taxonID	type	description	language	source
7289D03F015E5A86B55EB513AC249CA1.taxon	description	Figs 3, 5, 6, Tables 1, 4, Suppl. material 2	en	Belluardo, Francesco, Piccoli, Costanza, Lobón-Rovira, Javier, Oliveira Alves, Ivo, Rasoazanany, Malalatiana, Andreone, Franco, Rosa, Gonçalo M., Crottini, Angelica (2025): A new microendemic gecko from the small forest fragments of south-eastern Madagascar (Squamata, Gekkonidae, Paragehyra). ZooKeys 1240: 1-38, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1240.151016
7289D03F015E5A86B55EB513AC249CA1.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. The species is assigned to the genus Paragehyra based on genetic distances at the COI and 16 S markers, the presence of two diagnostic morphological derived characters of the genus relative to the other gekkonids: the asymmetrical relationship of the claw and toe-pad on digit I and the uniscansorial distal pad on digit I separated from enlarged basal scales by a series of smaller scales (Nussbaum and Raxworthy 1994; Crottini et al. 2015). The inter-specific diagnosis is detailed in the following lines (Fig. 6; Tables 1, 4). Paragehyra tsaranoro sp. nov. has 12 distinct longitudinal rows of enlarged tubercles on the body dorsolateral surface (character BT), enlarged tubercles on the entire dorsal surface of hind limbs and on distal dorsal portions of forelimbs (character TDL), enlarged tubercles organised in transversal rows that encircle tail dorsolateral surface (character TT), 6 - 8 enlarged infralabial scales gradually decreasing in size in posterior direction (character I), lateral chin scales extending forward along each side, excluded from contact with first line of infralabials and first postmentals, in contact with second line of infralabials (character C), 3 - 6 ventral scales on the distal (tibial) segments of hind limbs enlarged into plates especially in the most distal part (character VET), five or six large scales on preaxial ventral portion of pes between end of tibia and base of digit I (character SPP), two or three small subdigital scales between enlarged basal scales and terminal distal pad on digit I of manus and pes (character SS), 4 - 6 subdigital scales on claw-bearing segment of digits II-V of manus and pes with the distalmost scale markedly larger than the others (character SSC), smooth dorsal scales on body surface smaller than ventral scales (character DO), smooth unpigmented or poorly pigmented ventral scales on body surface (character VE), smooth and pigmented subcaudal scales (character SC), triangle-shaped mental scale (character ME), large first postmental scales in contact for more than the 50 % of their length (character 1 PM). Among species of the genus Paragehyra, P. felicitae is the most similar to P. tsaranoro sp. nov., from which it differs in the following four morphological characters: TDL, enlarged tubercles present on the entire dorsal surface of hind limbs and only on distal dorsal segments of forelimbs (vs enlarged tubercles present on the entire dorsal surface of both hind limbs and forelimbs); C, lateral chin scales extend forward along each side, excluded from contact with first line of infralabials and first postmentals, in contact with second line of infralabials (vs lateral chin scales extend forward along each side, excluded from contact with first line of infralabials and first postmentals, in contact with second line of infralabials or lateral chin scales extend forward along each side, excluded from contact with first infralabials, in contact with first postmentals and second infralabials); SPP, five or six large scales on preaxial ventral portion of pes between end of tibia and base of digit I (vs generally 6 - 9 large scales on preaxial-ventral portion of pes between end of tibia and base of digit I); SSC, 4 - 6 subdigital scales on claw-bearing segment of digits II-V of manus and pes with the distalmost scale markedly larger than the others (vs 4 - 6 large and subequal subdigital scales on claw-bearing segment of digits II-V of manus and pes). Paragehyra tsaranoro sp. nov. differs from P. petiti in the following five characters: BT, 12 (vs 10) distinct longitudinal rows of enlarged tubercles on dorsolateral body surface; I, 6 - 8 enlarged infralabials that diminish gradually in size