v12i1.295

ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v12i1.295

Submitted date: 18 March 2023
Accepted date: 3 May 2023
Published date: 12 May 2023
Pp. 5–13, pls. 4–6.

A NEW RUPICOLOUS DAY GECKO SPECIES (SQUAMATA: GEKKONIDAE: Cnemaspis) FROM TAMIL NADU, SOUTH INDIA

Amit Sayyed*, Samson Kirubakaran, Rahul Khot, Anbazhagan Abinesh, Shiva Harshan, Ayaan Sayyed, Masum Sayyed, Omkar Adhikari, Jayaditya Purkayastha,
Shubhankar Deshpande & Shauri Sulakhe
*Corresponding author. E-mail: amitsayyedsatara@gmail.com

Abstract
We here describe a new rupicolous day gecko species nested within the C. gracilis clade from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. The new species differs with a combination of morphological characters and molecular phylogenetics, from other closely related congeners. The sequence divergence of the new species in comparison with the congeners from the gracilis clade is 6.1–15.2% for the ND2 gene. The new species can also be differentiated from the congeners based on the following combination of morphological characters: conical and spine-like tubercles absent on flanks; adult SVL less than 35.0 mm; two precloacal pores; precloacal pores separated medially by two poreless scales; four femoral pores; number of mid-ventral scales 110–120; and a small black colour spot on the occiput.

Key words : dwarf geckos, [i]gracilis[.i[ clade, molecular phylogeny, ND2, rock-dwelling, systematics

Section Editor: Zeeshan Mirza
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org