[Herpetology • 2026] Cyrtodactylus kiriromensis • A New Species of the Cyrtodactylus intermedius group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) continues to underscore the high degree of site-specific endemism in the Cardamom Region, Cambodia

 

Cyrtodactylus kiriromensis

Grismer, Neang, Samorn, Song & Stuart, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5741.3.5

Abstract

A new species of the Cyrtodactylus intermedius group, Cyrtodactylus kiriromensis sp. nov., from Kirirom National Park of Phnom Sruoch in the Cardamom Mountains of Cambodia is delimited based on a mitochondrial (ND2) phylogeny and statistically diagnosed using meristic, morphometric, and color pattern characters. Cyrtodacytylus kiriromensis sp. nov. is the sister species of C. septimontium of southern Vietnam and forms part of a clade with six other site-specific endemic species from the mountains and islands of southeastern Cambodia and southwestern Vietnam. The ongoing discoveries of localized endemic species in the Cardamom Mountains underscores their fragmented nature and the importance of this landscape as a source of speciation as well as its notable contribution to the herpetological diversity of Cambodia. As such, it should be given special consideration as a conservation priority.

Reptilia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, integrative taxonomy, gecko, endemism, conservation

 Cyrtodactylus kiriromensis sp. nov.

L. Lee GRISMER, Thy NEANG, Vireak SAMORN, Det SONG and Bryan L. STUART. 2026. A New Species of the Cyrtodactylus intermedius group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) continues to underscore the high degree of site-specific endemism in the Cardamom Region, Cambodia.  Zootaxa. 5741(3); 519-538. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5741.3.5 [2026-01-07]

[Herpetology • 2026] Sphenomorphus tophus • A New endemic Forest Skink (Squamata: Scincidae: Sphenomorphus) from the sandstone ecosystem of the Khorat Plateau, Thailand

 

Sphenomorphus tophus  

Grismer, Pawangkhanant, Naiduangchan, Grismer, Dugdale, Pierce, Quah, Suwannapoom & Poyarkov. 2026

 Khorat Plateau Forest Skink | จิ้งเหลนภูเขาหินทราย  ||  https://www.taprobanica.org 

Researchgate.net/publication/400821972

Abstract

A new Forest Skink, belonging to the Sphenomorphus stellatus complex, was discovered in the unique forested sandstone ecosystem of the Khorat Plateau in northeastern Thailand. This new skink was recovered as the sister species to the other Indochinese skinks, S. phuquocensis + S. annamiticus, based on a phylogeny using 1,184 base pairs of 12S and 16S. A multiple factor analysis (MFA) based on a concatenated dataset comprised of size-corrected morphometric, meristic, and color pattern characters revealed this species’ isolated position in morphospace with respect to all other species in the S. stellatus complex. This is the fourth endemic lizard species reported from the Khorat Plateau and adds to a growing list of endemic species across a broad range of taxa. As such, this region desperately needs legal protection and increased field-based systematic research to uncover more unrealized species on this plateau in need of description and protection.

Keywords: Indochina, integrative taxonomy, lizard, Reptilia, Sphenomorphinae, systematics

Sphenomorphus tophus sp. nov. holotype (ZMMU Re-18274):
(A) ventral view of the full body in life; (B) dorsal, (C) ventral, and (D) lateral (right) view of the head; (E) ventral view of the right foot; (F) ventral view of the left hand; © Photo: N. Poyarkov.

Sphenomorphus tophus sp. nov. holotype (ZMMU Re-18274):
(A) dorsal and (B) ventral views of the full body ( Photo: N. Poyarkov); (C) Left dorsolateral view in life (© Photo: P. Pawangkhanant)

Uncatalogued specimens of Sphenomorphus tophus sp. nov. in their microhabitats in ..., Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen Province, Thailand:
(A) an adult emerging from a hole in the sandstone; (B) a juvenile on a sandstone ridge (© Photo: I. Dugdale); (C) an adult crawling down the vertical sandstone surface (Photo: A. Pierce); (D) an adult on the side of a tree (Photo I. Dugdale)

Sphenomorphus tophus sp. nov.