posteriorly (vs first 4 - 6 infralabials much larger than remainders); SSC, enlarged tubercles present on the entire dorsal surface of hind limbs and only on distal dorsal segments of forelimbs (vs 4 - 6 large and subequal subdigital scales on claw-bearing segment of digits II-V of manus and pes); SC, smooth and pigmented subcaudal scales (vs smooth and unpigmented subcaudal scales); ME, triangle-shaped mental scale (vs bell-shaped mental scale). Paragehyra tsaranoro sp. nov. differs from P. austini for the following eight characters: BT, 12 distinct longitudinal rows of enlarged tubercles on dorsolateral body surface (vs absence of any tubercle on dorsolateral body surface); TDL, enlarged tubercles present on the entire dorsal surface of hind limbs and only on distal dorsal segments of forelimbs (vs absence of enlarged tubercles on limbs dorsal surface); TT, transverse rows of enlarged tubercles that encircle tail dorsolateral surface (vs absence of tubercles on tail dorsolateral surface); VET, 3 - 6 ventral scales on the distal (tibial) segments of hind limbs enlarged into plates especially in the most distal part (vs ventral scales on distal (tibial) segment of hind limb slightly larger compared with scales on the proximal segments of hind limbs); SPP, five or six large scales on preaxial ventral portion of pes between end of tibia and base of digit I (vs generally 7 small scales on preaxial-ventral portion of pes between end of tibia and base of digit I); SS, two or three small subdigital scales between enlarged basal scales and terminal distal pad on digit I of manus and pes (vs 3 or 4 small subdigital scales between enlarged basal scales and terminal distal pad on digit I of manus and pes); DO, smooth dorsal scales on body surface smaller than ventral scales (vs smooth dorsal scales on body surface equal in size than ventrals); VE, smooth unpigmented or poorly pigmented ventral scales on body surface (vs smooth pigmented ventral scales on body surface). Paragehyra tsaranoro sp. nov. differs from P. gabriellae in the following 11 characters: BT, 12 distinct longitudinal rows of enlarged tubercles on dorsolateral body surface (vs presence of small tubercles not arranged in distinct rows); TDL, enlarged tubercles present on the entire dorsal surface of hind limbs and only on distal dorsal segments of forelimbs (vs absence of enlarged tubercles on limbs dorsal surface); TT, transverse rows of enlarged tubercles that encircle tail dorsolateral surface (vs presence of enlarged tubercles on tail not organised in transverse rows); C, lateral chin scales extend forward along each side, excluded from contact with first line of infralabials and first postmentals, in contact with second line of infralabials (vs lateral chin scales extend forward along each side in contact with first and second infralabials and with first postmentals or lateral chin scales excluded from contact with first infralabials, in contact with first postmentals and second infralabials); VET, 3 - 6 ventral scales on the distal (tibial) segments of hind limbs enlarged into plates especially in the most distal part (vs ventral scales on distal (tibial) segment of hind limb of normal size compared with scales on the proximal segments of hind limbs); SPP, five or six large scales on preaxial ventral portion of pes between end of tibia and base of digit I (vs 7 - 9 small scales along preaxial-ventral border of pes between end of tibia and base of digit I); SS, two or three small subdigital scales between enlarged basal scales and terminal distal pad on digit I of manus and pes (vs 7 - 10 small subdigital scales between enlarged basal scales and terminal distal pad on digit I of manus and pes); SSC, 4 - 6 subdigital scales on claw-bearing segment of digits II-V of manus and pes with the distalmost scale markedly larger than the others (vs numerous small scales increasing gradually in size distally); DO, smooth dorsal scales on body surface smaller than ventral scales (vs smooth dorsal scales on body surface equal in size than ventrals); VE, smooth unpigmented or poorly pigmented ventral scales on body surface (vs smooth pigmented ventral scales on body surface); 1 PM, large first postmental scales in contact for more than the 50 % of their length (vs large first postmental scales in contact for 50 % or less of their length).	en	Belluardo, Francesco, Piccoli, Costanza, Lobón-Rovira, Javier, Oliveira Alves, Ivo, Rasoazanany, Malalatiana, Andreone, Franco, Rosa, Gonçalo M., Crottini, Angelica (2025): A new microendemic gecko from the small forest fragments of south-eastern Madagascar (Squamata, Gekkonidae, Paragehyra). ZooKeys 1240: 1-38, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1240.151016
