Abstract
A new forest-dwelling species of the Cyrtodactylus chauquangensis group is described from southwestern Yunnan Province, China. Phylogenetically, it was recovered as the sister species of C. zhenkangensis, with a genetic distance of 9.2% in the ND2 gene. Morphologically, the new species can be separated from C. zhenkangensis by the discontinuity of enlarged femoral scales and enlarged precloacal scales, the absence of femoral pores, and the difference in dorsal color pattern. In addition, although the new species and C. zhenkangensis are distributed relatively close, their habitats are clearly different. Cyrtodactylus zhenkangensis inhabits karst limestone, while the new species inhabits forest. The new species is the 29th species of the C. chauquangensis group and the third forest-dwelling species of this group.
Key words: Bent-toed gecko, Cangyuan, Cyrtodactylus chauquangensis group, mitochondrial DNA, systematics, taxonomy
 |
| Holotype (KIZ 2024083) of Cyrtodactylus nangunhe sp. nov. in life A dorsal view B lateral view C ventral view. |
 |
| Paratype (KIZ 2024084) of Cyrtodactylus nangunhe sp. nov. in life A dorsal view B lateral view C ventral view. |
Cyrtodactylus nangunhe sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Body size relatively large (SVL 89.5–97.0 mm); tail long (TaL/SVL 1.07–1.14); head relatively long (HL/SVL 0.27–0.28), moderately widened (HW/HL 0.67–0.68); snout long (SE/HL 0.40); body slender (AG/SVL 0.43–0.44); 16–18 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles at midbody, 25–27 paravertebral tubercles; ventrolateral fold distinct, interspersed with tubercles; 29–31 longitudinal ventral scale rows at midbody; eight precloacal pores separated …
Etymology: The specific epithet nangunhe is a noun in apposition, and therefore invariable; it refers to Yunnan Nangunhe National Nature Reserve, where the new species was found.
Leave a Comment