Diagnosis. At this juncture, Sphenomorphus tophus sp. nov. is separated from all other species of the S. stellatus complex by having the unique combination of a maximum adult SVL of 75.4 mm; head, body, and supracaudal scales smooth; frontal scale not divided; prefrontals not in contact; parietals in contact posterior to interparietal; parietals not divided; six scales bordering the parietals; four nuchals; four supraoculars; two loreals; anterior loreal not divided; loreals in contact with supralabials; no postnasal groove; eight superciliaries; superciliary row not interrupted by fourth supraocular; lower eyelid scales large; seven supralabials; seven infralabials; three pairs of chinshields; one primary temporal scale; two secondary temporals; upper secondary temporal large; no subtemporals; 25 midbody scale rows; 63 paravertebrals; paravertebrals slightly wider than other dorsals; 68 ventrals; two enlarged ...

Etymology. The specific epithet ‘tophus’ is a Latin noun given in apposition, meaning “sandstone,” “porous rock”. The name is given in reference to the natural history of the new species, in that it is the only member of the S. stellatus group known to date that is strictly associated with sandstone habitats. 

Suggested common names: Khorat Plateau Forest Skink (in English), จิ้งเหลนภูเขาหินทราย (Jing lhen phu khao hin saii, in Thai), and Коратский древесный сцинк (Koratskiy drevesnyi stsink, in Russian).

  

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L. Lee Grismer, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Mali Naiduangchan, Jesse L. Grismer, Ian Dugdale, Andrew Pierce, Evan S.H. Quah, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom and Nikolay A. Poyarkov. 2026. A New endemic Forest Skink (Squamata; Scincidae; Sphenomorphus) from the sandstone ecosystem of the Khorat Plateau, Thailand.  TAPROBANICA: The Journal of Asian Biodiversity 15(01):1-11. DOI: 10.47605/tapro.v14i1.396 [16 February 2026]

 https://www.taprobanica.org/Archives/volume-15-20-2026-31/volume-15-number-1-2026/v14i1-396.html

 Researchgate.net/publication/400821972_A_new_endemic_Sphenomorphus_from_the_sandstone_ecosystem_of_the_Khorat_Plateau_Thailand

  facebook.com/100088301342746/posts/889557520664285

[Herpetology • 2026] Hemiphyllodactylus puncak & H. jeraiensis • Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Hemiphyllodactylus harterti group (Squamata: Gekkonidae), with Description of Two New Species from the Sky-islands of Peninsular Malaysia

 

Hemiphyllodactylus puncak & 
Hemiphyllodactylus jeraiensis 

 Hong, Anuar, Grismer & Quah, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/vz.76.e154822

 

Abstract

Phylogenetic analyses of newly discovered populations of Hemiphyllodactylus from sky-islands across Peninsular Malaysia using the mitochondrial gene ND2, recovered two new upland species embedded within the harterti group. Hemiphyllodactylus puncak sp. nov. from Langkawi Island and H. jeraiensis sp. nov. from Gunung Jerai are sister species with an uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence of 3.6% between them. Together, they formed the sister lineage to H. cicak from Penang Hill, with an uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence of 3.9–4.8% and 4.5–5.7%, respectively. Given that these three populations occur on mountain tops isolated by lowland habitat and the Straits of Malacca, gene flow between them is highly unlikely, and there are unique combinations of characters that differentiate them from one another, as well as from all other species of the harterti group. The time-calibrated BEAST phylogeny shows that the harterti group diversified across the uplands of Peninsular Malaysia in the Oligocene and Pleistocene, which is consistent with climatic fluctuations during this period. During the Middle Oligocene, the ancestral population of the harterti group diverged into two distinct populations, one in the Banjaran Titiwangsa and another in the Banjaran Timur. These two populations then radiated independently across Peninsular Malaysia, giving rise to at least nine additional species within the harterti group.

Keywords: Endemic species, herpetofauna, Gunung Jerai, integrative taxonomy, Kedah, Langkawi Island, Southeast Asia

Hemiphyllodactylus puncak sp. nov. from Langkawi Island.
A Male holotype (LSUHC 15050) B Female paratype (LSUHC 15081) C Female paratype (LSUHC 15082).

