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Type: Article
Published: 2022-02-11
Page range: 201-220
Abstract views: 568
PDF downloaded: 24

A New Species of Diploderma (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) from the upper Salween River in Eastern Tibet, China

Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA, 73072.
Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA, 48823.
Key Laboratory of Conserving Wildlife with Small Populations in Yunnan, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, Yunnan, China, 650224.
Reptilia Cryptic diversity Draconinae IUCN Lizard Vulnerable

Abstract

A new species of Diploderma is described from the upper Salween River Valley in eastern Tibet, China based on morphological and genetic data. The new species is morphologically most similar and phylogenetically closely related to D. laeviventre, but it can be easily diagnosed by having distinct conical scales on the post rictal region of the head, distinctively keeled ventral head and body scales, and different coloration of gular spots and dorsolateral stripes in both sexes. The taxonomic discovery further highlights the underestimated diversity of the genus and the importance of habitat conservation of the neglected hot-dry valley ecosystems in the Hengduan Mountain Region of China.

 

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