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Issue: Vol. 4444 No. 1: 6 Jul. 2018
Type: Article
Published: 2018-07-06
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4444.1.2
Page range: 25–42
Abstract views: 149
PDF downloaded: 4

A new cryptic rock-dwelling Hemidactylus Oken, 1817 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from northern Karnataka, India

Natural History Museum and Wildlife Biology & Taxonomy Lab, Department of Zoology, University College of Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana State 500007, India Systematics, Ecology & Conservation Laboratory, Zoo Outreach Organization (ZOO), No. 12 Thiruvannamalai Nagar, Saravanampatti - Kalapatti Road Saravanampatti, Coimbatore 641 035, Tamil Nadu, India
Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society, 303 Nestcon Orchid, Sri Sai Nagar Colony Kanajiguda, Secunderabad, Telangana State 500015, India
Natural History Museum and Wildlife Biology & Taxonomy Lab, Department of Zoology, University College of Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana State 500007, India
Reptilia new species H. maculatus H. prashadi group species-complex Deccan plateau Hampi

Abstract

A new species of rupicolous gecko of the genus Hemidactylus is described from the Bellary District of Karnataka, India. The large-sized (SVL to at least 104.7 mm) gecko is characterized by the following suite of characters: dorsum with 16 longitudinal rows of irregularly arranged, subtrihedral, moderately to feebly keeled, striated tubercles at midbody; tail with transverse series of two enlarged tubercles on either side of the median furrow on the first and second tail segments each; 17–18 femoral pores on each side separated by 5 poreless scales. In conjunction, the molecular data based on concatenated analysis of nuclear (RAG-1 and PDC) and mitochondrial (Cytb) genes support the distinctiveness of the species and its affinities with large-bodied tuberculate Hemidactylus spp. from India and Sri Lanka, placing the new species basal to the entire H. prashadi group.

 

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