Photographs by L. Lee Grismer.

 Hemiphyllodactylus puncak sp. nov. 

Suggested English common name: Langkawi Island slender gecko

Suggested Malay common name: cicak kerdil Pulau Langkawi 

Diagnosis. Hemiphyllodactylus puncak sp. nov. can be differentiated from all other species of Hemiphyllodactylus in having the unique combination of a maximum SVL of 35.6 mm; 5–7 chin scales; enlarged postmentals; four or five circumnasal scales; one or two scales between supranasals (= postrostrals); nine or 10 supralabials; 10 infralabials; 15 or 16 longitudinally arranged dorsal scales at midbody and seven or eight ventral scales contained within one eye diameter; lamellar formula on hand 4454 or 4554 or 4555; lamellar formula on foot 4554 or 4565 or 4675 or 5655; four subdigital lamellae on first finger and four or five on first toe; 44 continuous, pore-bearing femoroprecloacal scales in male; one cloacal spur on each side; subcaudals not plate-like; a dark postorbital stripe extending to at least base of neck; presence of dorsolateral light-coloured spots on trunk; absence of dark dorsolateral or ventrolateral stripe on trunk; generally unicolour wide vertebral area; postsacral marking lacking light-coloured anteriorly projecting arms; and unpigmented caecum and gonadal ducts. These characters are scored across all species of the harterti group listed in Table 5.

Etymology. The new species name ‘puncak’ is the Malay word for peak and named in reference to this species being found on the peak of Gunung Raya on Langkawi Island.

 Hemiphyllodactylus jeraiensis sp. nov.

 Suggested English common name: Gunung Jerai slender gecko

Suggested Malay common name: cicak kerdil Gunung Jerai 

Diagnosis. Hemiphyllodactylus jeraiensis sp. nov. can be differentiated from all other species of Hemiphyllodactylus in having the unique combination of a maximum SVL of 36.5 mm; seven chin scales; enlarged postmentals; five circumnasal scales; three scales between supranasals (= postrostrals); nine supralabials; nine infralabials; 12 longitudinally arranged dorsal scales at midbody and seven ventral scales contained within one eye diameter; lamellar formula on hand 2333; lamellar formula on foot 2333; two subdigital lamellae on first finger and two on first toe; 39 continuous, pore-bearing femoroprecloacal scales in male; two cloacal spurs on each side; subcaudals not plate-like; a dark postorbital stripe extending to base of neck; presence of dorsolateral light-coloured spots on trunk; absence of dark dorsolateral or ventrolateral stripe on trunk; generally unicolour wide vertebral area; postsacral marking lacking light-coloured anteriorly projecting arms; and unpigmented caecum and gonadal ducts. These characters are scored across all species of the harterti group listed in Table 5.

Etymology. The new species name ‘jeraiensis’ is in reference to the type locality of this species on Gunung Jerai, Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia.

Zijia Hong, M. S. Shahrul Anuar, L. Lee Grismer and Evan S. H. Quah. 2026. Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Hemiphyllodactylus harterti group (Squamata: Gekkonidae), with Description of Two New Species from the Sky-islands of Peninsular Malaysia. Vertebrate Zoology. 76: 1-32.  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/vz.76.e154822 [16 Jan 2026]

[Herpetology • 2025] Acanthosaura grismeri • Unexpected Diversity of Pricklenape Agamas in Vietnam: Another New Cryptic Species of Acanthosaura Gray 1831 (Reptilia: Agamidae) from the Central Highlands

Acanthosaura grismeri 

 Le, T. T. Nguyen, T. Q. Nguyen, Ziegler, Do & Ngo, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5686.3.3

Abstract

Based on integrative taxonomic analyses, we describe a new species of Acanthosaura from Krong Bong forest, Dak Lak Province, the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Acanthosaura grismeri sp. nov. differs morphologically from its congeners by a combination of the following characteristics: size moderate (SVL 77.20-91.98 mm in males, 102.70-113.09 mm in females); the absence of diastema between short nuchal and dorsal crest spines; vertebral crest includes a single row of enlarged, keeled, pointed scales; color of dorsal surface green in males and light brown and green-yellow with scattered black spots in females; the absence of black eye patch; black or brown lines from canthus rostralis-supraciliary line downward to upper eye margin, and a white band from lower eye margin downward to lip edge. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods for the COI gene support the monophyly of Acanthosaura grismeri sp. nov. The uncorrected pairwise distance between the new species and its congeners ranges from 7.82% to 25.36%. With the description of this species, 22 species of Acanthosaura are recognized, half of them occurring in Vietnam.

