Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5369 No. 4: 13 Nov. 2023
Type: Article
Published: 2023-11-13
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5369.4.5
Page range: 553-575
Abstract views: 382
PDF downloaded: 19

It‘s all in the name: Another new Cyrtodactylus Gray (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from northern Mizoram, North-east India

Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory; Department of Zoology; Mizoram University; Aizawl 796004; Mizoram; India
Govt.Champhai College; Champhai 796321; Mizoram; India
Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory; Department of Zoology; Mizoram University; Aizawl 796004; Mizoram; India
Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory; Department of Zoology; Mizoram University; Aizawl 796004; Mizoram; India
Help Earth; 16; RNC Path; Lachitnagar; Guwahati 781007; Assam; India
Department of Zoology; Assam Don Bosco University; Sonapur 782402; Assam India
Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory; Department of Zoology; Mizoram University; Aizawl 796004; Mizoram; India
Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory; Department of Zoology; Mizoram University; Aizawl 796004; Mizoram; India
Department of Zoology; Assam Don Bosco University; Sonapur 782402; Assam India
Reptilia North-east India taxonomy ND2 lizard reptile systematics

Abstract

A new species of Cyrtodactylus is described from Vairengte town, situated in the Kolasib District of Mizoram State, north-eastern India. The new species is found to be a member of Indo-Burman Cyrtodactylus khasiensis clade based on ND2 gene sequences and morphological parameters, such as number of precloacal pores, mid-ventral scale rows, paravertebral tubercles on the trunk, dorsal tubercle rows, subdigital lamellae on pes and subcaudal scalation, making it the sixth endemic Cyrtodactylus from Mizoram and twenty second from north-east India. Moreover, phylogenetic evidence suggests the new species to be sister to the recently described C. aaronbaueri, and morphological analyses also reveal marginal separation between the two species based on the PCA of infralabials, lamellae on fingers and toes, paravertebral tubercles on the trunk, and dorsal tubercle rows.

 

References

  1. Agarwal, I., Bauer, A.M., Jackman, T.R. & Karanth, K.P. (2014) Insights into Himalayan biogeography from geckos: A molecular phylogeny of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 80, 145–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2014.07.018
  2. Agarwal, I., Mahony, S., Giri, V.B., Chaitanya, R. & Bauer, A.M. (2018a) Two new species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with comments on name-bearing types from northeast India. Zootaxa, 4420 (3), 334–356. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4420.3.2
  3. Agarwal, I., Mahony, S., Giri, V.B., Chaitanya, R. & Bauer, A.M. (2018b) Six new Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from northeast India. Zootaxa, 4524 (5), 501–535. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4524.5.1
  4. Ahmed, M.F., Das, A. & Dutta, S.K. (2009) Amphibians and Reptiles of Northeast India: A Photographic Guide. Aaranyak, Guwahati, 169 pp.
  5. Ashaharraza, K., Rangasamy, V., Lalremsanga, H.T., Lalbiakzuala, Sailo. J. & Charlton, T. (2019) A new state record of the Mandarin Rat Snake Euprepiophis mandarinus (Cantor, 1842) (Squamata: Colubridae: Coronellini) from Mizoram, India. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, 13 (1), 230–234 (e179).
  6. Bauer, A.M. (2003) Descriptions of seven new Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with a key to the species of Myanmar (Burma). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 54, 463–498.
  7. Bohra, S.C., Zonunsanga, H.T., Das, M., Purkayastha, J., Biakzuala, L. & Lalremsanga, H.T. (2022) Morphological and molecular phylogenetic data reveal another new species of bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus Gray: Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Mizoram, India. Journal of Natural History, 56 (41–44), 1585–1608. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2022.2119178
  8. Boulenger, G.A. (1885) Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). I. Geckonidae, Eublepharidae, Uroplatidae, Pygopodidae, Agamidae. British Museum (Natural History), London, xii + 436 pp., 32 pls. https://doi.org/10.1038/032049a0
  9. Champion, S.H.G. & Seth, S.K. (1968) A Revised Survey of the Forest Types of India. The Manager of Publication, Government of India, New Delhi, 404 pp.
