Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2016-03-20
Page range: 26–40
Abstract views: 89
PDF downloaded: 1

A new species of the genus Microgecko Nikolsky, 1907 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from southern Iran

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, 6714967346 Kermanshah, Iran
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, 6714967346 Kermanshah, Iran
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran
Young Researchers and Elite Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
Reptilia Gekkonidae dwarf geckos Microgecko chabaharensis morphology species Sistan and Baluchestan Province Iran

Abstract

The dwarf geckos of the recently revived genus Microgecko Nikolsky, 1907 comprise four species, ranging from western Iran to northwestern India. Iran hosts three species of the four recognized species of the genus Microgecko. Here, we describe a new species of this genus based on two and single specimens from southeastern and southern Iran, respectively. Combinations of scalation characters and distinct morphology, coloration and habitat peculiarities in calcareous mountains distinguish Microgecko chabaharensis sp. nov. from its congeners. Detailed information and an updated identification key for the genus Microgecko are also presented.

 

References

  1. Agarwal, I. (2009) First record of Tropiocolotes persicus euphorbiacola Minton, Anderson and Anderson 1970 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from the Republic of India, with notes on its habitat and natural history. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 16, 83–87.

    Anderson, S.C. (1961) A note on the synonymy of Microgecko Nikolsky with Tropiocolotes Peters. The Wassmann Journal of Biology, 19, 287–289.

    Anderson, S.C. (1963) Amphibians and Reptiles from Iran. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 31, 417–498.

    Anderson, S.C. (1999) The Lizards of Iran. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Oxford, Ohio, 442 pp.

    Bauer, A.M., Masroor, R., Titus-McQuillan, J., Heinicke, M.P., Daza, J.D. & Jackmann, T.R. (2013) A preliminary phylogeny of the Palearctic naked-toed geckos (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) with taxonomic implications. Zootaxa, 3599 (4), 301–324.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3599.4.1

    Begum, A., Khan, M., Ghalib, S.A., Khan, A.R., Zehra, A., Hussain, B., Siddiqui, S. & Tabbassum, F. (2013) Current status of mammals and reptiles at Hub Dam area, Sindh / Balochistan, Pakistan. Current World Environment, 8, 395–402.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.8.3.08

    Gholamifard, A. (2011) Endemism in the reptile fauna of Iran. Iranian Journal of Animal Biosystematics, 7, 13–29.

    Gholamifard, A. & Rastegar-Pouyani, N. (2015) Microgecko helenae helenae Nikolsky, 1907 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) extends its range to the southern Zagros Mountains, south of Iran. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 22, 1–10.

    Guibé, J. (1966) Reptiles et amphibiens récoltés par la mission Franco-Iranienne. Bulletin du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, 38, 97–98.

    Kamali, K. (2013) A Field Guide for Reptiles and Amphibians of Iran. Iran Shenasi Publisher, Tehran, 368 pp. [in Persian]

    Karamiani, R., Gholamifard, A. & Rastegar-Pouyani, N. (2013) Additional specimens and further data on Bakhtiari dwarf gecko, Tropiocolotes persicus bakhtiari Minton, Anderson et Anderson, 1970 from southwestern Iran. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 20, 271–275.

    Khan, M.S. (2004) Annotated checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles of Pakistan. Asiatic Herpetological Research, 10, 191–201.

    Kluge, A.G. (1967) Higher taxonomic categories of gekkonid lizards and their evolution. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 135, 1–60, pls. 1–5.

    Kluge, A.G. (1983) Cladistic relationships among gekkonid lizards. Copeia, 1983, 465–475.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1444392

    Kluge, A.G. (1991) Checklist of gekkonid lizards. Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service, 85, 1–35.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.5479/si.23317515.85.1

    Kluge, A.G. (1993) Gekkonoid Lizard Taxonomy. International Gecko Society, San Diego, 245 pp.

