[Herpetology • 2026] Cyrtodactylus nebulicola • A New Species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from India with Redescriptions of the holotypes of C. gubernatoris & C. himalayicus

 

Cyrtodactylus nebulicola

Ray, Bhupathi, Chatterjee, Das & Mohapatra, 2026

 

Latpanchar Bent-toed Gecko  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1278.186655  

Abstract

A new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus Gray is described from the eastern Himalayan region of West Bengal state, India. The new species is assigned to the C. peguensis species group and is readily distinguished from its regional congeners by a unique combination of morphological characters. These include dorsal scalation comprising small granules intermixed with enlarged, feebly keeled, weakly pointed tubercles arranged in 15–22 fairly regular longitudinal rows at midbody; 11–14 subdigital lamellae beneath the first digit and 17–23 beneath the fourth digit; nine precloacal pores and 6–9 femoral pores in males; 10–12 supralabials; and nine infralabials. Molecular analyses based on mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) sequence data further support the distinctiveness of the new species, which exhibits 11.8–19.8% uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence from its closest congeners. Specifically, it differs from C. gubernatoris by 11.8–12.0% and from C. bhupathyi by 18.5–19.8%, while showing divergences exceeding 20.5% from other congeners examined. In addition to the description of the new species, detailed redescriptions of the holotypes of two regional congeners, C. himalayicus and C. gubernatoris, are provided based on direct examination. The discovery of this new taxon highlights the underestimated diversity of Cyrtodactylus in the eastern Himalayas and underscores the importance of integrated morphological and molecular approaches in resolving species boundaries within this speciose gecko genus.

Key words: Cyrtodactylus peguensis, Darjeeling, eastern Himalayas, morphology, taxonomy, West Bengal

Live specimens of Cyrtodactylus nebulicola sp. nov.
 (A) uncollected individual, (B) one of the paratypes (ZSI-R-29060).

Cyrtodactylus nebulicola sp. nov.

Suggested common English name. Latpanchar Bent-toed Gecko.

Etymology. The species epithet nebulicola is derived from the Latin words: nebula meaning “mist” or “cloud,” and -cola meaning “dweller” or “inhabitant”, collectively meaning “dweller of the mist”. The name refers to the characteristic mist-laden, cloud-forest habitat of Latpanchar in the Darjeeling Himalaya, where the species was discovered. The epithet is treated as a noun in apposition and does not change with gender.

Sumidh Ray, Bharath Bhupathi, Suvrajyoti Chatterjee, Ritesh Das and Pratyush P. Mohapatra. 2026. Description of A New Species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) from India with redescriptions of the holotypes of C. gubernatoris (Annandale, 1913) and C. himalayicus (Annandale, 1906). ZooKeys. 1278: 317-338. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1278.186655 [30 Apr 2026]

[Herpetology • 2026] Gekko wuzhengjuni • A New Species of Karst-adapted Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Gekko) from Guangxi, China

Gekko wuzhengjuni  Yu & Chen, 

in Yu, H.-L. Chen, Y.-B. Li, Y.-H. Li et Z.-Ni. Chen, 2026. 

 DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.185568

Abstract

The genus Gekko comprises a diverse group of nocturnal lizards that are widely distributed across the plains and plateaus of temperate and tropical Asia, as well as the western islands of the Pacific Ocean. In this study, mitochondrial DNA and morphological data were integrated to diagnose and describe a novel species, Gekko wuzhengjuni sp. nov., from Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that this species forms a monophyletic lineage that is sister to G. fengshanensis within the Japonigekko subgenus, as determined by mitochondrial 16S rRNA (16S) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene (ND2) sequences. The uncorrected genetic distances for mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequence divergence range from 9.85% (G. liboensis) to 19.11% (G. subpalmatus), whereas ND2 divergence ranges from 14.62% (G. fengshanensis) to 32.84% (G. liui) relative to other congeners. Morphologically, Gekko wuzhengjuni sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners in the region by a specific combination of characteristics: (1) nares that contact the rostral scale, with the absence of an internasal scale; (2) the presence of two enlarged postmental scales; (3) enlarged tubercles extending from the area posterior to the eyes along the neck to the base of the tail, arranged in eight or nine rows at midbody; (4) a total of 140–143 midbody scale rows; (5) precloacal pores continuous, numbering 10 in males and absent in females; and (6) a single postcloacal tubercle present on each side.