  10. Darevsky, I.S., Helfenberger, N., Orlov, N. & Shah, K. (1998) Two new species of the genus Gonydactylus (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from eastern Nepal. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 4 (2), 89–93. https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-1997-4-2-89-93
  11. Das, A., Smith, E.N., Sidik, I., Sarker, G.C., Boruah, B., Patel, N.G., Murthy, B. & Deepak, V. (2021) Hidden in the plain sight: a new species of Rhabdophis (Serpentes: Natricinae) from the Rhabdophis himalayanus complex. Zootaxa, 5020 (3), 401–433. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5020.3.1
  12. Edgar, R.C. (2004) MUSCLE: multiple sequence alignment with high accuracy and high throughput. Nucleic Acids Research, 32 (5), 1792–1797. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkh340
  13. Giri, V.B., Chaitanya, R., Mahony, S., Lalronunga, S., Lalrinchhana, C., Das, A., Sarkar, V., Karanth, P. & Deepak, V. (2019a) On the systematic status of the genus Oriocalotes Günther, 1864 (Squamata: Agamidae: Draconinae) with the description of a new species from Mizoram state, northeast India. Zootaxa, 4638 (4), 451–484. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4638.4.1
  14. Giri, V.B., Gower, D.J., Das, A., Lalremsanga, H.T., Lalronunga, S., Captain, A. & Deepak, V. (2019b) A new genus and species of natricine snake from northeast India. Zootaxa, 4603 (2), 241–264. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4603.2.2
  15. Grismer, L.L., Wood, P.L. Jr., Thura, M.K., Win, N.M., Grismer, M.S., Trueblood, L.A. & Quah, E.S.H. (2018) A re-description of Cyrtodactylus chrysopylos Bauer (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with comments on the adaptive significance of Orange coloration in hatchlings and descriptions of two new species from eastern Myanmar (Burma). Zootaxa, 4527 (2), 151–185. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4527.2.1
  16. Grismer L.L., Wood, Jr. P.L., Poyarkov N.A., Le M.D., Kraus F., Agarwal I., Oliver P.M., Nguyen, S.N., Nguyen, T.Q., Karunarathna, S., Welton, L.J., Stuart, B.L., Luu, V.Q., Bauer, A.M., O’Connell, K.A., Quah, E.S.H., Chan, K.O., Ziegler, T., Ngo, H., Nazarov, R.A., Aowphol, A., Chomdej, S., Suwannapoom, C., Siler, C.D., Anuar, S., Tri, N.V. & Grismer, J.L. (2021) Phylogenetic partitioning of the third-largest vertebrate genus in the world, Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Reptilia; Squamata;Gekkonidae) and its relevance to taxonomy and conservation. Vertebrate Zoology, 71, 101–154. https://doi.org/10.3897/vz.71.e59307
  17. Grismer, L.L., Wood, P.L. Jr., Quah, E.S.H., Thura, M.K., Herr, M.W. & Lin, A.K. (2019) A new species of forest-dwelling Cyrtodactylus Gray (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kachin State, Myanmar. Zootaxa, 4623 (1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4623.1.1
  18. Guhathakurta, P., Bandgar, A., Menon, P., Prasad, A.K., Sangwan, N. & Advani, S.C. (2020) Observed Rainfall Variability and Changes Over Mizoram State. Met Monograph No.: ESSO/IMD/HS/Rainfall Variability/18(2020)/42. India Meteorological Department. Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. Available from: https://imdpune.gov.in/hydrology/rainfall%20variability%20page/mizoram_final.pdf (accessed 9 January 2023)
  19. Hmar, G.Z., Lalbiakzuala, Lalmuansanga, Zote, D., Vanlalhruaia, Ramengmawii, H.B., Das, K.C. & Lalremsanga, H.T. (2020) A first distribution record of the Indian Peacock Softshell Turtle Nilssonia hurum (Gray, 1830) (Reptilia: Testudines: Trionychidae) from Mizoram, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 12 (14), 17036–17040. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.6712.12.14.17036-17040
  20. Hmar, G.Z., Lalbiakzuala, Lalmuansanga, Zote, D. Vanlalhruaia, Ramengmawii, H.B., Decemson, H., Das, K.C. & Lalremsanga, H.T. (2021a) First record of the exotic Red-eared Slider, Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied 1838) (Emydidae), from Mizoram, India. Reptiles & Amphibians, 28 (1), 52–53.
