A new small-bodied, polymorphic Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) allied to C. monticola Manamendra-Arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007 from the Central Western Ghats of Karnataka, India

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4950 (3) ◽  
pp. 501-527
Author(s):  
AKSHAY KHANDEKAR ◽  
TEJAS THACKERAY ◽  
ISHAN AGARWAL
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Sequence Divergence ◽  
Systematic Sampling ◽  
Small Body Size ◽  
Central Western Ghats ◽  
Survey Effort ◽  
Dorsal Tubercle

We describe a new small-bodied, polymorphic Cnemaspis from near Hongadahalla village, Sakleshpur in the Central Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. Cnemaspis schalleri sp. nov. is allied to C. monticola and can be diagnosed from all other Indian Cnemaspis by its small body size; presence of spine-like tubercles on flank; heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis; presence of both precloacal and femoral pores in males; dorsal pholidosis of tail heterogeneous, composed of small, weakly keeled, flattened, sub-imbricate scales intermixed with enlarged, strongly keeled, distinctly pointed, conical tubercles forming whorls; slightly enlarged median row of sub-caudal scales, smooth at anterior half and strongly keeled posteriorly. The new species differs from C. monticola based on the number of dorsal tubercle rows at mid-body, the number of paravertebral tubercles, the number of precloacal pores and poreless scales between precloacal and femoral pores; besides 8.9–10.7 % uncorrected ND2 sequence divergence. We also provide the first description of topotypic males of C. monticola along with the first data on live colouration and natural history. Cnemaspis schalleri sp. nov. is the second new Cnemaspis described from around Sakleshpur within a span of less than a year with minimal field survey effort. It is almost certain than the dedicated systematic sampling across the Central Western Ghats will result in the discovery of many undescribed Cnemaspis lineages. 

A new large-bodied, rupicolous Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) allied to Cnemaspis heteropholis Bauer, 2002 from the Central Western Ghats of Karnataka, India 

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4801 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-84
Author(s):  
AKSHAY KHANDEKAR ◽  
TEJAS THACKERAY ◽  
SAUNAK PAL ◽  
ISHAN AGARWAL
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Sequence Divergence ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Central Western Ghats ◽  
Survey Effort

We describe a new large-bodied, rupicolous Cnemaspis from near Sakleshpur in the Central Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. Cnemaspis magnifica sp. nov. is allied to C. heteropholis and can be diagnosed from all other Indian Cnemaspis by the absence of spine-like scales on flank; heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis, presence of only femoral pores in males, homogenous dorsal pholidosis of tail with small, smooth, regularly arranged, flattened, subimbricate scales, without whorls of enlarged tubercles, median row of sub-caudals enlarged and smooth. The new species differs from its closest congener C. heteropholis in body size, the number of longitudinal ventral scales, number of lamellae under digit I and IV of manus and pes, and subtle colour pattern differences; besides 9.1 % uncorrected ND2 sequence divergence. We provide the first description of topotypic male of C. heteropholis along with data on its distribution and natural history. The discovery of Cnemaspis magnifica sp. nov. with minimal field survey effort indicates the need for further herpetological exploration in the region. 

A novel small-bodied rupicolous Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India, with comments on the status of C. indraneildasii, Bauer 2000

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4969 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-350
Author(s):  
AKSHAY KHANDEKAR ◽  
TEJAS THACKERAY ◽  
ISHAN AGARWAL
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Junior Synonym ◽  
Small Body Size ◽  
The Status ◽  
Dorsal Tubercle

We describe a distinct new rupicolous Cnemaspis based on four adult specimens collected from the Kedareshwar caves on Harishchandragad mountain, from the northern Western Ghats, approximately 1200 m asl. in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state, India. Cnemaspis uttaraghati sp. nov. can be diagnosed from all other peninsular Indian congeners by its small body size (maximum SVL < 39 mm), heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis, presence of spine-like tubercles on flanks; presence of only femoral pores in males; tail with enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles forming whorls; median row of sub-caudal scales smooth, slightly enlarged, regularly arranged with condition of two slightly larger scales alternating with a large divided scale. The new species is likely to be allied to the C. girii clade and can be diagnosed from its members by its slightly larger body size, presence of spine-like tubercles on flanks, the number of enlarged tubercles in paravertebral rows between forelimb and hindlimb insertions, the number of dorsal tubercle rows at mid-body, the number of ventral scales across belly at mid-body, the number of longitudinal ventral scales from mental to cloaca, and the number of lamellae under digit IV of manus. We also provide a detailed morphological dataset for C. goaensis and C. indraneildasii based on topotypic material and specimens collected from additional localities to confirm C. indraneildasii is a junior synonym of C. goaensis, and provide an updated diagnosis for C. goaensis. 