Key Words: Gekko wuzhengjuni sp. nov., integrative taxonomy, molecular phylogeny, morphology

Type specimens of Gekko wuzhengjuni sp. nov. in life.
A, B. Holotype GXNU 2025090902, adult male;
C, D. Paratype GXNU 2025090901, adult female. Photos by Shi-Jun He.

Gekko wuzhengjuni Yu & Chen, sp. nov.

Jia-Yi Yu, Hui-Ling Chen, You-Bang Li, Yu-Hui Li and Ze-Ning Chen. 2026. A New Species of Karst-adapted Gecko (Squamata, Gekkonidae, Gekko) from Guangxi, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 102(2): 719-729. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.185568 [30 Apr 2026]

[Herpetology • 2026] Cyrtodactylus jayadityai • A New micro-endemic Species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the lowlands of Northeast India, with additional morphological notes on Cyrtodactylus khasiensis Jerdon, 1870 based on topotypical specimens from Meghalaya, India

 

Cyrtodactylus jayadityai 

Bohra, Deb, Thongni,  Bhattacharjee, Biakzuala, Lalremsanga, Swargiary & Roy, 2026

 

DOI: doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2026.1048.3255

Abstract

We provide additional morphological notes on Cyrtodactylus khasiensis Jerdon, 1870 sensu stricto based on topotypical specimens from Meghalaya, northeast India, thereby clarifying its diagnostic morphological traits and extending its distribution further westwards based on molecular data. In addition, based on an integrative systematic approach, we describe a new species of bent-toed gecko namely Cyrtodactylus jayadityai sp. nov. from the lowlands of North Tripura, northeast India. Genetically, the new species is a member of the ‘C. khasiensis’ group and is a strongly supported sister to C. tripuraensis Agarwal, Mahony, Giri, Chaitanya & Bauer, 2018 from which it differs by a pairwise genetic distance of 4.7–5.2% in the mitochondrial ND2 gene. The investigation of morphological characters such as the precloacal-femoral pores in males and pre-cloacal pits in females further supports the distinctiveness of the new species and morphologically differentiates it from its congeners. This increases the number of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 in northeast India to 31 species, underscoring the importance of the region as a hotspot for herpetofaunal research and conservation. At present, based on the current population status and distribution, we propose that the new species should be considered as Data Deficient (DD) under the IUCN Red List criteria.

Keywords: systematics, mitochondrial gene, ND2, lizard, sister species

Cyrtodactylus jayadityai sp. nov.

Sanath Chandra Bohra, Arnab Deb, Goldenstar Thongni, Rupankar Bhattacharjee, Lal Biakzuala, Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, Pranjal Swargiary and Rita Roy. 2026. A New micro-endemic Species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the lowlands of Northeast India, with additional morphological notes on Cyrtodactylus khasiensis Jerdon, 1870 based on topotypical specimens from Meghalaya, India. European Journal of Taxonomy. 1048(1); 265–303. DOI: doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2026.1048.3255  [2026-04-14]

 

[Herpetology • 2026] Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis • A New Species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Kokrajhar District, Assam, India

 Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis

 Basfore, Bharali, Barman, Deka, Islam, Deb, Bohra, Bhattacharjee, Das, Hazarika, Naorem & Purkayastha, 2026

 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5792.2.5

 

Abstract

We herein describe a new species of Cyrtodactylus from Kachugaon, in the Kokrajhar District of Assam, India. Morphological characteristics combined with ND2 mitochondrial gene sequence data support its placement within the Cyrtodactylus khasiensis group, identifying Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis sp. nov. as the sister lineage to Cyrtodactylus septentrionalis. It is characterised by a moderate adult size (maximum SVL 71.1 mm), rounded, bluntly conical, and weakly keeled dorsal tubercles arranged in 20 or 21 longitudinal rows, and 36–38 paravertebral tubercles between the axilla and groin. Other diagnostic features include 32–38 mid-ventral scale rows, 13 precloacal pores in male, 13 precloacal pits in females, 17–20 subdigital lamellae beneath the fourth toe, absence of a single row of transversely enlarged subcaudal scales, 7 or 8 pairs of dark dorsal blotches between the axilla and groin, and a tail bearing alternating dark and light bands.

Reptilia, Cyrtodactylus khasiensis, gecko, Northeast India, Systematics, Taxonomy

Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis sp. nov.

