A New Spotted Species of the Cyrtodactylus (Geckoella) collegalensis (Beddome, 1870) (Reptilia: Squamata) Complex from Coastal Kerala, Southwestern India
We describe a new spotted species of ground-dwelling gecko of the genus Cyrtodactylus (Geckoella) from coastal Kerala, southwestern India, by using an integrative taxonomic approach. The new species is a member of the C. collegalensis species complex, with 10.0–13.5% uncorrected mitochondrial sequence divergence from the other six members of the C. collegalensis complex. The new species is also recognized in tree-based delimitation methods and can be morphologically diagnosed by a spotted dorsal pattern of four to six pairs of spots (occasionally fused into figure 8–shaped markings) from the banded species C. speciosus, C. rishivalleyensis, and C. yakhuna and from the spotted C. collegalensis, C. srilekhae, and C. varadgirii by the presence of a few scattered enlarged dorsal scales. This is the only Indian member of the C. collegalensis complex with a relatively broad distribution at low elevations, other than C. varadgirii from western India (distributed in Maharashtra, southern Gujarat, and western Madhya Pradesh). The sister species to the new species is the Sri Lankan C. yakhuna, which is a banded form from low elevations. The new species is the second gecko to have been described from Chengodumala and endemic to northern and central Kerala, highlighting the importance of this area, which is under increasing anthropogenic pressure. We also provide notes on the dorsal pholidosis of C. rishivalleyensis, which was overlooked in its original description.Abstract
Map showing sampling locations for members of the Cyrtodactylus collegalensis complex in southern India and Sri Lanka (C. varadgirii, which occurs considerably further north is not shown). Stars, C. chengodumalaensissp. nov. (solid fill is type locality; “X” indicates photographic record only); circles, C. collegalensis and C. cf. speciosus (solid fill); squares, C. srilekhae (solid fill), and C. rishivalleyensis; triangle, C. yakhuna.
ML phylogeny of the Cyrtodactylus triedrus group with representative photos (not to scale) of members of the C. collegalensis complex. Bootstrap support/posterior probability (≥ 0.98/65) shown at nodes; outgroups not shown. Photos by Ishan Agarwal except C. yakhuna by Sameera Suranjan Karunarathna.
Cyrtodactylus chengodumalaensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-1161): (A) dorsal view and (B) ventral view. Scale bars, 10 mm. Photos by Akshay Khandekar and Satpal Gangalmale.
Cyrtodactylus chengodumalaensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-1161): (A) dorsal view of head, (B) ventral view of head, and (C) right side lateral view of head. Scale bars, 5 mm. Photos by Akshay Khandekar and Satpal Gangalmale.
Cyrtodactylus chengodumalaensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-1161): (A) dorsal view of midbody and (B) ventral view of midbody. Scale bars, 5 mm. Photos by Akshay Khandekar and Satpal Gangalmale.
Cyrtodactylus chengodumalaensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-1161): (A) ventral view of right manus and (B) ventral view of right pes. Scale bars, 5 mm. Photos by Akshay Khandekar and Satpal Gangalmale.
Cyrtodactylus chengodumalaensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-1161) in life: (A) dorsolateral view and (B) ventral view. Photos by Ishan Agarwal.
Paratypes of Cyrtodactylus chengodumalaensissp. nov. in life: (A) NRC-AA-1162, (B) NRC-AA-1163, (C) NRC-AA-1166, (D) BNHS 2812, (E) BNHS 2812, and (F) BNHS 2816. Photos by Ishan Agarwal.
Paratypes of Cyrtodactylus chengodumalaensissp. nov. in preservative, from left to right: NRC-AA-1162, NRC-AA-1163, NRC-AA-1166, BNHS 2812, BNHS 2813, BNHS 2816, and BNHS 2817. Scale bar, 10 mm. Photo by Akshay Khandekar and Satpal Gangalmale.
Habitat of Cyrtodactylus chengodumalaensissp. nov. at Chengodumala, Calicut District, Kerala. Photo by PKU.
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