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Type: Article
Published: 2016-07-07
Page range: 553–566
Abstract views: 223
PDF downloaded: 2

First molecular verification of Dixonius vietnamensis Das, 2004 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with the description of a new species from Vinh Cuu Nature Reserve, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam

AG Zoologischer Garten Köln, Riehler Straße 173, D–50735 Köln, Germany Zoological Institute, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47b, D–50674 Cologne, Germany Vietnam National Museum of Nature, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam
AG Zoologischer Garten Köln, Riehler Straße 173, D–50735 Köln, Germany.
Vietnam National Museum of Nature, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam
Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085, USA
Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085, USA Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Faculty of Biology, Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai Road, Hanoi, Vietnam
Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Reptilia Dixonius vietnamensis Dixonius minhlei sp. nov. Vietnam morphology molecular phylogeny taxonomy

Abstract

Based on near-topotypic specimens of Dixonius vietnamensis from Khanh Hoa Province in southern Vietnam genetic analyses showed that the recently described D. taoi is sister to D. vietnamensis and several separate forms exist which previously have been misidentified as D. vietnamensis and D. siamensis. The Dixonius population from Vinh Cuu Nature Reserve, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam, represents an undescribed species. Dixonius minhlei sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners based on the following diagnostic characters: small size (up to 47.5 mm SVL); 7–9 supralabials; 14–15 rows of keeled tubercles on dorsum; 20–23 ventral scale rows; 7 or 8 precloacal pores in males; a canthal stripe running from rostrum through the eye and terminating at back of head; lateral second pair of postmentals maximum one quarter the size of first pair; dorsum olive gray with more or less discernible brownish olive blotches. This is the sixth species of Dixonius known to occur in Vietnam.

 

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