 Reptilia,  Acanthosaura grismeri sp. nov., Agamidae, Morphology, Phylogeny, Taxonomy, COI, Dak Lak Province

Acanthosaura grismeri sp. nov.

Linh Tu Hoang LE, Tao Thien NGUYEN, Truong Quang NGUYEN, Thomas ZIEGLER, Dang Trong DO and Hai Ngoc NGO. 2025. Unexpected Diversity of Pricklenape Agamas in Vietnam: Another New Cryptic Species of Acanthosaura Gray 1831 (Reptilia: Agamidae) from the Central Highlands. Zootaxa. 5686(3); 373-392. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5686.3.3 [2025-08-28]

[Herpetology • 2025] Cyrtodactylus ayunpaensis • Integrative Taxonomic Approaches revealed A New Species of the Cyrtodactylus irregularis complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Gia Lai Province, Central Highlands of Vietnam

 

Cyrtodactylus ayunpaensis

 Nguyen, Ha, Murdoch, J. L. Grismer, L. L. Grismer & Luu, 2025

 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.2  

Researchgate.net/publication/394443514

 

Abstract

Cyrtodactylus ayunpaensis sp. nov. from Ayun Pa town, Gia Lai Province, Central Highlands Vietnam is described based on an integrative taxonomic method by a combination of morphological and genetic data. It is placed into the C. irregularis group and can be distinguished from the remaining species from Vietnam by a minimum genetic distance of 12.8% in the ND2 gene and by the following characters: a maximum SVL of 91.5 mm; supralabials 11–13; infralabials 9–10; dorsal tubercles at midbody in 4–6 irregular rows; ventral scales 52–68; subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe 17–19; precloacal and femoral pores absent in both sexces; enlarged precloacal scales 22–27 in males and absent in females; 7–11 enlarged femoral scales from each thigh; subcaudals transversely enlarged; small, irregularly shaped dark brown blotches on top of head; nuchal band thin and interrupted; dorsal pattern with four irregularly shaped bands; short stripes on the neck. The morphological distinctiveness of the new species is supported by its non-overlapping position in multivariate space based on multiple factor analysis and principal component analysis.

Reptilia, Gekkota, Cyrtodactylus ayunpaensis sp. nov., molecular phylogenetics, taxonomy, Indochina

Cyrtodactylus ayunpaensis sp. nov.

Thuong Huyen NGUYEN, Hong Bich HA, Matthew L. MURDOCH, Jesse L. GRISMER, L. Lee GRISMER and Vinh Quang LUU. 2025. Integrative Taxonomic Approaches revealed A New Species of the Cyrtodactylus irregularis complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Gia Lai Province, Central Highlands of Vietnam.  Zootaxa. 5679(1); 45-73. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.2 [2025-08-12]

 Researchgate.net/publication/394443514_Integrative_taxonomic_approaches_revealed_a_new_species_of_the_Cyrtodactylus_irregularis_complex_from_Central_Highlands_of_Vietnam

[Herpetology • 2025] Cyrtodactylus sakaeratensis • A New forest-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko of the Cyrtodactylus intermedius group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, northeastern Thailand