  21. Hmar, G.Z., Ramengmawii, H.B., Biakzuala, L., Zote, D., Hruaia, V., Liana, T., Lalremsanga, H.T. & Das, K.C. (2021b) New records of the endangered Southeast Asian Box Turtle, Cuora amboinensis (Testudines, Geoemydidae), from Mizoram, northeast India. Herpetology Notes, 14, 1177–1180.
  22. IUCN (2021) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020. Version 2021-1. Available from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ (accessed 23 February 2023)
  23. IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2019) Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. Version 14. Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Committee. http://www.iucnred list.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf (accessed 27 February 2023)
  24. Kamei, R.G. & Mahony, S. (2021) A new species of Bent-toed gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827) from the Garo Hills, Meghalaya State, north-east India, and discussion of morphological variation for C. urbanus. Herpetological Journal, 31 (3), 177–196. https://doi.org/10.33256/31.3.177196
  25. Kalyaanamoorthy, S., Minh, B.Q., Wong, T.K., Von Haeseler, A. & Jermiin, L.S. (2017) ModelFinder: fast model selection for accurate phylogenetic estimates. Nature Methods, 14 (6), 587–589. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.4285
  26. Kumar, S., Stecher, G. & Tamura, K. (2016) MEGA7: molecular evolutionary genetics analysis version 7.0 for bigger datasets. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 33 (7), 1870–1874. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msw054
  27. Lalbiakzuala & Lalremsanga, H.T. (2017) Geographic Distribution Notes: Lycodon fasciatus. Herpetological Review, 48 (1), 129.
  28. Lalbiakzuala & Lalremsanga, H.T. (2019) Geographic Distribution Notes: Hebius venningi. Herpetological Review, 50 (2), 330.
  29. Lalbiakzuala & Lalremsanga, H.T. (2020) Rediscovery of Oligodon catenatus (Blyth, 1854) (Squamata: Colubridae) from India. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, 14 (3), 226–230 (e270).
  30. Lalbiakzuala, Vanlalhrima, Barman, B.K. & Lalremsanga, H.T (2020a) Rediscovery and updated distributon of Lycodon septentrionalis from Mizoram state, north-east India. The Herpetological Bulletin, 152, 24–25. https://doi.org/10.33256/152.2425
  31. Lalbiakzuala, Lalremsanga, H.T., Laltlanchhuaha, H. & Barman, B.K. (2020b) Observations on the oviposition of Blythia reticulata (Blyth, 1854) with new distributional records from Mizoram State, NE India. Herpetozoa, 33, 53–57. https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.33.e49768
  32. Lalremsanga, H.T., Khawlhring, L. & Lalrotluanga (2010) Three additional lizard (Squamata: Sauria) records for Mizoram, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2 (2), 718–720. https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2246.718-20
  33. Lalremsanga, H.T., Sailo, S. & Chinliansiama, H. (2011) Diversity of snakes (Reptilia: Squamata) and role of environmental factors in their distribution in Mizoram, Northeast India. In: Diwakari, T. (Ed.), Proceedings of Advances in Environmental Chemistry, 64, pp. 265–269.
  34. Lalremsanga, H.T., Lalrinsanga & Lalbiakzuala (2018a) Geographic Distribution Notes: Protobothrops mucrosquamatus. Herpetological Review, 48 (1), 131.
  35. Lalremsanga, H.T., Lalrinsanga, Vanlalchhuana, M., Vanlalhrima & Vogel, G. (2018) First Record of the Species Gongylosoma scriptum (Theobald, 1868) (Squamata: Colubridae) From India. Hamadryad, 38 (1 & 2), 12–19.
  36. Lalremsanga, H.T., Purkayastha, P., Biakzuala, L., Vabeiryureilai, M., Muansanga, L., & Hmar, G.Z. (2021) A new striped species of Ichthyophis Fitzinger, 1826 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Ichthyophiidae) from Mizoram, northeast India. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, 15 (2), 198–209 (e288).