scholarly journals Dwarfs of the fortress: A new cryptic species of dwarf gecko of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Rajgad fort in the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-38
Author(s):  
Amit Sayyed ◽  
Vivek Philip Cyriac ◽  
Anish Pardeshi ◽  
Shauri Sulakhe
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Ventral Surface ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Small Body Size ◽  
Historical Structures ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Single Locality

A new species of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 is described from the Rajgad fort in the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India. The new species, belonging to the flaviventralis clade, is one of the smallest known Indian Cnemaspis and can be distinguished from other congeners by its genetic distinctiveness and few key morphological characters. The new species can be diagnosed from all other Indian congeners by its small body size (SVL &lt; 27 mm), the absence of conical and spine-like tubercles on flank; heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis; presence of only femoral pores and no precloacal pores in males; weakly keeled scales on the ventral surface of neck, pectoral, abdominal region and limbs; granular scales on the tail with whorls of slightly enlarged, strongly keeled tubercles; and the absence of enlarged median subcaudal scales. The new species is currently known to inhabit the man-made historical structures from a single locality in Rajgad, Maharashtra, where it is presumed to be uncommon.

Two more new species of Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4656 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-70
Author(s):  
AKSHAY KHANDEKAR ◽  
TEJAS THACKERAY ◽  
ISHAN AGARWAL
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Sequence Divergence ◽  
Type Locality ◽  
Diagnostic Characters ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Total Species ◽  
Dorsal Tubercle

We describe two new species of the gekkonid genus Cnemaspis from the northern Western Ghats in Maharashtra, India. Cnemaspis amba sp. nov. and C. koynaensis sp. nov. are members of the C. girii clade and differ genetically from each other and other members of the clade by ­7.9–19.6 % uncorrected ND2 sequence divergence. The two new species are also morphologically distinguishable from all regional congeners on the basis of condition of spine-like scales on flanks, heterogeneity of dorsal pholidosis, number of dorsal tubercle rows, number of tubercles in paravertebral rows, femoral pores, number of poreless scales between femoral pores in the precloacal-femoral scale row, and keeling and size of sub-caudal scales. Cnemaspis amba sp. nov. differs from C. koynaensis sp. nov. in lacking  spine-like scales on flanks and in the number of longitudinal ventral scales and  ventral scales across mid-body. Both species are known only from their mid-elevation (~800 m asl.) type localities. Discovery of two new species increases the total species of Northern Western Ghats (NWG) Cnemaspis to ten. Specific status of numerous genetically divergent lineages needs to be evaluated and it is likely that many more species remain to be discovered from the poorly explored NWG, which are typically considered low in species diversity relative to more southern regions. We also provide a table describing major diagnostic characters across all NWG Cnemaspis species and corrected type locality data for three recently named species—Cnemaspis ajijae, C. limayei and C. mahabali. 

A new cryptic Cnemaspis Strauch (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from an isolated granite hill on the Mysore Plateau, Karnataka, India

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4845 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-528
Author(s):  
AKSHAY KHANDEKAR ◽  
TEJAS THACKERAY ◽  
ISHAN AGARWAL
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Sequence Divergence ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Continuous Series ◽  
Small Body Size ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
The Many

We describe a cryptic new species of the Cnemaspis mysoriensis complex from an isolated rocky hillock near Yadiyur, Mandya District of south Karnataka, India. Cnemaspis stellapulvis sp. nov. can be diagnosed from all other peninsular Indian congeners by its small body size (SVL <32 mm), presence of spine-like tubercles on the flanks, heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis, two or three femoral pores on each thigh separated on either side by eight poreless scales from a continuous series of two precloacal pores in males, tail with enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles forming whorls, median row of sub-caudals smooth and slightly enlarged, and a distinct colour pattern. The new species can be diagnosed from members of C. mysoriensis clade by the number of femoral and precloacal pores and number of poreless scales separating these series, the number of dorsal tubercles rows at mid-body, the number of ventral scales across the belly at mid-body and subtle colour pattern differences; besides 13.4–21.4 % uncorrected ND2 sequence divergence. In this paper, we define the Cnemaspis mysoriensis clade and provide a diagnosis and comparison against peninsular Indian congeners. We also provide major diagnostic characters for members of the C. mysoriensis clade. The discovery of yet another endemic species of Cnemaspis from one of the many isolated granite rocky hills on Mysore Plateau highlights the possibilities of presence of many more cryptic undescribed species. 