Cyrtodactylus sakaeratensis Ampai & Rujirawan, 

in Ampai, Aowphol, Yodthong, Termprayoon, Grismer et Rujirawan, 2025  

ตุ๊กแกป่าสะแกราช  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5666.3.3

  facebook.com/novataxa/posts/1204109331747992

Abstract

A new forest-dwelling bent-toed gecko of the Cyrtodactylus intermedius group is described from a dry evergreen forest habitat in the Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve, Wang Nam Khiao District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, northeastern Thailand. Based on an integrative taxonomic approach using molecular analyses of the mitochondrial ND2 gene and statistical analyses of morphological characteristics it was revealed that the Sakaerat population is the sister species of C. kulenensis from Banteay Srei District, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia and differs morphologically from all other species in the C. intermedius group. Cyrtodactylus sakaeratensis sp. nov. is differentiated from its congeners by having the combination of a SVL 64.6–80.0 mm in adult males (n = 14) and 65.0–83.1 mm in adult female (n = 8); 9–11 supralabial and nine or 10 infralabial scales; 27 or 28 paravertebral tubercles; 17–19 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; 46–48 ventral scales; seven or eight expanded subdigital lamellae on the 4th toe; 12 or 13 unmodified subdigital lamellae on 4th toe; 20 total subdigital lamellae on the 4th toe; 22–28 total number of enlarged femoral scales; enlarged femoral and precloacal scales continuous; seven or eight pore-bearing precloacal scales in males; three rows of enlarged post-precloacal scales; two or three postcloacal tubercles; proximal femoral scales greater than 1/2 the size of distal femoral scales; absence of interdigital pocketing between the digits; and posterior border of the nuchal loop pointed. Uncorrected pairwise genetic divergences (p-distances) between the new species and other species of the C. intermedius group ranged from 6.02–29.10%. The presence of this new species, currently known only from Sakaerat’s dry evergreen forest, implies that additional undescribed Cyrtodactylus species may exist in other unexplored habitats of northeastern Thailand.

Reptilia, gekkonid, Southeast Asia, integrative taxonomy, ND2, systematics

Cyrtodactylus sakaeratensis sp. nov. 

Etymology. The specific epithet, sakaeratensis referred to the type locality of Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve, Udom Sap Subdistrict, Wang Nam Khiao District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, northeastern Thailand.

Natee AMPAI, Anchalee AOWPHOL, Siriporn YODTHONG, Korkhwan TERMPRAYOON, L. Lee GRISMER and Attapol RUJIRAWAN. 2025. Description of A New forest-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko of the Cyrtodactylus intermedius group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, northeastern Thailand.  Zootaxa. 5666(3); 361-388. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5666.3.3 [2025-07-29]

 facebook.com/100088301342746/posts/726367873649918

[Herpetology • 2024] Hemiphyllodactylus houaphanensis & H. vanhoensis • Integrative Taxonomy reveals Two New Species of Karst-dwelling Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Border Region of Laos and Vietnam

Hemiphyllodactylus houaphanensis  &  H. vanhoensis

Luu, Hoang, Ha, J. L. Grismer, Murdoch, Sitthivong, Phimpasone & L. L. Grismer, 2024 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5486.1.3 

 Researchgate.net/publication/382522786

 

Abstract

An integrative taxonomic analysis of the gekkonid lizard genus Hemiphyllodactylus was conducted using molecular, morphological, color pattern, and ecological data on a clade of 19 species, including two new species from karst landscapes in northern Laos and Vietnam. Hemiphyllodactylus houaphanensis sp. nov. (Laos) and H. vanhoensis sp. nov. (Vietnam) are karst-dwelling species whose discovery further emphasizes the unrealized herpetological diversity and site-specific endemism in karst ecosystems across Southeast Asia and the need for increased field work to protect these biodiverse landscapes.

Reptilia, genetics, Indochina, karst forest, Laos, phylogenetics, systematics, Vietnam

Dorsal views of Hemiphyllodactylus houaphanensis sp. nov.   

from ..., Hiem District, Houaphan Province, Laos.

 A: adult male holotype and B: adult female paratyp. 

Photos: Vilay Phimpasone.

Dorsal views of Hemiphyllodactylus vanhoensis sp. nov. 

from ..., Tan Xuan Commune, Van Ho District,Son La Province, Vietnam.

 A: adult female holotype, B: adult female paratype, and C: juvenile male paratype.

Photos: Vinh Quang Luu.