 

BIJAY BASFORE, MANMATH BHARALI, RATHIN BARMAN, SANATAN DEKA, NAZRUL ISLAM, ARNAB DEB, SANATH CHANDRA BOHRA, RUPANKAR BHATTACHARJEE, MADHURIMA DAS, ARUP KUMAR HAZARIKA, ANJANA SINGHA NAOREM, JAYADITYA PURKAYASTHA. 2026. A New Species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Kokrajhar District, Assam, India.  Zootaxa. 5793(2); 321-337. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5792.2.5 [2026-04-13]

 

[Herpetology • 2026] Gekko asahi • A New coastal Rock-dwelling Gekko (Subgenus Japonigekko) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from western Kyushu, Japan

 

Gekko asahi    

Matsukoji, Cao, Poyarkov, Okamiya, Xu & Yuan, 2026 

 

West Japanese Gecko | ニシヤモリ  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.186960

Abstract

A remarkable new species of the subgenus Japonigekko from the islands of Gotō Nada and offshore islands of Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, inhabiting rocky coastal habitats, is described based on morphological characters and molecular evidence. Morphologically, Gekko (Japonigekko) asahi sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by its moderate body size; interorbital scales between anterior corners of eyes 34–44; dorsal tubercles large, strongly elevated, and arranged in 12–16 rows at midbody; 127–158 midbody scale rows; 32–45 ventral scale rows; 158–189 ventral scales between the mental and the cloacal slit; subdigital lamellae 8–11 on finger I, 9–14 on finger IV, 9–12 on toe I, and 10–18 on toe IV; webbing absent; 6–9 precloacal pores in males, and absent in females; one postcloacal tubercle on each side, with the midpoint of the tubercle distinctly concave in some male individuals; and its distinctive dorsal coloration. Phylogenetically, the new species represents a distinct clade within the subgenus Japonigekko, forming a sister group with G. kaiyai from Henan Province of China, and together they cluster with G. hokouensis. It differs from its congeners by uncorrected p-distances of at least 15.1% in ND2 and 7.6% in 16S. Currently, the new species is known only from low-elevation coastal rocky shores and building walls on island of Gotō Nada and Nishisonogi Peninsula, Nagasaki Prefecture and offshore islands of Kagoshima and Satsuma Peninsula, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The discovery of this new species increases the total number of species in the subgenus Japonigekko to 40, of which seven species are distributed in Japan.

Key Words: Gekko asahi sp. nov., geographical isolation, Gotō Nada, morphology, molecular phylogeny, systematics

Coloration of Gekko asahi sp. nov. in life.
A. Specimen TMR-208, adult female; B. Specimen TMR-96, adult female; C. Specimen SPMN-HP 003816, adult female, paratype; D. Specimen TMR-86, adult male; E. Specimen SPMN-HP 003813, adult male, paratype. Photographs by T. Matsukoji.

Gekko asahi Matsukoji, Cao, Poyarkov, Okamiya, Xu & Yuan, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Gekko asahi sp. nov. can be diagnosed from other Japonigekko species by the following unique combination of characters: (1) a moderate body size (SVL reaches up to 73.85 mm in males and 73.96 mm in females); (2) 6–9 supralabials and 6–8 infralabials; (3) internasal scales absent; (4) two postmentals; (5) 14–18 preorbitals; (6) 34–44 interorbital scales; (7) 158–189 ventral scales between the mental and the cloacal slit; (8) 127–158 midbody scale rows; (9) 32–45 ventral scale rows; (10) prominent dorsal tubercles present from the posterior head through the neck to the anterior portion of the tail, arranged in 12–16 rows at midbody and numbering 17–23 tubercles along a longitudinal line on the dorsum between the limb insertions; (11) subdigital lamellae 8–11 on finger I, 9–14 on finger IV, 9–12 on toe I, and 10–18 on toe IV; (12) webbing absent; (13) 6–9 precloacal pores in males, absent in females; (14) one postcloacal tubercle on each side, with the midpoint of the tubercle distinctly concave in some male individuals; (15) in life, the dorsum is predominantly yellowish-gray, with 8–9 indistinct pale yellowish-brown rounded patterns, and venter is pale golden-yellow in color.

Etymology. The specific epithet “asahi” is treated as an indeclinable noun in apposition. It is derived from the Japanese word “朝日” (あさひ, asahi), meaning “morning sun” or “rising sun”. The name refers to the slightly faint yellow to light orange-red coloration present on the body and limbs, as well as the bright reddish yellow to pale golden-yellow coloration of the ventral surface of the new species, which resembles the warm hue of the early morning sunlight. 

For the common names, we suggest “West Japanese Gecko” in English, “ニシヤモリ”(Nishi-yamori) in Japanese, “晨曦壁虎” (chén xī bì hǔ) in Chinese, and “Западнояпонский геккон” (Zapadnoyaponskiy gekkon) in Russian.

