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Issue: Vol. 5666 No. 4: 30 Jul. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-07-30
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5666.4.5
Page range: 550-566
Abstract views: 202
PDF downloaded: 9

Molecular verification and phylogenetic placement of leaf-toed geckos (Dixonius: Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Thailand

Department of Biology; Faculty of Science and Digital Innovation; Thaksin University; Phatthalung 93210; Thailand; Department of Biological Science; Faculty of Science; Ubon Ratchathani University; Ubon Ratchathani 34190; Thailand
Animal Systematics and Ecology Speciality Research Unit; Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; Kasetsart University; Bangkok 10900; Thailand; Biodiversity Center Kasetsart University (BDCKU); Bangkok 10900; Thailand
Herpetology Laboratory; Department of Biology; La Sierra University; 4500 Riverwalk Parkway; Riverside; CA 92515; USA; Department of Herpetology; San Diego Natural History Museum; PO Box 121390; San Diego; California; 92112; USA
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences; 11 West Jones Street; Raleigh; North Carolina 27601; USA
Animal Systematics and Ecology Speciality Research Unit; Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; Kasetsart University; Bangkok 10900; Thailand; Biodiversity Center Kasetsart University (BDCKU); Bangkok 10900; Thailand
Reptilia Indochina phylogeny Southeast Asia systematics taxonomy

Abstract

Dixonius is a monophyletic gekkonid lizard genus endemic to Southeast Asia, with 50% of the described species in the genus occurring within Thailand. In Thailand, several new species were recently described solely based on morphology. However, the phylogenetic position and systematics of these species remain unknown due to a lack of genetic data. To verify the taxonomic status and phylogenetic placement of Dixonius species in Thailand, we obtained and analyzed sequences of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene from seven nominal Dixonius species (D. dulayaphitakorum, D. hangseesom, D. kaweesaki, D. mekongensis, D. melanostictus, D. pawangkhananti and D. siamensis) collected from their type localities in Thailand. Our results provide the first genetic data of several Dixonius species in Thailand, notably the type species, D. siamensis. The validity of seven nominal Dixonius species in Thailand was confirmed with well-supported lineages. Interestingly, this study reports a new national record of D. somchanhae from Bueng Kan, northeastern Thailand, approximately 100 km from its type locality. This result brings the total number of nominal Dixonius species occurring in Thailand to ten. Furthermore, we found that D. melanostictus and D. cf. siamensis from other populations outside of their type localities should be tentatively considered as undescribed species. Our findings suggest that the diversity of Dixonius in Thailand has been underestimated. Additional specimens and genetic data across their ranges, especially D. chotjuckdikuli, are needed for both molecular and morphological analyses to further clarify the phylogenetic relationships and true diversity of the genus Dixonius in Thailand.

 

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Yodthong, S., Rujirawan, A., Grismer, L.L., Stuart, B.L. & Aowphol, A. (2025) Molecular verification and phylogenetic placement of leaf-toed geckos (Dixonius: Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Thailand. Zootaxa, 5666 (4), 550–566. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5666.4.5