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Issue: Vol. 5318 No. 4: 21 Jul. 2023
Type: Article
Published: 2023-07-21
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5318.4.3
Page range: 489-503
Abstract views: 417
PDF downloaded: 30

Comments on the taxonomic status of Cyrtodactylus zebraicus Taylor, 1962 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Northern Peninsular Malaysia

Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation; Universiti Malaysia Sabah; Jalan UMS; 88400; Kota Kinabalu; Sabah; Malaysia; Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum; National University of Singapore; 2 Conservatory Drive; Singapore 117377
Herpetology Laboratory; Department of Biology; La Sierra University; 4500 Riverwalk Parkway; Riverside; California 92515; USA; Department of Herpetology; San Diego Natural History Museum; PO Box 121390; San Diego; California; 92112; USA
Faculty of Science and Marine Environment; Universiti Malaysia Terengganu; 21030 Kuala Nerus; Terengganu; Malaysia
Animal Systematics and Ecology Speciality Research Unit; Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; Kasetsart University; Bangkok 10900; Thailand
Animal Systematics and Ecology Speciality Research Unit; Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; Kasetsart University; Bangkok 10900; Thailand
Faculty of Science and Marine Environment; Universiti Malaysia Terengganu; 21030 Kuala Nerus; Terengganu; Malaysia; Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development; Universiti Malaysia Terengganu; 21030 Kuala Nerus; Terengganu; Malaysia
School of Biological Sciences; Universiti Sains Malaysia; 11800 Minden; Penang; Malaysia; Center for Marine and Coastal Studies; Universiti Sains Malaysia; 11800 USM; Pulau Pinang; Malaysia
Reptilia Cyrtodactylus peguensis Indo-Burma Thai-Malay Peninsula Sundaland bent-toed gecko systematics discovery reptile conservation

Abstract

The taxonomic status of Cyrtodactylus zebraicus in Peninsular Malaysia has been plagued with uncertainty over the last three decades owing to a lack of vouchered material. Recent collections confirmed the presence of this species in the northernmost state of Perlis and for the country. An expanded description of the newly collected Peninsular Malaysian specimens as well as the holotype of C. zebraicus is provided along with a comparison with other Cyrtodactylus species in the country. This study adds to the growing number of herpetofaunal species with Indo-Burmese affinities discovered in northern states of the country and the biogeographic importance of this region for the exchange of fauna and flora. The findings also highlight the importance of continued field work along the biogeographic interchange of the Banjaran Nakawan that separates southwestern Thailand from northwestern Peninsular Malaysia and the need to sample and collect voucher specimens that can be deposited in proper scientific collections for current and future research.

 

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