thailand the word “Yae” is used to refer to Leiolepis belliana, L. ocellata, and L. rubritaeniata. However, on the Khorat Plateau the populations of Leiolepis glaurung sp. nov. are called “Yarb - ยาบ”. 

 Pratyaporn Wanchai, Attapol Rujirawan, Matthew L. Murdoch, Akrachai Aksornneam, Pattarapon Promnun, Amanda Kaatz, Jeren J. Gregory, Eddie Nguyen, William Van Iderstein, Evan S. H. Quah, L. Lee Grismer, Jesse L. Grismer and Anchalee Aowphol. 2024. The Description of the First Rock-dwelling Species of Butterfly Lizard Leiolepis Cuvier, 1829 (Squamata, Agamidae) from the Khorat Plateau in northeastern Thailand. ZooKeys. 1210: 299-324. DOI:  doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1210.127557

   

[Herpetology • 2023] Cyrtodactylus sungaiupe & C. wangkhramensis • Two New Karst-adapted Species in the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Group (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from southern Thailand

Cyrtodactylus sungaiupe & C. wangkhramensis 

Termprayoon, Rujirawan, Grismer, Wood & Aowphol, 2023

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1179.109712

Abstract

The exploration of unsurveyed areas in southern Thailand discovered two new karst-adapted species, Cyrtodactylus sungaiupe sp. nov. and Cyrtodactylus wangkhramensis sp. nov., from Thung Wa and La-ngu Districts, Satun Province, respectively. These new species are members of the C. pulchellus group that occur along the Thai-Malay Peninsula. The new species can be distinguished from all other congeners by their key morphological characters and genetic divergence. Morphologically, Cyrtodactylus sungaiupe sp. nov. and Cyrtodactylus wangkhramensis sp. nov. can be diagnosed from other members by having a combination of differences in body size; degree of dorsal tuberculation; absence of tubercles on ventral surfaces; number of ventral scales, paravertebral tubercles and femoroprecloacal pores in males only; deep precloacal groove only in males; absence of a scattered pattern of white dorsal tubercles; number of dark body bands; and the extent of caudal tubercles on an original tail. Although the two species are sister taxa and have nearly identical morphologies, they are considered to be different species, based on a relatively high uncorrected pairwise genetic divergence of the mitochondrial ND2 gene (6.59–6.89%), statistically significant univariate and multivariate morphological differences (PERMANOVA and ANOVA) and diagnostic characteristics of caudal tuberculation on the original tail. Moreover, Cyrtodactylus sungaiupe sp. nov. and Cyrtodactylus wangkhramensis sp. nov. are currently restricted to their karstic type localities which may serve as a geographic barrier to dispersal and gene flow.

Key words: Cyrtodactylus sungaiupe sp. nov., Cyrtodactylus wangkhramensis sp. nov., morphology, phylogeny, Southeast Asia, Sundaland, taxonomy, Thai-Malay Peninsula

 Cyrtodactylus sungaiupe sp. nov.

  Thung Wa Bent-toed Gecko

Diagnosis: Cyrtodactylus sungaiupe sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species of the C. pulchellus group by a combination of the following characters: (1) SVL 89.7–102.7 mm in adult males (n = 4), 87.3–104.6 mm in adult females (n = 4); (2) 12–16 supralabial and 10–13 infralabial scales; (3) weak tuberculation on body; (4) no tubercles on ventral surfaces of forelimbs, gular region or in ventrolateral body folds; (5) 30–38 paravertebral tubercles; (6) 19–22 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; (7) 32–40 rows of ventral scales; (8) 20–24 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; (9) 29–34 femoroprecloacal pores in adult males; (10) absence of precloacal pores in adult females; (11) deep precloacal groove in males; (12) absence of scattered pattern of white tubercles on dorsum; (13) four dark dorsal body bands; (14) nine or twelve dark caudal bands on original tail; (15) light caudal bands in adults infused with dark pigmentation; (16) caudal tubercles extended 1/8–1/10 of anterior portion of tail and (17) posterior portion of tail in hatchlings and juveniles white.

Etymology: The specific epithet sungaiupe is derived from the old name of Thung Wa District (Sungai Upe District), the type locality of the new species.

 Cyrtodactylus wangkhramensis sp. nov.

  Wangkhram Bent-toed Gecko

Diagnosis: Cyrtodactylus wangkhramensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species of the C. pulchellus group by a combination of the following characters: (1) SVL 87.4–95.5 mm in adult males (n = 5), 89.4–98.8 mm in adult females (n = 7); (2) 11–14 supralabial and 9–13 infralabial scales; (3) weak tuberculation on body; (4) no tubercles on ventral surfaces of forelimbs, gular region or in ventrolateral body folds; (5) 28–35 paravertebral tubercles; (6) 19–21 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; (7) 34–40 rows of ventral scales; (8) 18–22 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; (9) 32–36 femoroprecloacal pores in adult males; (10) absence of precloacal pores in adult females; (11) deep precloacal groove in males; (12) absence of scattered pattern of white tubercles on dorsum; (13) four or five dark dorsal body bands; (14) 11 dark caudal bands on original tail; (15) light caudal bands in adults infused with dark pigmentation; and (16) caudal tubercles extending 1/5–1/7 of anterior portion of tail.

Etymology: The specific epithet wangkhramensis refers to the type locality at Tham Wangkhram in La-ngu District, Satun Province.