A new species of Liolaemus (Reptilia: Iguanidae) from San Guillermo National Park, western Argentina

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1361 (1) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
JULIO C. MONGUILLOT ◽  
MARIO R. CABRERA ◽  
JUAN C. ACOSTA ◽  
JOSE VILLAVICENCIO
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Posterior Surface ◽  
Small Body Size ◽  
Long Tail ◽  
Sparse Vegetation ◽  
Dorsal Pattern ◽  
A New Species

A new species of Iguanidae Liolaemini lizard from the San Guillermo National Park in western Argentina, is described. The new species is a member of the Liolaemus darwinii complex within the monophyletic boulengeri species group. It is distinguished by its small body size, relatively long tail, low number of scales around midbody, dorsal scales moderately keeled, precloacal pores only in male, bulged patch of enlarged scales on the proximal posterior surface of the thigh in both sexes, dorsal pattern lacking of light vertebral or dorsolateral stripes, antehumeral fold without black pigment in female but greyish in male, a prescapular dark dot dorsal to antehumeral fold in both sexes, and postscapular spot absent. The new species is terrestrial, living in habitats with gravel and sandy soil in an Andean Monte landscape with sparse vegetation, above 2270 meters of altitude.

The Leptobrachium (Anura: Megophryidae) of the Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, with description of a new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2804 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRYAN L. STUART ◽  
JODI J. L. ROWLEY ◽  
DAO THI ANH TRAN ◽  
DUONG THI THUY LE ◽  
HUY DUC HOANG
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
New Species ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Original Description ◽  
The Other ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Small Body Size ◽  
Upper Lip ◽  
Southern Vietnam ◽  
A New Species

We sampled two forms of Leptobrachium in syntopy at the type locality of L. pullum at upper elevations on the Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam. The two forms differed in morphology (primarily in coloration), mitochondrial DNA, and male advertisement calls. One form closely agrees with the type series of L. pullum (but not to its original description due to error), and the other is described as new. Leptobrachium leucops sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by having small body size (males with SVL 38.8–45.2), the upper one-third to one-half of iris white, a blue scleral arc, a dark venter, and sexually active males without spines on the upper lip. Leptobrachium pullum and L. mouhoti, a recently described species from low-elevation slopes of the Langbian Plateau in eastern Cambodia, are morphologically divergent but genetically similar, warranting further investigation into geographic variation in the red-eyed Leptobrachium of southern Indochina.

A new medium-sized rupicolous Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) of the C. bangara clade from granite boulder habitats in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, India

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4969 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-366
Author(s):  
ISHAN AGARWAL ◽  
TEJAS THACKERAY ◽  
AKSHAY KHANDEKAR
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Sequence Divergence ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Systematic Sampling ◽  
Anterior Portion ◽  
True Diversity ◽  
Granite Boulder ◽  
Paravertebral Region ◽  
Fourth Member

We describe a new species of the Cnemaspis bangara clade from a rocky hillock near Kugai Periya Mariamman Temple, Krishnagiri fort, Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu, India. Cnemaspis krishnagiriensis sp. nov. can be diagnosed from all other peninsular Indian congeners by its medium body size (maximum SVL 40 mm), heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis, spine-like tubercles absent on flanks; presence of four femoral pores on each thigh separated on either side by nine or 10 poreless scales from three continuous precloacal pores in males; tail with enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles forming four whorls on anterior portion, six tubercles in first whorl, four tubercles in second to fourth whorls, enlarged tubercles restricted to only paravertebral region on rest of the tail; median row of sub-caudals smooth and distinctly enlarged, and a unique colour pattern. The new species can be diagnosed from members of C. bangara clade by the number of dorsal tubercles rows at mid-body, the number of enlarged tubercles in paravertebral rows, the number of ventral scales across belly at mid-body, the number longitudinal ventral scales from mental to cloaca, the number of femoral and precloacal pores and poreless scales separating these series, and subtle colour pattern differences; besides 9.2–17.6 % uncorrected ND2 sequence divergence. Cnemaspis krishnagiriensis sp. nov. is the fourth member of the recently described bangara clade and is the first that is known to be distributed <900 m asl.. The discovery of yet another endemic species of Cnemaspis from lower elevations of the Mysore Plateau once again highlights the need of dedicated systematic sampling to uncover the true diversity of Cnemaspis. We also address a nomenclatural issue related to the recently described Cnemaspis stellapulvis Khandekar, Thackeray & Agarwal. 