 Hemiphyllodactylus houaphanensis sp. nov. (Laos) 

H. vanhoensis sp. nov. (Vietnam) 

Vinh Quang LUU, Tuoi Thi HOANG, Hong Bich HA, Jesse L. GRISMER, Matthew MURDOCH, Saly SITTHIVONG, Vilay PHIMPASONE and L. Lee GRISMER. 2024. Integrative Taxonomy reveals Two New Species of Karst-dwelling Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Border Region of Laos and Vietnam.  Zootaxa. 5486(1); 71-108. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5486.1.3 [2024-07-24]

  Researchgate.net/publication/382522786_Two_new_species_of_karst-dwelling_Hemiphyllodactylus_from_the_border_region_of_Laos_and_Vietnam

[Herpetology • 2025] Dixonius noctivagus • A New Species of Dixonius (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from A Karstic Archipelago in Western Cambodia

 

Dixonius noctivagus 

L. L. Grismer, Sinovas, Quah, Thi, Chourn, Chhin, Hun, Cobos, Ching, Murdoch, Gregory, Nguyen, Hernandez, Kaatz & J. L. Grismer, 2025

Battambang leaf-toed gecko || DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5653.4.3

 

Abstract

An integrative taxonomic analysis was used to delimit and diagnose a new species of Dixonius from a karstic archipelago in western Cambodia. Dixonius noctivagus sp. nov. was recovered as the sister species to an undescribed species from eastern Cambodia and southwestern Vietnam based on 1,396 bp of the mitochondrial ND2 gene. A statistically robust diagnosis was established through multivariate and univariate analyses of morphometric, meristic, and categorical color pattern characters separating D. noctivagus sp. nov. from all other congeners. Although Dixonius is a common and widespread genus, the description herein brings the total number of Dixonius in Cambodia to two—far fewer than the eight species from both neighboring Thailand and Vietnam. This disparity underscores the need for systematic biodiversity surveys in the many understudied regions of Cambodia, particularly focusing on its herpetofauna. The discovery of D. noctivagus sp. nov. alongside recently described Cyrtodactylus and Hemiphyllodactyus species from the same karst formations highlights the urgent need for legal protection of these fragile habitats in the region.

Reptilia, conservation, Gekkota, genetics, integrative taxonomy, limestone, phylogeny, Southeast asia

 Dixonius noctivagus sp. nov.

Battambang leaf-toed gecko 

L. Lee GRISMER, Pablo SINOVAS, Evan S. H. QUAH, Sothearen THI, Phyroum CHOURN, Sophea CHHIN, Seiha HUN, Anthony COBOS, Christian CHING, Matthew L. MURDOCH, Jeren J. GREGORY, Eddie NGUYEN, Alexis P. HERNANDEZ, Amanda KAATZ and Jesse L. GRISMER. 2025. A New Species of Dixonius Bauer, Good, & Branch, 1997 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from A Karstic Archipelago in Western Cambodia. Zootaxa. 5653(4); 501-523. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5653.4.3 [2025-06-30]

[Herpetology • 2025] Cyrtodactylus peninsularis • The Taxonomy of Cyrtodactylus consobrinus (Peters, 1871) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) and the Description of A New Species from the Thai-Malay Peninsula

Cyrtodactylus peninsularis 

 L. L. Grismer, Kaatz, J. L. Grismer, Nguyen, Grergory, P. L. Wood, Murdoch, Anuar, Onn, Muin, Pawangkhanant, Suwannapoom, Poyarkov & Quah, 2025

 

Giant Bent-toed Gecko | ตุ๊กกายมลายู  ||  DOI:  doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1241.149552 

photos by Evan S. H. Quah, L. Lee Grismer and Kin Onn Chan. 