 Korkhwan Termprayoon, Attapol Rujirawan, L. Lee Grismer, Perry L. Wood Jr and Anchalee Aowphol. 2023. Two New Karst-adapted Species in the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Group (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) from southern Thailand.  ZooKeys. 1179: 313-352. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1179.109712

 

[Herpetology • 2021] Subdoluseps vietnamensis • A New Skink of the Genus Subdoluseps (Squamata: Scincidae) from southern Vietnam

Subdoluseps vietnamensis

 Le, Nguyen, Phan, Rujirawan, Aowphol, Vo, Murphy & Nguyen, 2021

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4952.2.3

 twitter.com/skinks_IUCN

 

Abstract

We describe a new species of the genus Subdoluseps Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler from a coastal area in southern Vietnam. Subdoluseps vietnamensis sp. nov. is characterized by the following morphological characters: medium size in adults (snout-vent length up to 48.7 mm); tail length/snout-vent length ratio 1.04; toes not reaching finger when limbs adpressed; 27–30 midbody scale rows, smooth; 55–57 paravertebral scales; 55–62 ventral scale rows; 64–74 subcaudal scales; frontoparietal scale single; four supraoculars; prefrontals not in contact with one another; two loreal scales; seven supralabials; ear-opening with two lobules on the anterior border; smooth lamellae beneath finger III 9 or 10 and toe IV 12–15; six enlarged precloacal scales; and four distinct black stripes on dorsum. The new species differs genetically from its closest congeners, S. bowringii (Günther) and S. frontoparietale (Taylor), by uncorrected p-distances of 10.0% and 9.5%, respectively in ND1 sequences, and clusters into the same matriline with these two congeners on the phylogenetic trees.

Keywords: Reptilia, Coastal area, Lygosoma, Subdoluseps bowringii, Subdeloseps frontoparietale

 Manh Van Le, Vu Dang Hoang Nguyen, Hoa Thi Phan, Attapol Rujirawan, Anchalee Aowphol, Thi-Dieu-Hien Vo, Robert W. Murphy and Sang Ngoc Nguyen. 2021. A New Skink of the Genus Subdoluseps Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler, 2019 (Squamata: Scincidae) from southern Vietnam. Zootaxa. 495(2); DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4952.2.3

 twitter.com/skinks_IUCN/status/1382203532426702848

theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2023/may/23/species-discovered-greater-mekong-region-in-pictures

 Researchgate.net/publication/350770198_A_new_skink_of_the_genus_Subdoluseps_from_southern_Vietnam

[Herpetology • 2023] Cyrtodactylus thongphaphumensis • A New Species of the Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus Group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the uplands of western Thailand

Cyrtodactylus thongphaphumensis 

Grismer, Rujirawan, Chomdej, Suwannapoom, Yodthong, Aksornneam & Aowphol, 2023

ตุ๊กกายทองผาภูมิ  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1141.97624

Abstract

An integrative systematic analysis recovered a new species of the Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus group from the uplands of Thong Pha Phum National Park, Kanchanaburi Province in western Thailand. Cyrtodactylus thongphaphumensis sp. nov. is deeply embedded within the brevipalmatus group, bearing an uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence of 7.6–22.3% from all other species based on a 1,386 base pair segment of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene (ND2) and adjacent tRNAs. It is diagnosable from all other species in the brevipalmatus group by statistically significant mean differences in meristic and normalized morphometric characters as well as differences in categorical morphology. A multiple factor analysis recovered its unique and non-overlapping placement in morphospace as statistically significantly different from that of all other species in the brevipalmatus group. The description of this new species contributes to a growing body of literature underscoring the high degree of herpetological diversity and endemism across the sky-island archipelagos of upland montane tropical forest habitats in Thailand, which like all other upland tropical landscapes, are becoming some of the most imperiled ecosystems on the planet.

Keywords: Bent-toed gecko, genetics, Indochina, integrative taxonomy, montane forests, morphology

Adult male holotype of Cyrtodactylus thongphaphumensis sp. nov. ZMKU R 00953 (field no. AA 06933) from Thong Pha Phum National Park, Pilok Subdistrict, Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.
 A dorsal view B ventral view C dorsal view of head and ventral view of pelvic region D dorsal view of tail and E ventral view of tail in preservative F holotype in life.

 Cyrtodactylus thongphaphumensis sp. nov.

 Suggested Common Name: Thong Pha Phum Bent-toed Gecko, 

ตุ๊กกายทองผาภูมิ

Diagnosis: Cyrtodactylus thongphaphumensis sp. nov. can be separated from all other species of the brevipalmatus group by the combination of having 12–14 supralabials, 8–10 infralabials, 30–36 paravertebral tubercles, 19–21 rows of longitudinally arranged tubercles, 30–34 longitudinal rows of ventrals, 150–173 transverse rows of ventrals, 8–10 expanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 11–14 unexpanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 20–24 total subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; seven or eight expanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger, 10–12 unexpanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger, 18–20 total subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger; 12–16 total number of enlarged femoral scales, 12–16 total number of femoral pores in males; 15 precloacal pores in males; 15–17 enlarged precloacals; enlarged femorals and enlarged precloacals not continuous; proximal femorals smaller than distal femorals; small tubercles on forelimbs and flanks; large dorsolateral caudal tubercles and wide ventrolateral caudal fringe; ventrolateral caudal fringe composed scales of different size; tail square in cross-section; maximum SVL 76.6 mm; 3–5 dark transverse body bands (Table 5).

...

Distribution: Cyrtodactylus thongphaphumensis sp. nov. is currently known only from the type locality at Thong Pha Phum National Park, Pilok Subdistrict, Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand (Fig. 1).

Etymology: The specific epithet thongphaphumensis is in reference to the type locality of Thong Pha Phum National Park.

L. Lee Grismer, Attapol Rujirawan, Siriwadee Chomdej, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Siriporn Yodthong, Akrachai Aksornneam and Anchalee Aowphol. 2023. A New Species of the Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus Group (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from the uplands of western Thailand.  ZooKeys. 1141: 93-118. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1141.97624