Habitat and field observations of Gekko asahi sp. nov. 
A. Macrohabitat of the new species in Nakadori Island, Shinkamigoto Town, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan; B. Microhabitat of the new species. Photographs by M. Tsujita.

Tomoya Matsukoji, Jing Cao, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Hisanori Okamiya, Yuhao Xu and Zhiyong Yuan. 2026. A New coastal Rock-dwelling Gecko of the Subgenus Japonigekko (Squamata, Gekkonidae, Gekko) from western Kyushu, Japan. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 102(2): 557-574. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.186960 [03 Apr 2026]

[Herpetology • 2026] Cyrtodactylus teraiensis • Middle Miocene Biogeographic Connectivity between the Eastern Ghats and Nepal revealed by A New Species of the Cyrtodactylus (Geckoella) nebulosus complex (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from Nepal

 Cyrtodactylus (Geckoella) teraiensis

Gautam, Bhattarai, Neupane, Pokheral, Thackeray, Khandekar, Cyriac & Agarwal, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1275.178507

Abstract

A new species of ground-dwelling gecko of the genus Cyrtodactylus (Geckoella) is described from the low elevation Terai-Duar region of southeastern Nepal using molecular and morphological data. Cyrtodactylus teraiensis sp. nov. is the first new species of the C. nebulosus species complex, the remaining members of which are distributed in the northern Eastern Ghats and Satpuras; a lectoype for C. nebulosus is also designated. The new species is the first Geckoella described from outside peninsular India and distributed north of the Indo-Gangetic Plains. Cyrtodactylus teraiensis sp. nov. forms the deeply divergent sister taxon to Indian members of the C. nebulosus complex with 15.7–18.1% uncorrected mitochondrial sequence divergence from them, and 21.0–28.5% from other Geckoella. The new species is also recognised in tree-based delimitation methods and can be morphologically distinguished from other Cyrtodactylus and Geckoella species by a small body size (snout to vent length, SVL up to at least 45.5 mm), length of original tail < SVL, 16–18 rows of dorsal tubercles, 30–32 ventral scales across belly at midbody; dorsal colour pattern of four or five paired spots between neck and hindlimb insertions alternating with two or three much smaller paired spots. The divergence between Cyrtodactylus teraiensis sp. nov. and Indian members of the C. nebulosus complex is estimated to have occurred in the Middle Miocene, and it may be that tropical forest expansion during the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum allowed dispersal across the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

Key words: Endemic species, Indian subcontinent, integrative taxonomy, mitochondrial DNA, taxonomy

Photo of: A. Holotype of Cyrtodactylus (Geckoella) teraiensis sp. nov. in life;
B. Habitat from where the new species was collected. Photographs by BG.

Cyrtodactylus (Geckoella) teraiensis sp. nov. 

Diagnosis. A small-sized Cyrtodactylus, snout to vent length up to 45.5 mm. Dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous; smooth granular scales intermixed with more or less regularly arranged rows of enlarged, feebly keeled, blunt to weakly conical tubercles; ventrolateral fold absent on lower flank; 16–18 rows of dorsal tubercles at midbody, 29–31 tubercles in paravertebral rows; ventral scales subequal from chest to vent, smooth, subcircular, and subimbricate with rounded end; 30–32 ventral scales across belly at midbody, 50–54 longitudinal scales between axilla to groin, ....

 Bivek Gautam, Santosh Bhattarai, Bishal Prasad Neupane, Chiranjibi Prasad Pokheral, Tejas Thackeray, Akshay Khandekar, Vivek Phillip Cyriac, Ishan Agarwal. 2026. Middle Miocene Biogeographic Connectivity between the Eastern Ghats and Nepal revealed by A New Species of the Cyrtodactylus (Geckoella) nebulosus complex (Reptilia, Squamata) from Nepal. ZooKeys. 1275: 15-42.  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1275.178507

[Herpetology • 2026] Hemiphyllodactylus dayaoensis, H. maguanensis, H. xingyiensis, ... • Systematic Revision of the Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with Descriptions of Six New Species

 

 Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis  (Boulenger, 1903)

Hemiphyllodactylus dayaoensis sp. nov.;

H. jingdongensis sp. nov.;

H. maguanensis sp. nov.;

H. shuangbaiensis sp. nov.

Zhou, Wang, Han, Ang, Zhang, Liu & Rao, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-35912-9