Abstract

Phylogenetic analyses based on 1459 base pairs of the mitochondrial gene ND2 and its flanking tRNAs indicate that Cyrtodactylus consobrinus from the type locality in Sarawak, East Malaysia (Borneo) and C. consobrinus from Peninsular Malaysia are not conspecific. Both populations as well as C. hutan from East Malaysia form a strongly supported monophyletic group even though their relationships to one another remain unresolved. Cyrtodactylus consobrinus from peninsular Malaysia is described herein as the new species C. peninsularis sp. nov. whose type locality is Gunung Belumut, Johor State. Cyrtodactylus peninsularis sp. nov. is diagnosable from all other species in the malayanus group by having statistically different morphospatial positions in multiple factor analyses (MFA) based on size-corrected morphometric and meristic characters. ANOVA analyses of these characters recovered significantly different mean values between C. peninsularis sp. nov. and varying combinations of all other malayanus group species across several size-corrected morphometric and meristic characters. Genetic variation within C. peninsularis sp. nov. is geographically structured across six well supported monophyletic mitochondrial lineages bearing an uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence ranging from 0.97–4.5%. Despite its well supported phylogeographic structure, PCAs and ANOVAs recovered statistically weak morphological separation among the lineages and as such, all are considered conspecific pending a genomic analysis. The phylogeographic structure within the forest-dwelling C. peninsularis sp. nov. is quite similar to that of the stream-adapted ranid frog genus Amolops and less so to that of the microhabitat specialists of the C. pulchellus group and the forest generalist C. quadrivirgatus, all of whom are sympatric across Peninsular Malaysia.

Key words: Bent-toed Gecko, Borneo, integrative taxonomy, Peninsular Malaysia, phylogeny, Thailand

Color and banding pattern variation among the lineages of Cyrtodactylus peninsularis sp. nov.
 A NEL— adult male, Lata Kekabu, Setiu, Terengganu, La Sierra University Digital Photograph Collection (LSUDPC) 13548, photo by Evan S. H. Quah B EL—juvenile, Endau-Rompin National Park, Johor, LSUHC 2585, photo by L. Lee Grismer C NWL—adult male, Sungai Enam, Perak LSUDPC 13549 (paratype LSUHC 11267), photo by Evan S. H. Quah D WL—adult female, Gunung Ledang, Johor LSUDPC 13550, photo by Evan S. H. Quah
E NCL—adult female, Gunung Tebu, Terengganu LSUDPC 7997, photo by L. Lee Grismer F WL—adult female, Gunung Korbu, Perak, LSUDCP 13548, photo by Kin Onn Chan G NEL—adult male, Hutan Lipur Sekayu, Terengganu, LSUDPC 5951, photo by L. Lee Grismer H SL—adult female, Gunung Pulai, Johor, LSUDPC 13552, photo by Evan S. H. Quah.

 Cyrtodactylus peninsularis sp. nov.

Etymology. The species name peninsularis is in reference to the distribution of this species which is restricted to the Thai-Malay Peninsula of southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore.

Distribution. Cyrtodactylus peninsularis sp. nov. ranges from extreme southern Thailand southward through nearly all habitats in Peninsular Malaysia to Singapore (Grismer 2011) (Fig. 1). The Pulau Singkep population of Indonesia has not been investigated.

 L. Lee Grismer, Amanda Kaatz, Jesse L. Grismer, Eddie Nguyen, Jeren J. Grergory, Perry L. Wood Jr., Matthew L. Murdoch, Shahrul Anuar, Chan Kin Onn, Muhamad A. Muin, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Nikolay A. Poyarkov and Evan S. H. Quah. 2025. The Taxonomy of Cyrtodactylus consobrinus (Peters, 1871) (Squamata, Gekkonidae) and the Description of A New Species from the Thai-Malay Peninsula. ZooKeys 1241: 105-137. DOI:  doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1241.149552 [12-06-2025] 

[Herpetology • 2025] Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis • Geographically structured Genetic and Morphological Variation in A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from a karstic archipelago in western Cambodia

 

Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis

 Quah, L. L. Grismer, Sinovas, Chourn, Chhin, Hun, Cobos, Geissler, Ching, Murdoch, Thi, Gregory, Nguyen, Hernandez, Kaatz & J. L. Grismer, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1240.139691 

