Showing posts with label Granite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Granite. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

[Herpetology • 2021] Cnemaspis uttaraghati • A Novel Small-bodied Rupicolous Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India, with Comments on the Status of C. indraneildasii, Bauer 2000

 

Cnemaspis uttaraghati 
Khandekar, Thackeray & Agarwal, 2021


Abstract
We describe distinct new rupicolous Cnemaspis based on four adult specimens collected from the Kedareshwar caves on Harishchandragad mountain, from the northern Western Ghats, approximately 1200 m asl. in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state, India. Cnemaspis uttaraghati sp. nov. can be diagnosed from all other peninsular Indian congeners by its small body size (maximum SVL < 39 mm), heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis, presence of spine-like tubercles on flanks; presence of only femoral pores in males; tail with enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles forming whorls; median row of sub-caudal scales smooth, slightly enlarged, regularly arranged with condition of two slightly larger scales alternating with a large divided scale. The new species is likely to be allied to the C. girii clade and can be diagnosed from its members by its slightly larger body size, presence of spine-like tubercles on flanks, the number of enlarged tubercles in paravertebral rows between forelimb and hindlimb insertions, the number of dorsal tubercle rows at mid-body, the number of ventral scales across belly at mid-body, the number of longitudinal ventral scales from mental to cloaca, and the number of lamellae under digit IV of manus. We also provide a detailed morphological dataset for C. goaensis and C. indraneildasii based on topotypic material and specimens collected from additional localities to confirm C. indraneildasii is a junior synonym of C. goaensis, and provide an updated diagnosis for C. goaensis.

Keywords: Reptilia, Biodiversity Hotspot, dwarf geckos, endemic, Kalsubai-Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary, morphology, South Asian Cnemaspis, taxonomy



Cnemaspis uttaraghati sp. nov.



Akshay Khandekar, Tejas Thackeray and Ishan Agarwal. 2021. A Novel Small-bodied Rupicolous Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India, with Comments on the Status of C. indraneildasii, Bauer 2000. Zootaxa. 4969(2); 331–350. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.2.6

    

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

[Herpetology • 2021] Cnemaspis krishnagiriensis • A New Medium-sized Rupicolous Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) of the C. bangara Clade from Granite Boulder Habitats in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, India


Cnemaspis krishnagiriensis
 Agarwal, Thackeray & Khandekar, 2021


Abstract
We describe a new species of the Cnemaspis bangara clade from a rocky hillock near Kugai Periya Mariamman Temple, Krishnagiri fort, Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu, India. Cnemaspis krishnagiriensis sp. nov. can be diagnosed from all other peninsular Indian congeners by its medium body size (maximum SVL 40 mm), heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis, spine-like tubercles absent on flanks; presence of four femoral pores on each thigh separated on either side by nine or 10 poreless scales from three continuous precloacal pores in males; tail with enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles forming four whorls on anterior portion, six tubercles in first whorl, four tubercles in second to fourth whorls, enlarged tubercles restricted to only paravertebral region on rest of the tail; median row of sub-caudals smooth and distinctly enlarged, and a unique colour pattern. The new species can be diagnosed from members of C. bangara clade by the number of dorsal tubercles rows at mid-body, the number of enlarged tubercles in paravertebral rows, the number of ventral scales across belly at mid-body, the number longitudinal ventral scales from mental to cloaca, the number of femoral and precloacal pores and poreless scales separating these series, and subtle colour pattern differences; besides 9.2–17.6 % uncorrected ND2 sequence divergence. Cnemaspis krishnagiriensis sp. nov. is the fourth member of the recently described bangara clade and is the first that is known to be distributed <900 m asl.. The discovery of yet another endemic species of Cnemaspis from lower elevations of the Mysore Plateau once again highlights the need of dedicated systematic sampling to uncover the true diversity of Cnemaspis. We also address a nomenclatural issue related to the recently described Cnemaspis stellapulvis Khandekar, Thackeray & Agarwal.

Keywords: Reptilia, Cnemaspis stellapulvis, dwarf geckos, endemic, microrefugia, ND2, nomenclature, South Asian Cnemaspis


 Cnemaspis krishnagiriensis sp. nov.



 
Ishan Agarwal, Tejas Thackeray and Akshay Khandekar. 2021. A New Medium-sized Rupicolous Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) of the C. bangara Clade from Granite Boulder Habitats in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, India. Zootaxa. 4969(2); 351–366. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.2.7