Another New Bent-toed Gecko, genus Cyrtodactylus Gray 1837 (Squamata: Gekkonidae), from Borneo

To reveal the diversity of Indonesian bent-toed geckos, we pay attention to Kalimantan (Borneo)—an island which has received less attention than other Indonesian islands such as Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, the Moluccas, and the Lesser Sunda archipelagos. About 30 years after Hikida (1990) described three new Cyrtodactylus from Borneo, four more species were described, namely C. limajalur and C. muluensis in 2019, and C. hantu and C. miriensis in 2021, all by Davis et al. Through examination of the collection at MZB and three addition specimens collected from Tawau, we found several undescribed species, one of which we describe here. This new species is easily differentiated from all other congeners by the combination of the following characters: maximum SVL of at least 65.8 mm; no tubercles on dorsal surface of upper arm; tubercles present in the ventrolateral body folds; 28–30 paravertebral tubercles; 17–20 longitudinal dorsal tubercle rows; 39–46 ventral scale rows at midbody; 17–19 subdigital lamellae on fourth toe; precloacal pit with 5–7 pores in males arranged in a wide Λ-shape but absent in females; no enlarged transverse median subcaudals; paired dark brown semilunar-shaped markings on the upper nape. Further study is needed to reveal its molecular phylogenetic position and biogeographical history.

First record of the Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Vietnam with description of a new species

A new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus is described from Dien Bien Province, northwestern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular data. Cyrtodactylus ngati sp. nov. can be distinguished from remaining congeners by the following combination of characters: maximum SVL 69.3 mm; dorsal pattern consisting of six dark irregular transverse bands between limb insertions; inter-supranasals one; dorsal tubercles present on occiput, body, hind limbs and on first half of tail; 17–22 irregular dorsal tubercle rows at midbody; lateral folds clearly defined, with interspersed tubercles; 32–38 ventral scales between ventrolateral folds; 13 precloacal pores separated by a diastema of 5/5 poreless scales from a series of 7/7 femoral pores in enlarged femoral scales; precloacal and femoral pores absent in females; 1–3 postcloacal tubercles on each side; transversely enlarged median subcaudal scales absent. In the molecular analyses, the new species is shown to be the sister taxon to C. interdigitalis from Thailand. This is the 47th species of the genus Cyrtodactylus and the first member of the C. brevipalmatus species group recorded from Vietnam.

A new cave-dwelling Gekko (Gekko) from Lopburi Province, central Thailand (Squamata, Gekkonidae)

We describe Gekko pradapdao sp. nov. from Tham Khao Chan (Khao Chan Cave), Tha Luang District, Lopburi Province, in central Thailand. The new species, a member of the subgenus Gekko, differs from all currently recognized Gekko species by the following combination of morphological characters and pattern: maximal known snout-vent length of 127.1 mm, lack of contact between nostrils and rostral, 24–28 interorbital scales between supraciliaries, 89–91 scale rows around midbody, 16–18 dorsal tubercle rows at midbody, 30–34 ventral scale rows at midbody, 11–13 precloacal pores in males, a single postcloacal tubercle on each side of the base of the tail, 13–16 subdigital lamellae on 1st toe and 17–19 on 4th toe, no Y-shaped mark on head, non-banded dorsal pattern on a dark chocolate brown to black background, and a dark brown iris. Urgent actions should be taken to evaluate the conservation status of the new species.

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

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.

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

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 Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Binh Thuan Province, southern Vietnam

We describe a new species of Cyrtodactylus on the basis of two specimens collected from Ta Kou Nature Reserve, Binh Thuan Province, southern Vietnam. Cyrtodactylus chungi sp. nov. is distinguished from the remaining Indochinese bent-toed geckos by a combination of the following characters: relatively small body size (SVL up to 68.5 mm); a continuous neckband; 5 or 6 irregular transverse dorsal bands; 11 or 12 bands on original tail; keeled tubercles present on dorsum, posterior limbs and tail; 17 or 18 irregular dorsal tubercle rows; 30 or 31 ventral scale rows; ventrolateral skin folds indistinct; an angular series of seven precloacal pores in male and six pitted, enlarged precloacal scales in female, each series separated by a diastema of undifferentiated scales from 4–6 enlarged, poreless femoral scales; median subcaudals slightly enlarged; 17–20 subdigital lamellae under the fourth toe. Based on molecular analyses of the fragment of mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), the new species is recovered as the sister taxon to Cyrtodactylus cattienensis s. str. with a genetic divergence of more than 9%. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species is recovered as a member of the Cyrtodactylus irregularis species group.