Abstract

Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker 1860, one of the fastest-growing genera in the Gekkonidae, comprises 22 species distributed in China, among which Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis is believed to be a species complex. Despite the gradual description of Hemiphyllodactylus populations in various regions of China as new species in the past decade, the taxonomy of the Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis complex remains unresolved. We collected Hemiphyllodactylus populations of the yunnanensis complex from 11 locations. Based on 1809 bp dataset (1039 bp mitochondrial ND2 gene, fragments of 375 bp nuclear C-mos + 395 bp PDC genes) and a solo 1039 bp NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) sequence fragment dataset, the constructed phylogenetic topology revealed that our samples fell into seven independent lineages of Clade 7. Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) results are consistent with our phylogenetic findings. The uncorrected genetic pairwise distance between populations exceeded 4.2% in ND2 gene, and there were also significant morphological differences among them. Therefore, we consider the specimens that cluster with the topotype specimens as true Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis, and describe the other six lineages as new species, respectively.

Keywords: Integrative taxonomy, Yunnan province, Cryptic species, Slender geckos 

Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis
  (A) KIZ2023Z097, Topotype, female in life; (B) KIZ2023Z098, Topotype, male in life;
(C) KIZ2023Z311, male in life; (D) KIZ2023Z082, female in life.

 

Hemiphyllodactylus dayaoensis sp. nov. (A) KIZ2023Z177, Holotype, male in life; (B) KIZ2023Z176, Paratype, female in life.
Hemiphyllodactylus jingdongensis sp. nov. (A) KIZ2023Z212, Paratype, male in life; (B) KIZ2023Z211, Holotype, female in life.
Hemiphyllodactylus maguanensis sp. nov. (A) KIZ2023Z332, Paratype, male in life; (B) KIZ2023Z331, Paratype, female in life; (C) KIZ2023Z336, Paratype, female in life; (D) KIZ2023Z333, Paratype, female in life.

Hemiphyllodactylus dayaoensis sp. nov.  

 

Etymology: The scientific name “dayaoensis” is derived from its type locality Dayao County in Yunnan province. we suggest Dayao Slender Gecko in English and “大姚半叶趾虎(Dà Yáo Bàn Yè Zhǐ Hǔ)” in Chinese.

Hemiphyllodactylus jingdongensis sp. nov.  

Etymology: The scientific name “jingdongensis” is derived from its type locality Jingdong County in Yunnan province. we suggest Jingdong Slender Gecko in English and “景东半叶趾虎(Jǐng Dǒng Bàn Yè Zhǐ Hǔ)” in Chinese.

Hemiphyllodactylus maguanensis sp. nov.  

Etymology: The scientific name “maguanensis” is derived from its type locality Maguan County in Yunnan province. we suggest Maguan Slender Gecko in English and “马关半叶趾虎(Mǎ Guān Bàn Yè Zhǐ Hǔ)” in Chinese.

Hemiphyllodactylus shuangbaiensis sp. nov. (A) KIZ2023Z120, Paratype, female in life; (B) KIZ2023Z125, Holotype, female in life.
Hemiphyllodactylus xingyiensis sp. nov. (A) KIZ2023Z303, Paratype, female in life; (B) KIZ2023Z308, Holotype, female in life.
Hemiphyllodactylus yuanyangensis sp. nov. (A) KIZ2023Z392, Paratype, male in life; (B) KIZ2023Z387, Holotype, male in life.

Hemiphyllodactylus shuangbaiensis sp. nov.  

Etymology: The scientific name “shuangbaiensis” is derived from its type locality Shuangbai County in Yunnan province. we suggest Shuangbai Slender Gecko in English and “双柏半叶趾虎(Shuāng Bǎi Bàn Yè Zhǐ Hǔ)” in Chinese.

Hemiphyllodactylus xingyiensis sp. nov. 

Etymology: The scientific name “xingyiensis” is derived from its type locality Xingyi County in Yunnan province. we suggest Xingyi Slender Gecko in English and “兴义半叶趾虎(Xīng Yì Bàn Yè Zhǐ Hǔ)” in Chinese.

Hemiphyllodactylus yuanyangensis sp. nov. 

Etymology: The scientific name “yuanyangensis” is derived from its type locality Yuanyang County in Yunnan province. we suggest Yuanyang Slender Gecko in English and “元阳半叶趾虎(Yuán Yáng Bàn Yè Zhǐ Hǔ)” in Chinese.