Abstract

A new species of karst-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko (genus Cyrtodactylus) is described from an unexplored karstic archipelago in western Cambodia. Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis sp. nov. is composed of four allopatric, monophyletic mitochondrial lineages based on the ND2 gene. All are statistically diagnosable from one another based on univariate (ANOVA) and multivariate (PCA, DAPC, and MFA) analyses using a suite of size-corrected morphometric, meristic, and categorical color pattern and morphological characters. Uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence among them is low (1.4–2.2%), indicating a recent divergence from one another. Given their allopatry, diagnosability, monophyly (i.e., no individuals from one population are embedded within another), we contend they are on separate evolutionary trajectories with no chance of secondary overlap via dispersal through the current unhabitual terrain or through the unlikely future coalescence of the karstic formations on which they occur. The discovery of this new species underscores the necessity for further exploration to gain a more informed understanding of the herpetological diversity of Cambodia in general, and that of western Cambodia in particular, where dozens of isolated karstic formations still remain unexplored.

Key words: Bent-toed gecko, genetics, Indochina, integrative taxonomy, karstic archipelago

Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis sp. nov.
 A adult male holotype LSUHC 15206 B gravid adult female LSUHC 15207
C adult female LSUHC 15205 D juvenile LSUHC 15176  

Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis sp. nov. is 

 

 Evan S. H. Quah, L. Lee Grismer, Pablo Sinovas, Phyroum Chourn, Sophea Chhin, Seiha Hun, Anthony Cobos, Peter Geissler, Christian Ching, Matthew L. Murdoch, Sothearen Thi, Jeren J. Gregory, Eddie Nguyen, Alexis P. Hernandez, Amanda Kaatz and Jesse L. Grismer. 2025.  Geographically structured Genetic and Morphological Variation in A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from a karstic archipelago in western Cambodia. ZooKeys. 1240: 73-115. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1240.139691 

 

[Herpetology • 2025] Rediscovery of the Skink Sphenomorphus anomalopus (Boulenger, 1890) (Squamata: Scincidae): First Documentation of its natural history and live coloration

 

  Sphenomorphus anomalopus (Boulenger, 1890)  

in Sinovas et Grismer, 2025.

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.3.8  

 Researchgate.net/publication/390665918 

iNaturalist.org

 facebook.com/PabloSINOVAS

Abstract

The rediscovery and photographic documentation of Sphenomorphus anomalopus from Gunung Leuser National Park in North Sumatra, Indonesia, after a 109-year hiatus allowed us, for the first time, to observe its behavior and assess its microhabitat. Historical descriptions of this species’ coloration were never based on live material and, as such, did not convey the vibrant and contrasting nature of its lemon-yellow, orange, reddish, and greyish pattern configuration. Its color pattern and possible sexual dichromatism are described based on seven males and one presumed female photographed in situ. A short observation period clearly indicated that S. anomalopus is not an arboreal species, as had been previously hypothesized, but a terrestrial species that forages in rock-strewn leaf litter in sun-exposed localities, such as beneath canopy gaps and other open areas like many other terrestrial skinks.

Scincidae, Sumatra, Indonesia, Penang, coloration, conservation, Reptilia

 Sphenomorphus anomalopus from Sumatra, Indonesia.
 A. Female from Bukit lawang, Bohorok, Kabupaten de langkat, North Sumatra 20852, Indonesia. Photo by Ivan leshukov.
B. Male from Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia showing elongate 4 th toe. Photograph by Marco Mora.
C-E. Male from Gunung leuser National Park, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Photographs by Pablo Sinovas.

Pablo SINOVAS and L. Lee GRISMER. 2025. Rediscovery of the Skink Sphenomorphus anomalopus (Boulenger, 1890) (Squamata: Scincidae): First Documentation of its natural history and live coloration.  Zootaxa. 5620(3); 485-492. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.3.8 [2025-04-10]

 Researchgate.net/publication/390665918_Rediscovery_of_Sphenomorphus_anomalopus__first_documentation_of_its_natural_history_and_live_coloration

 facebook.com/PabloSINOVAS/posts/10170985734730384

 facebook.com/groups/fieldherpetology/permalink/10162306653333592/

https://www.iNaturalist.org/taxa/112917-Sphenomorphus-anomalopus