  37. Lalremsanga, H.T., Chinliansiama, H., Bohra, S.C., Biakzuala, L., Vabeiryureilai, M., Muansanga, L., Malsawmdawngliana, F., Hmar, G.Z., Decemson, Ht., Siammawii, V.,.Das, M. & Purkayastha, J. (2022a) A new bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus Gray: Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the state of Mizoram, India. Zootaxa, 5093 (4), 465–482. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5093.4.5
  38. Lalremsanga, H.T., Bal, A.K., Vogel, G. & Biakzuala, L. (2022b) Molecular phylogenetic analyses of lesser known colubrid snakes reveal a new species of Herpetoreas (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae), and new insights into the systematics of Gongylosoma scriptum and its allies from northeastern India. Salamandra, 58 (2), 101–115.
  39. Lalremsanga, H.T., Decemson, H., Vabeiryureilai, M., Malsawmdawngliana, F., Lalhlimpuia, V. & Biakzuala, L. (2022c) Phylogenetic position of Tropidophorus assamensis Annandale, 1912 with updated morphological data and distributional records. Herpetological Journal, 32, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.33256/32.1.14
  40. Lalremsanga, H.T., Muansanga, L., Vabeiryureilai, M. & Mirza, Z.A. (2023) A new species of Parachute Gecko of the subgenus Ptychozoon (Sauria: Gekkonidae: Gekko) from the Indo-Burma region. Salamandra, 59 (2), 125–135.
  41. Lalronunga, S., Lalhmangaiha, K., Zosangliana, I., Lalhmingliani, E., Gower, D. J., Das, A. & Deepak, V. (2021). A new species of Stoliczkia Jerdon, 1870 (Serpentes: Xenodermidae) from Mizoram, India. Zootaxa, 4996 (3), 555–568. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.3.9
  42. Lanfear, R., Frandsen, P.B., Wright, A.M., Senfeld, T. & Calcott, B. (2017) PartitionFinder 2: New Methods for Selecting Partitioned Models of Evolution for Molecular and Morphological Phylogenetic Analyses. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 34 (3), 772–773. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msw260
  43. Li, P.P. (2007) Description of a new subspecies of Cyrtodactylus khasiensis from China. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica, 32, 733–737.
  44. Liu, S. & Rao, D. (2022) A new species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from south-western Yunnan, China. ZooKeys, 1084, 83–100. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1084.72868
  45. Macey, J.R., Larson, A., Ananjeva, N.B., Fang, Z. & Papenfuss, T.J. (1997) Two novel gene orders and the role of light-strand replication in rearrangement of the vertebrate mitochondrial genome. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 14, 91–104. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a025706
  46. Mahony, S. (2009) Taxonomic status of Cyrtodactylus khasiensis tamaiensis (Smith, 1940) and description of a new species allied to Cyrtodactylus chrysopylos Bauer, 2003 from Myanmar (Reptilia: Gekkonidae). Hamadryad, 34 (1), 62–74.
  47. Mahony, S. & Kamei, R.G. (2021) A new species of Cyrtodactylus Gray (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Manipur State, northeast India, with a critical review highlighting extensive errors in literature covering bent-toed geckos of the Indo-Burma region. Journal of Natural History, 55 (39–40), 2445–2480. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.1994667
  48. Mathew, R. (2007) Reptilia. In: Alfred, J.R.B. (Ed.), State Fauna. Series 14. Fauna of Mizoram. Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, pp. 545–577.
