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Issue: Vol. 5686 No. 2: 27 Aug. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-08-27
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.2.3
Page range: 211-238
Abstract views: 101
PDF downloaded: 8

Two more new species of Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Laos and Vietnam identified using an integrative taxonomic approach

Faculty of Forest Resources and Environmental Management; Vietnam National University of Forestry; Xuan Mai; Chuong My; Hanoi; Vietnam
Faculty of Forestry; National University of Laos; Dong Dok Campus; Vientiane; Lao PDR
Faculty of Forest Resources and Environmental Management; Vietnam National University of Forestry; Xuan Mai; Chuong My; Hanoi;Vietnam
College of Forestry Biotechnology; Vietnam National University of Forestry; Hanoi; Vietnam
College of Forestry Biotechnology; Vietnam National University of Forestry; Hanoi; Vietnam
Faculty of Environmental sciences; National University of Laos; Dong Dok Campus; Vientiane; Lao PDR
Cologne Zoo; Riehler Road 173; 50735 Cologne; Germany; Institute of Zoology; University of Cologne; Zülpicher Road 47b; 50674 Cologne; Germany
Herpetology Laboratory; Department of Biology; La Sierra University; 4500 Riverwalk Parkway; Riverside; California 92505; USA; Department of Herpetology; San Diego Natural History Museum; PO Box 121390; San Diego; California; 92112; USA
Reptilia Indochina morphology phylogeny slender geckos taxonomy

Abstract

An integrative taxonomic approach incorporating molecular (1,038 bp of the ND2 gene), morphometric, meristic, and color pattern data was employed to delimit and diagnose two new species of Hemiphyllodactylus from northern Laos and Vietnam. Hemiphyllodactylus xiengkhoangensis sp. nov. from Xiengkhouang Province, Laos, is recovered as the sister species to H. banaensis from central Vietnam, while H. yenchauensis sp. nov. from Son La Province, Vietnam, is sister to H. vanhoensis + H. bonkowskii. Both new species are robustly supported and distinguishable from all congeners by unique combinations of morphometric, meristic, and color pattern characters, confirmed through univariate and multivariate analyses. These findings reveal previously unrecognized diversity within the genus in Indochina and underscore the urgent need to assess population status and implement targeted conservation strategies.

 

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How to Cite

Luu, V.Q., Sitthivong, S., Hoang, T.T., Ha, H.B., Ha, H.V., Xayasith, S., Ziegler, T. & Grismer, L.L. (2025) Two more new species of Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Laos and Vietnam identified using an integrative taxonomic approach. Zootaxa, 5686 (2), 211–238. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5686.2.3