Hongxin Zhou, Jishan Wang, Keguo Han, Yufan Ang, Dongru Zhang, Shuo Liu and Dingqi Rao. 2026. Systematic Revision of the Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis complex with Descriptions of Six New Species. Scientific Reports. 16: 5562. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-35912-9 [10 February 2026]

[Herpetology • 2021] Hemidactylus cinganji, H. faustus, ... • Between Sand, Rocks and Branches: An Integrative Taxonomic Revision of Angolan Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 (Squamata, Gekkonidae), with Description of Four New Species

  Hemidactylus cinganji
H. carivoensis
H. faustus 
H. pfindaensis 

 Lobón-Rovira, Conradie, Iglesias, Ernst, Veríssimo, Baptista & Vaz Pinto, 2021 

       

 DOI: 10.3897/vz.71.e64781 

 facebook.com/JavierLobonRovira

 

Abstract

The taxonomy of Angolan Hemidactylus has recently been revised. However, the lack of fresh material for some groups and regions, has led to the misidentification of some taxa and an underestimation of actual diversity in others. To shed light on the evolutionary history and systematics of Angolan Hemidactylus, we generated a new phylogenetic hypothesis for the group, and updated the taxonomy following an integrative approach. This resulted in the description of four new species (Hemidactylus pfindaensis sp. nov., H. faustus sp. nov., H. carivoensis sp. nov. and H. cinganji sp. nov.), the reevaluation of two recently described species (H. vernayi and H. paivae) and the synonymization of a recently described species (H. hannahsabinnae). We estimate divergence times for these lineages, providing a preliminary interpretation of their speciation process. Moreover, we suggest and outline 13 Angolan Main Biogeographic Units (AMBUs) in the area, defining a new biogeographic context for future works on Angolan herpetofauna. We now recognize eleven Hemidactylus species in Angola, and we provide here a new morphological key for Angolan Hemidactylus to help with identifications and species assignments in this group.

Keywords: Angola, biogeography, Gekkota, Hemidactylus, systematics, taxonomy

Hemidactylus bayonii-group 

Hemidactylus vernayi Ceríaco, Agarwal, Marques and Bauer 2020

Hemidactylus pfindaensis sp. nov.

Etymology: The name “pfindaensis” derives from the local word “pfinda” which in Kikongo – the main language used in Uíge Province and northwestern Angola – refers to a “gallery forest” or a “continuous block of thick forest”, the main habitat type associated with the species.

Hemidactylus longicephalus-group

Hemidactylus paivae Ceríaco, Agarwal, Marques and Bauer 2020

A – From top, dorsolateral view of Hemidactylus cinganji sp. nov. (FKH0435), H. benguellensis (FKH0413) and H. carivoensis sp. nov. (MNCN 50543);
B – records of H. benguellensis–group (purple color represents records of H. cinganji sp. nov.; blue H. benguellensis; dark green H. carivoensis sp. nov.; circles represent genetically assigned records, while triangles represent historical or non-genetically assigned records by Ceríaco et al. 2020a; color stars depict type or neotype localities; black star depicts original type locality of H. benguellensis assigned by Bocage (1893);
C – habitat of H. cinganji sp. nov. at Ebanga; D – habitat of H. carivoensis sp. nov between Dombe–Echimina. E – habitat of H. benguellensis at Tchivinguiro.

 Photos Javier Lobón–Rovira (A–D) and William R. Branch (E).

Hemidactylus benguellensis-group

Hemidactylus cinganji sp. nov.

Etymology: The name “cinganji” is a widespread traditional word used in Angolan local languages that represents an ancestral spiritual entity that reincarnates assuming different physical forms in different places and occasions. This name is suitable as the new species corresponds to a taxon that was first described under a different name, then became lost and now resurfaces after its original name had been hijacked by a surrogate sister-species. The species epithet is used as a neuter singular noun in opposition to the generic name.

Hemidactylus carivoensis sp. nov.

Etymology: The species epithet “carivoensis” refers to the Farm Carivo, an old estate situated along the banks of the mid-lower Coporolo River on the coastal plain of Benguela Province, and where most of the type series was collected. The species proved to be common in the area, and by recognizing the farm, we also acknowledge the ongoing support from the owners to researchers, similar to the Chapmans nearly a century ago.

Species not assignable to specific species groups

Hemidactylus faustus sp. nov.   

  

Etymology: The name “faustus” applies to a Latin word that designate ‘good luck’, evoking the serendipitous discovery of this species. The species epithet is used as a masculine adjective singular. The first specimen was found by Beatriz Vaz Pinto, daughter of PVP, under a small stone which was removed while preparing a campsite. This unexpected find led to further collecting of this new and previously unrecorded form, albeit from a locality that had been regularly surveyed since the mid-19th century.  

