Species New to Science's Journal

[Herpetology • 2020] Cyrtodactylus evanquahi • A New Potentially Endangered Limestone-associated Bent-toed Gecko of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) Complex from northern Peninsular Malaysia

Cyrtodactylus evanquahi

Wood, Grismer, Muin, Anuar & Oaks, 2020

Evan Quah’s banded Bent-toed Gecko | Cicak Jari-bengkok Evan Quah || DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4751.3.2
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Abstract

A survey of a limestone forest at Gunung Baling, Kedah, West Malaysia lead to the discovery of an undescribed species of Bent-toed Gecko from the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus complex. Cyrtodactylus evanquahi sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species in the C. pulchellus complex by a suite of morphological and color pattern characteristics: prominent tuberculation, higher number of dark body bands, and a smaller maximum SVL. It is further differentiated from all other species as follows; no tubercles on the ventral surface of the forelimbs, gular region, or in the ventrolateral folds; 31–34 paravetebral dorsal tubercles; 18–23 longitudinal rows of tubercles; 29–33 ventral scales; 22–23 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; 32–36 femoroprecloacal pores; a shallow precloacal groove in males; body bands and nuchal loop edged with a thin white line bearing tubercles; no scattered white spots on the dorsum; six or seven dark body bands much thinner than interspaces; 9–11 dark caudal bands on original tail; bands on the original tail separated by immaculate white caudal bands. It is further differentiated by an uncorrected pairwise genetic divergence of 6.50–15.67% from all other congeners in the C. pulchellus complex. It is most closely related to C. pulchellus from Penang Island ∼76 km to the southwest. In addition to the new samples from Gunung Baling, we added four samples of C. bintangrendah from the new locality of Belukar Semang, Perak. The discovery of yet another new species of the C. pulchellus complex from a limestone habitat continues to underscore the high degree of endemism and the importance of these unique habitats for biodiversity, and the continued need for their conservation.

Keywords: Reptilia, Conservation, Gunung Baling, Karst, Kedah, ND2, new species, Southeast Asia

Cyrtodactylus evanquahi sp. nov. in life, from Gunung Baling, Kedah, Malaysia.
adult male holotype (BYU 53435).

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Cyrtodactylus evanquahi sp. nov. in life, from Gunung Baling, Kedah, Malaysia.
juvenile female paratype (BYU 53437).

Cyrtodactylus evanquahi sp. nov.

English: Evan Quah’s banded Bent-toed Gecko

Malay: Cicak Jari-bengkok Evan Quah

Etymology. The specific epithet honors Dr. Evan S. H. Quah, who suggested the urgency to document the herpetofaunal diversity of Gunung Baling, Kedah, which is under constant threat from two cement companies that are actively mining the limestone. He also participated in the only herpetological survey of the area. Dr. Quah is an extremely productive contributor to the study of herpetology in Malaysia and is a champion for conservation of the region.

Perry L. Jr. Wood, L. Lee Grismer, Mohd Abdul Muin, Shahrul Anuar and Jamie R. Oaks. 2020. A New Potentially Endangered Limestone-associated Bent-toed Gecko of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) Complex from northern Peninsular Malaysia. Zootaxa. 4751(3); 437–460. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4751.3.2

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