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Issue: Vol. 4020 No. 3: 23 Sept. 2015
Type: Article
Published: 2015-09-23
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4020.3.4
Page range: 473–494
Abstract views: 25
PDF downloaded: 1

Acanthosaura phuketensis (Squamata: Agamidae), a new long-horned tree agamid from southwestern Thailand

Département des Vertébrés Récents, Institut Royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
Ranong Marine Fisheries Station, 157 Saphanpla Rd., Paknam, Muang, Ranong, Thailand.
Nakhonratchasima Zoo, ZPO, 111 M. 1, Ratchasima – Pak Tongchai Rd., Chaimongkol, Muang Nakonrajsima, Thailand.
Khao Phra Thaeo Non-hunting Area, Thalang, Phuket, Thailand
Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, 150 East Bulldog Boulevard, Provo, Utah 84602 USA.
Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, 150 East Bulldog Boulevard, Provo, Utah 84602 USA.
Department of Biology, La Sierra University, 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, California, 92515-8247 USA.
Reptilia Thai-Malay Peninsula Phuket mountain range Phuket Island Khao Phra Thaeo Non-hunting Area Khao Lak–Lam Ru National Park

Abstract

We describe a new lowland forest-dwelling species of the genus Acanthosaura from Phuket Island and the Phuket mountain range in southwestern Thailand. Acanthosaura phuketensis sp. nov., the 11th species in the genus, seems most closely related to A. crucigera from Myanmar and western Thailand and A. cardamomensis from the Cardamom Mountains, but can be differentiated from them by a combination of morphological and coloration characteristics. This new discovery stresses the importance of preserving the last forest patches remaining on Phuket Island, home to three other squamate endemics.