 

 Javier Lobón-Rovira, Werner Conradie, David Buckley Iglesias, Raffael Ernst, Luis Veríssimo, Ninda Baptista and Pedro Vaz Pinto. 2021. Between Sand, Rocks and Branches: An Integrative Taxonomic Revision of Angolan Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820, with Description of Four New Species. Vertebrate Zoology. 71: 465-501. DOI: 10.3897/vz.71.e64781

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[Herpetology • 2026] Luperosaurus alvarezi • A New Species of fringed Forest Gecko, Genus Luperosaurus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), from Sibuyan Island, Central Philippines

Luperosaurus alvarezi Meneses​ & Brown, 2026
Luperosaurus cumingii Gray, 1845

DOI: doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20504

Abstract 

We describe a new species of Luperosaurus based on two specimens collected on Sibuyan Island, Romblon Province, central Philippines. The new species is phenotypically similar to L. cumingii (southern Luzon), L. angliit (northern Luzon), L. corfieldi (from Panay and Negros islands), and L. macgregori (the Babuyan and Batanes island groups), but differs from these closely related congeners and all other known Luperosaurus by a combination of discrete morphological characters. Extensive molecular divergence from all closely related species for which genetic data are available supports the new species as a distinct lineage. Its distribution is geographically isolated from congeners, restricted to a permanently isolated deep-water island. The new species’ extremely limited geographic range contributes to the recognition of the remaining forests of the central Philippine Romblon Island Group as a fundamental conservation priority for the archipelago.

Squamata Oppel, 1811

Gekkonidae Gray, 1825

Luperosaurus Gray, 1845

Photos in life of Luperosaurus alvarezi sp. nov. (holotype and paratype) and Luperosaurus cumingii.
Adult specimens of Luperosaurus alvarezi sp. nov. (left to right: holotype: PNM 9866: adult male; SVL 66.1 mm and paratype: UPLB-MNH-Z-NS 4622 (CGM 989); adult female; SVL 78.3 mm) from Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park, Romblon Province, Sibuyan Island.
Adult female L . cumingii (TNHC 61910; SVL 75.2 mm) from Mt. Malinao, Albay Province, Bicol Peninsula, Luzon Island. Note differences: L. cumingii has prominent spinose ventrolateral tail tubercles and heterogeneous nuchal and body tubercles (bottom left image).

Photographs were taken by Camila G. Meneses and Rafe M. Brown.

Luperosaurus alvarezi sp. nov.

  Diagnosis. Luperosaurus alvarezi sp. nov. is diagnosed from congeners by possession of the following combination of characters: (1) bright yellow superciliaries and circumorbitals (Fig. 4); (2) light gray iris (Fig. 4); (3) precloacofemorals 22,22 (Fig. 5B; Fig. S1); (4) five scales contacting nostrils (Figs. 6A, 6B, 6D); (5) Head length/width 1.4,1.5; (6) presence of few, enlarged, flat to convex ornamental scales on margin of anterior forelimb expansion; (7) presence of elliptical, small, and oblique auricular opening; (8) dorsal body tubercles absent; (9) ventrolateral body tubercles absent; (10) presence of few, flat, and enlarged scales on caudal edges of tail whorls; (11) longitudinal midventrals 108, 110; (12) anterior hindlimbs expansions reduced to moderate folds. The condition of five scales contacting the nostrils, head length-to-width ratio, absence of dorsal and ventrolateral body tubercles, and presence of a few flat, enlarged scales on the caudal edges of tail whorls are shared among congeners but are diagnostic for Luperosaurus alvarezi sp. nov. in combination with other characters, distinguishing it from the morphologically similar L. corfieldi and L. cumingii, with which it shares certain intermediate external similarities. Table 1 presents a summary of the distribution of diagnostic character states among Philippine Luperosaurus.

Etymology: We are pleased to name the new species after our dear friend, frequent field companion and collaborator, the late James Alvarez (1991–2018), who lost his life while conducting bat research in the Philippines’ highest mountain, Mt. Apo, on December 8, 2018. We derived the specific epithet, a patronym, in the genitive singular, in recognition to Mr. Alvarez’s scientific contributions and demonstrated personal commitment to furthering knowledge of the natural history of Philippine chiropterans—in particular, the ecology and diversity of bats in Sibuyan Island.

Microhabitat of Luperosaurus alvarezi sp. nov. on Sibuyan Island, Philippines.
(A) Habitat characteristics of the type locality of Luperosaurus alvarezi sp. nov. at Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park, Sibuyan Island, Philippines, and (B) Appearance of the microhabitat of the new species of Fringed Forest Gecko, Luperosaurus alvarezi sp. nov., on the Gaong River.

