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Type: Article
Published: 2021-12-22
Page range: 553-571
Abstract views: 573
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A new species of the Gekko japonicus group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Khammouane Province, central Laos

Faculty of Forest Resources and Environmental Management, Vietnam National University of Forestry, Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Hanoi, Vietnam. 2Faculty of Forestry, National University of Laos, Dong Dok Campus, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Faculty of Forest Resources and Environmental Management, Vietnam National University of Forestry, Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Hanoi, Vietnam. Center for Nature Conservation and Development, 5,56/119 Tu Lien Street, Tay Ho District, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam. 5Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Vietnam. 7Faculty of Biology, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai Road, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Faculty of Forestry, National University of Laos, Dong Dok Campus, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Vietnam. Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai Road, Hanoi, Vietnam.
AG Zoologischer Garten Köln, Riehler Strasse 173, D-50735 Cologne, Germany.
Faculty of Forest Resources and Environmental Management, Vietnam National University of Forestry, Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Reptilia Gekko khunkhamensis sp. nov. karst forest morphology molecular phylogeny

Abstract

A new species of the Gekko (Japonigekko) japonicus group from Khammouane Province, central Laos is described based on morphological characters and molecular evidence. Morphologically, Gekko khunkhamensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from the remaining congeners by a combination of the following characters: size moderate (SVL 69.7–75.2 mm); nares in contact with rostral; internasals absent; postmentals enlarged; interorbital scales between anterior corners of the eyes 31 or 32; dorsal tubercles absent; ventrals between mental and cloacal slit 181–185; midbody scales 127–138; ventral scales 42–45; subdigital lamellae on first toe 13 or 14, on fourth toe 14 or 15; tubercles on upper surface of fore and hind limbs absent; precloacal pores absent in the male and females; postcloacal tubercles 2; tubercles absent on dorsal surface of tail base; subcaudals distinctly enlarged; dorsal surface of body with five dark grey bands, which become irregular posteriorly. Genetically, the new species is placed in a clade, consisting of G. bonkowskii, G. nadenensis, G. scientiadventura, G. sengchanthavongi, and G. thakhekensis and differs from other congeners by at least 13% in terms of pairwise distance based on a fragment of the mitochondrial ND2 gene.

 

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