Two new Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Shevaroy massif, Tamil Nadu, India, with a preliminary ND2 phylogeny of Indian Cnemaspis

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4609 (1) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
AKSHAY KHANDEKAR ◽  
NIKHIL GAITONDE ◽  
ISHAN AGARWAL
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Body Size ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Sequence Divergence ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
The Western Ghats

We present a preliminary ND2 phylogeny of South Asian Cnemaspis, recovering a number of deeply divergent clades within Indian Cnemaspis, endemic to the southern and northern Western Ghats besides the Mysore Plateau and hills of Tamil Nadu. There are a number of unnamed lineages that are >5% divergent on ND2 across the phylogeny, including three from the gracilis clade on an elevation gradient (800–1400 m asl.) around Yercaud in the Shevaroy massif, Salem district, Tamil Nadu. We describe two of these as new species— Cnemaspis shevaroyensis sp. nov. and Cnemaspis thackerayi sp. nov. are both allied to Cnemaspis gracilis and can be diagnosed from all other Indian Cnemaspis by the absence of spine-like scales on flank, heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis, presence of femoral and precloacal pores, tail with enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles forming whorls, a median row of enlarged and smooth sub-caudals. They differ from C. gracilis and each other in body size, the number of tubercles around midbody, the number of tubercles in paravertebral rows, the number of femoral and precloacal pores, the number of poreless scales in-between precloacal pores and between femoral and precloacal pores, and subtle colour pattern differences; besides uncorrected mitochondrial sequence divergence (7.9–16.6 %). We also provide a description of Cnemaspis yercaudensis from its type locality and an additional locality. The discovery of two endemic species and a third unnamed divergent lineage from an isolated massif in peninsular India outside the Western Ghats indicate that many other such understudied hill ranges may harbour high endemic biodiversity. 

Description of a new species of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Nilgala Savannah forest, Uva Province of Sri Lanka

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4545 (3) ◽  
pp. 389 ◽  
Author(s):  
SURANJAN KARUNARATHNA ◽  
AARON M. BAUER ◽  
ANSLEM DE SILVA ◽  
THILINA SURASINGHE ◽  
LANKANI SOMARATNA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Sister Species ◽  
Small Body Size ◽  
Rock Outcrops ◽  
Bioclimatic Zone ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Nd2 Gene

A new species of Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 is described from Nilgala Savannah Forest in Sri Lanka. The new species is diagnosed from all other congeners by the following suite of characters: small body size (SVL< 33 mm), dorsal scales on trunk homogeneous, one pair of post mentals separated by a single small chin scale, ventral scales on trunk smooth, subimbricate, 17–19 scales across the belly. Subdigitals scansors smooth, entire, unnotched; lamellae under digit IV of pes 17 –18. Males with femoral pores on each thigh but lacking precloacal pores. Median row of subcaudals smooth, subimbricate, enlarged and in an irregular series of subhexagonal scales. This new species had been previously confused with Cnemaspis alwisi Wickramasinghe & Munidradasa, 2007. The new species differs from Cnemaspis alwisi by having 122–129 ventral scales (versus 146–152), 7–8 supralabials (versus 8–10), and relatively shorter SVL ranging between 31.5–32.9 mm (versus 37.8–39.9 mm). Further, the new species is genetically divergent from Cnemaspis alwisi, the species that it closely resembles by 13.5% and 7.8% from its sister species in the ND2 gene. The present discovery highlights the need for dedicated herpetofaunal explorations in Sri Lanka, especially the intermediate bioclimatic zone and associated cave systems and rock outcrops. 

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