Photographs were taken by Camila G. Meneses.

 

Camila G. Meneses​ and Rafe M. Brown. 2026. A New Species of fringed Forest Gecko, Genus Luperosaurus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), from Sibuyan Island, Central Philippines. PeerJ. 14:e20504. DOI: doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20504 [March 4, 2026]

[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] Hemidactylus aravalliensis • A New Species of Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) of the H. persicus complex from Aravalli hills, India

 

Hemidactylus aravalliensis 

Patel, TEJAS THACKERAY, RAJU VYAS & Mirza, 2026

 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5759.5.2

Abstract

We describe a new species of leaf-toed gecko of the genus Hemidactylus from the southern Aravalli Hills in Gujarat, India. The new species is a member of the H. persicus complex and has previously been reported as conspecific with H. persicus. In light of the recent revision of H. persicus, we reassessed the status of the population reported from Gujarat, India. The population was found to be genetically and morphologically distinct and is here described as a new species. The new species is diagnosable by the following suite of characters: a medium-size (adult snout-vent length up to 65 mm); dorsal scalation on trunk granular, intermixed with slightly enlarged, regularly arranged transverse rows of 14 oval, feebly keeled or sub-trihedral tubercles; original tail lacks any enlarged tubercles; males with 3–8 precloacal pores. The new species, Hemidactylus aravalliensis sp. nov. is the third endemic species of gecko described from the Aravalli Hills and highlights the rich and unique diversity of this ancient yet understudied land mass.

Reptilia, Arid clade, endemic, gekkonid lizard, morphology, taxonomy

Hemidactylus aravalliensis sp. nov.

HARSHIL PATEL, TEJAS THACKERAY, RAJU VYAS and ZEESHAN A. MIRZA. 2026. A New Species of Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae) of the H. persicus complex from Aravalli hills, India.  Zootaxa. 5759(5); 526-542. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5759.5.2 [2026-02-19]

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[Herpetology • 2026] Gekko dam • A New dark-colored Tokay Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Thai-Malay border

Gekko (Gekko) dam

 Meesook, Jindamad, Toprai, Chotjuckdikul, Supmee, Suppapan, Donbundit, Sumontha & Pauwels, 2026

 

ตุ๊กแกดำ | Black Tokay Gecko  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5757.2.2 

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Abstract

We describe Gekko dam sp. nov. based on type specimens from a limestone hill in Palian District, Trang Province, southern peninsular Thailand. The new species is also found in Satun Province, southern peninsular Thailand, and in Perlis State, northwestern Peninsular Malaysia. A member of the subgenus Gekko, it differs from all currently recognized Gekko species by the following combination of morphological characters and pattern: maximal known snout-vent length of 149.1 mm, lack of contact between nostrils and rostral, 21–24 interorbital scales between supraciliaries, 72–83 scale rows around midbody, 12–14 dorsal tubercle rows at midbody, 26–28 ventral scale rows at midbody, 22 precloacal pores in males, two postcloacal tubercles on each side of the base of the tail, 14–17 subdigital lamellae on 1st toe and 19–21 on 4th toe, a Y-shaped mark on head, white spots on head, dark grey to black dorsal background with four regular bands of contrasting white spots on dorsum between limb insertions, throat and venter white with orange patches, and a copper iris.

Reptilia, Gekko dam sp. nov., taxonomy, karst, limestone, Thai-Malay Peninsula

Gekko dam sp. nov.

ตุ๊กแกดำ

Etymology. The specific epithet dam is a noun in apposition, invariable, based on the Thai noun or adjective ดำ ("dam"), meaning black, black color, or dark, in reference to the dark color of the new species. 

We suggest the following common names: ตุ๊กแกดำ (Took-kay dam; Thai); Black Tokay Gecko (English), Gecko tokay noir (French), and Zwarte tokeh gekko (Dutch).

Worawitoo MEESOOK, Tanasak JINDAMAD, Nittaya TOPRAI, Natthaphat CHOTJUCKDIKUL, Verakiat SUPMEE, Juthamas SUPPAPAN, Nattasuda DONBUNDIT, Montri SUMONTHA and Olivier S. G. PAUWELS. 2026. Gekko (Gekko) dam, A New dark-colored Tokay Gecko from the Thai-Malay border (Squamata, Gekkonidae).  Zootaxa. 5757(2); 123-143. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5757.2.2 [2026-02-04]

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Researchgate.net/publication/400442860_Gekko_dam_a_new_dark-colored_tokay_gecko_from_the_Thai-Malay_border