Spicules and skeletons: mantle musculature of two species of dorid nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia: Doridina)

Molluscs often possess complex calcified elements in addition to the shell, but how these elements function and relate to other tissues is often poorly understood. Dorid nudibranchs typically possess innumerable calcareous spicules arranged in complex networks. To describe how these spicules interact with muscles and connective tissue, we reconstructed tomographic digital models using serial sections and synchrotron micro-computed tomography. In two species with dramatically different spicule network morphologies, musculature was divided into a dorsal layer of crossed fibres, a ventral layer of branching radial fibres, and scattered dorsoventral fibres in between. These two species differed in the size of their dorsal tubercles, which was reflected in the organization of dorsal musculature, and in the amount and organization of connective tissue. In Platydoris sanguinea Bergh, 1905, dense mats of spicules sandwiched a layer of connective tissue with fewer spicules and muscle insertions only onto the ventral spicules. In Cadlina luteomarginata MacFarland, 1966, thick tracts of spicules are surrounded by a sheath of connective tissue. Muscles surround and insert into the dorsal tubercle spicule layer. Thus, both species appear to use the spicule network for muscle antagonism and transfer of motion, but the different arrangement of elements suggests that they use this skeleton in quite different ways.

Radioanatomical examination of the dorsal tubercle and surrounding regions for intraosseous infusions

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the soft tissue thickness overlying the dorsal tubercle and the relationship with adjacent anatomical structures in the distal radius for using this area as an alternative intraosseous route. Methods: Contrast-enhanced MR images of 56 adult patients (28 females, 28 males) without any wrist pathology were evaluated. The shape of dorsal tubercle and its relations with neighboring tendons and vessels with a diameter larger than 2 mm was identified on the axial T1-weighted sections. The soft tissue thickness above the most protruding point of the dorsal tubercle, the distance of the dorsal tubercle to closest tendon on the radial and ulnar sides, as well as its distance to the bone edges on the ulnar and radial sides, and the cortical bone thickness of the radius was evaluated. Results: The dorsal tubercle had sharp edges in 40 cases (71.4%), blunt in 12 cases (21.4%), and hump in 4 (%7.1) cases. Branches of dorsal venous plexus were found on its surface in 11 cases, extensor pollicis longus tendon only was found superficial to the dorsal tubercle in 7 cases while both extensor pollicis longus and dorsal venous branches were found in 2 cases. Conclusion: Dorsal tubercle of the distal radius can be considered as an important alternative route for IO infusions since it can be easily accessed without having a risk of injury to important structures, and can provide effective flow.

The Stoor Hobbit of Guangdong: Goniurosaurus gollum sp. nov., a cave-dwelling Leopard Gecko (Squamata, Eublepharidae) from South China

A new species of the genus Goniurosaurus is described based on three specimens collected from a limestone cave in Huaiji County, Guangdong Province, China. Based on molecular phylogenetic analyses, the new species is nested within the Goniurosaurus yingdeensis species group. However, morphological analyses cannot ascribe it to any known species of that group. It is distinguished from the other three species in the group by a combination of the following characters: scales around midbody 121–128; dorsal tubercle rows at midbody 16–17; presence of 10–11 precloacal pores in males, and absent in females; nuchal loop and body bands immaculate, without black spots; iris orange, gradually darker on both sides. The discovery of yet another limestone-adapted species of Goniurosaurus in Guangdong Province underscores a growing body of evidence for the high biodiversity of limestone habitats and brings into sharp focus the urgent need for their conservation.

A definition of the Goniurosaurus yingdeensis group (Squamata, Eublepharidae) with the description of a new species

A definition of the Goniurosaurus yingdeensis group is presented in this study, on the basis of morphological and phylogenetic analyses based on a series of additional specimens. Moreover, a new species of this group, Goniurosaurus variussp. nov., is proposed for northern Guangdong Province, China. The new species can be distinguished from the other two congeners of this group by the following unique characters: one or two internasals; enlarged supraorbital tubercles absent; paravertebral tubercles between limb insertions 27–29; dorsal tubercle rows at midbody 21–24; ten precloacal pores in males and absent in females; body bands with black spots; iris orange-red.