    Krause, V., Ahmadzadeh, F., Moazeni, M., Wagner, P. & Wilms, T.M. (2013) A new species of the genus Tropiocolotes Peters, 1880 from western Iran (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae). Zootaxa, 3716 (1), 022–038.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3716.1.2

    Leviton, A.E. & Anderson, S.C. (1972) Description of a new species of Tropiocolotes (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) with a revised key to the genus. Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences, 96, 1–7.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.1637

    Mertens, R. (1956) Amphibien und Reptilien aus S.O. Iran. 1954. Jahreshefte des Vereins für vaterländische Naturkunde in Württemberg, 111, 90–97.

    Minton, S.A. (1962) An annotated key to the amphibians and reptiles of Sind and Las Bela, West Pakistan. American Museum Novitates, 2081, 1–60.

    Minton, S.A. & Anderson, J.A. (1965) A new dwarf gecko (Tropiocolotes) from Baluchistan. Herpetologica, 21, 59–61.

    Minton, S.A., Anderson, S.C. & Anderson, J.A (1970) Remarks on some geckos from southwest Asia, with descriptions of three new forms and a key to the genus Tropiocolotes. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 37, 333–362.

    Nikolsky, A.M. (1907) Reptiles et amphibiens recueillis par Mr. N. A. Zarudny en Perse en 1903–1904. Annuaire du Musée Zoologique de l’Académie Impériale des Sciences de St.-Pétersbourg, 10, 260–301. [in Russian]

    Pyron, R., Burbrink, F. & Wiens, J. (2013) A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 13, 93.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-13-93

    Rajabizadeh, M., Rastegar-Pouyani, N., Faizi H. & Bostanchi, H. (2010) New insights in the taxonomy of the Persian Sand Gecko Tropiocolotes persicus (Nikolsky, 1903) (Sauria: Gekkonidae). Zoology in the Middle East, 49, 55–62.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2010.10638390

    Rastegar-Pouyani, N., Kami, H.G., Rajabizadeh, M., Anderson, S.C. & Shafiei, S. (2008) Annotated Checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles of Iran. Iranian Journal of Animal Biosystematics, 2008, 7–30.

    Schmidtler, J.J. & Schmidtler, J.F. (1972) Zwerggeckos aus dem Zagros-Gebirge (Iran). Salamandra, 8, 59–66. [in German]

    Shafiei, S. (1998) A Preliminary Ecological Study of Lizard Species Distribution in Khabr and Ruchoun Wild Life Sanctuary and Sirjan Desert. M.Sc. thesis, University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, 368 pp. [in Persian]

    Sindaco, R. & Jeremčenko, V.K. (2008) The Reptiles of the Western Palearctic. 1. Annotated Checklist and Distributional Atlas of the Turtles, Crocodiles, Amphisbaenians and Lizards of Europe, North Africa, Middle East and Central Asia. Monografie della Societas Herpetologica Italica 1. Edizioni Belvedere, Latina, 579 pp.

    Šmíd, J., Moravec, J., Kodym, P., Kratochvíl, L., Hosseinian Yousefkhani, S.S., Rastegar-Pouyani, E. & Frynta, D. (2014) Annotated checklist and distribution of the lizards of Iran. Zootaxa, 3855 (1), 001–097.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3855.1.1

    Szczerbak, N.N. & Golubev, M.L. (1996) Gecko Fauna of the USSR and Contiguous Regions. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Ithaca, New York, ix + 233 pp., 8 pls. [English edition translated from the Russian by Golubev, M.L. & Malinsky, S.A., Leviton, A.E. & Zug, G.R. (Eds.)]

    Torki, F., Gharzi, A., Nazari-Serenjeh, F., Javanmardi, S., Heidari, N., Azizpourian, A., Mahdavi, S. & Mahdavi-Zarkhoni, M.A. (2008) Geckos of the genera Tropiocolotes and Asaccus in the Zagros Mountains, Iran. Gekko, 5, 31–43.

    Tuck, R.G. (1971) Rediscovery and redescription of the Khuzistan dwarf gecko, Microgecko helenae Nikolsky (Sauria: Gekkonidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 83, 477–482.

    Uetz, P. & Hošek, J. (2015) The Reptile database. Available from: http://www.reptile-database.org/ (accessed 16 July 2015)

    Vitt, L.J. & Caldwell, J.P. (2014) Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. 4th Edition. Academic Press, Amsterdam/Boston, 757 pp.