  49. Minh, B.Q., Nguyen, M.A.T. & von Haeseler, A. (2013) Ultrafast approximation for phylogenetic bootstrap. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 30 (5), 1188–1195. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/mst024
  50. Mirza, Z.A., Bhosale, H.S., Thackeray, T., Phansalkar, P., Sawant, M., Gowande, G.G. & Patel, H. (2022) A new species of bent-toed geckos of the genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 from western Arunachal Pradesh, India. Herpetozoa, 35, 65–76. https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.35.e80610
  51. Mirza, Z.A., Bhosale, H., Ansari, F., Phansalkar, P., Sawant, M., Gowande, G. & Patel, H. (2021) A new species of geckos of the genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Evolutionary Systematics, 5, 13–23. https://doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.5.61667
  52. Muansanga, L., Decemson, Ht., Biakzuala, L., Hmar, G.Z., Lalremsanga, H.T., Das, M. & Purkayastha, J. (2020) First Record of the Jampui Bent-toed Gecko, Cyrtodactylus montanus Agarwal, Mahony, Giri, Chaitanya, & Bauer 2018 (Squamata:Gekkonidae), from Mizoram, India. Reptiles & Amphibians, 27 (2), 267–268. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v27i2.14325
  53. Purkayastha, J., Das, M., Bohra, S.C., Bauer, A.M. & Agarwal, I. (2020) Another new Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Guwahati, Assam, India. Zootaxa, 4732 (3), 375–392. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4732.3.2
  54. Purkayastha, J., Lalremsanga, H.T., Bohra, S.C., Biakzuala, L., Decemson, H., Muansanga, L., Vabeiryureilai, M., Chauhan, S. & Rathee, Y.S. (2021) Four new Bent-toed geckos (Cyrtodactylus Gray: Squamata: Gekkonidae) from northeast India. Zootaxa, 4980 (1), 451–489. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4980.3.2
  55. Purkayastha, J., Lalremsanga, H.T., Litho, B., Rathee, Y.S., Bohra, S.C., Vabeiryureilai, M., Biakzuala, L. & Muansanga, L. (2022) Two new Cyrtodactylus (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Northeast India. European Journal of Taxonomy, 794, 111–139. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.794.1659
  56. Rathee, Y.S, Purkayastha, J., Lalremsanga, H.T., Dalal, S., Biakzuala, L., Muansanga, L. & Mirza, Z. (2022) A new cryptic species of green pit viper of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 (Serpentes, Viperidae) from northeast India. PLoS One, 17 (5), e0268402. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268402
  57. Silvestro, D. & Michalak, I. (2012) raxmlGUI: a graphical front-end for RAxML. Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 12 (4), 335–337. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-011-0056-0
  58. Singh, M.P., Singh, B.S. & Dey, S. (2002) Flora of Mizoram. Vol. 1. Shiva Offset Press, Dehra Dun, 839 pp.
  59. Smith, M.A. (1935) The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II. Sauria. Taylor and Francis, London, xiii + 440 pp., 1 pl., 1 folding map.
  60. Tamura, K. & Nei, M. (1993) Estimation of the number of nucleotide substitutions in the control region of mitochondrial DNA in humans and chimpanzees. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 10 (3), 512–526. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a040023
  61. Tariang, A.D., Malsawmdawngliana, F., Biakzuala, L., Decemson, H., Muansanga, L., Rinsanga, L., Vabeiryureilai, M. & Lalremsanga, H.T. (2022) Confirmation on the occurrence of Calotes irawadi Zug, Brown, Schulte & Vindum 2006 (Squamata: Agamidae) in Mizoram, Northeast India. Hamadryad, 39 (1 & 2), 88–94.
  62. Tordoff, A.W., Duckworth, J.W., Christopher, M., Marguerite, R. & James, T. (2020) Ecosystem Profile: Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot 2020 Update. Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Arlington, Virginia, 420 pp.
  63. Uetz, P., Freed, P. & Hošek, J. (2023) The reptile database. Available from: http://www.reptiledatabase.org (accessed 16 March 2023)
  64. Vogel, G., Lalremsanga, H.T. & Vanlalhrima, V. (2017) A second species of the genus Blythia Theobald, 1868 (Squamata: Colubridae) from Mizoram, India. Zootaxa, 4276 (4), 569–581. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4276.4.8
  65. Vogel, G., Nguyen, T.V., Lalremsanga, H.T., Biakzuala, L., Hrima, V. & Poyarkov, N.A. (2020) Taxonomic reassessment of the Pareas margaritophorus-macularius species complex (Squamata, Pareidae). Vertebrate Zoology, 70 (4), 547–569. https://doi.org/10.26049/VZ70-4-2020-02
  66. Wood, P.L. Jr., Heinicke, M.P., Jackman, T.R. & Bauer, A.M. (2012) Phylogeny of bent-toed geckos (Cyrtodactylus) reveals a west to east pattern of diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 65 (3), 992–1003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2012.08.025