A New Andean Species of Leaf-toed Gecko (Phyllodactylidae: Phyllodactylus) from Ecuador
We describe a new species of Phyllodactylus from a xerophytic forest in the Andes of southern Ecuador. The new species differs from other mainland species of Phyllodactylus from South America by the combination of the following characters: preanal scales similar in size to other ventral scales, well-defined longitudinal rows of tubercles dorsally, a medial longitudinal row of enlarged caudal scales ventrally, tubercles on dorsal surface of tibia present, enlarged postanal scale absent, tubercles on dorsal surface of forearm absent, interorbital scales homogeneous in size, enlarged scales on proximal one-fourth of tail absent, gular scales granular, and maximum snout–vent length of 55 mm. Even though morphological similarity suggests a close relationship between the new species and Phyllodactylus reissii, phylogenetic analyses of 10 nuclear and mitochondrial genes contradict this hypothesis. We also report the first records of Phyllodactylus kofordi for Ecuador.Abstract
Head of holotype (QCAZ 9924) of Phyllodactylus leoni sp. nov. in dorsal (left), ventral (top right), and lateral (bottom right) views. Scale bar = 2 mm.
Views of holotype (QCAZ 9924) of Phyllodactylus leoni sp. nov. Pelvic region in dorsal view (left), proximal aspect of tail in ventral view (center), and right hind foot in ventral view (right). Scale bar = 2 mm (left, center), 1 mm (right).
Phyllodactylus leoni sp. nov. Adult female (SVL = 40.80 mm, QCAZ 9923, top left), adult male (SVL = 46.91 mm, QCAZ 9926, top right), and subadult male (SVL = 38.15 mm, QCAZ 8653, bottom left and right).
Right hemipenis of Phyllodactylus leoni sp. nov. (QCAZ 8653) in asulcate (left) and sulcate (right) views. Scale bar = 2 mm.
Distribution of Phyllodactylus kofordi (triangles), P. leoni sp. nov. (squares), and P. reissii (circles) in mainland Ecuador. White arrow points at type locality of P. leoni sp. nov.
Majority rule (50%) consensus tree of 18,000 trees obtained from a Bayesian analysis of 10 genes and 12 specimens. The outgroup used to root the tree (Gecko gecko) is not shown. Asterisks correspond to posterior probability values of 1.00.
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