7289D03F015E5A86B55EB513AC249CA1.taxon	description	Description of the holotype. Figs 3 A, 5, 6; Table 1; Suppl. material 2. The holotype is an adult male in well-preserved condition with intact and original tail. Hemipenes are not everted. Digit III of the right pes was clipped and stored in 96 % ethanol as tissue sample for molecular analyses. The specimen has flattened body and head. Head width is slightly lower than body width (11.95 mm vs 13.65 mm). The head snout is rounded, with HL and HW that are 0.32 and 0.21 × SVL, respectively. Head is 1.52 longer than wider (HL / HW), 3.3 × longer than deeper (HL / HD), and 2.17 larger than deeper (HW / HD). Eye with vertical pupil and ED that is 0.29 × relative to SnL and 0.66 × the IOD. Ear openings are elliptical in vertical direction with a diameter on the horizontal axis (EO) that is 0.33 × the ED and 5.05 mm distant from the eye (ETD). Forelimb and hind limb lengths are 0.32 and 0.48 × SVL, respectively. Forelimbs and hind limbs lengths are 0.72 and 1.08 × the AGD, respectively. Forelimb when extended forward reaches nostril, when extended posteriorly reaches three quarters of distance to groin, hind limb reaches anterior axilla. Tail length is 1.24 × SVL. The tail is subcylindrical and dorsoventrally flattened at its base with a pointed and narrow tip. A concave groove is present between nasal scales, which are not in direct contact, separated by one IN. Nostrils in contact with rostral, nasals, and four postnasals, not in contact with first supralabials. Quadrangular rostral scale less wide than mental scale with an incomplete, dorsal vertical groove extending downward approximately one-half the distance from dorsal edge to lip. Nine enlarged supralabial scales (mostly rectangular) are present on both right and left sides (SL), and eight and seven infralabial scales (I) are on the right and left sides, respectively. Infralabials gradually decrease in size posteriorly. The first six supralabials are squared and have equal size, while the last three scales are much smaller and elongated in posterior direction. Triangle-shaped ME laterally in contact with the first line of infralabials. Posterior to the mental scale are two large 1 PM with irregular pentagonal shapes and in reciprocal contact for more than 50 % of their length. The first postmentals are bordered posteriorly by a line of six smaller polygonal scales (2 PM, which are clearly distinguishable from the much smaller and mostly granular chin scales that are posterior to these) and in contact with the first line of I. Scalation of the contact between chin scales with postmentals and infralabials (C) is variable between left and right sides. On the left side, chin scales extending laterally are excluded from contact with the first line of infralabials and first postmentals and are in contact with the second line of elongated infralabials (defined as a distinguishable line of scales that are larger than chin scales and parallel to the first infralabials). On the right side, chin scales extending laterally are in contact with a third line of elongated infralabials but excluded from contact with the first and second lines of infralabials and first postmentals. Throat scales small, circular, and largely juxtaposed. Scales just below posterior infralabials enlarged. Throat covered by small granular scales. Scales on the dorsal body surface are mostly small granular with smooth surface, smaller than ventral scales (approximately half dimension on the horizontal axis). Dorsal enlarged body tubercles (~ three times bigger than scales) with rounded or subconical shape that are arranged into 12 distinct parallel longitudinal rows (BT), equally divided between the two body sides. Dorsal scales on limbs are mostly small with granular shape and smooth surface. Body tubercles extend on the entire surface of hind limbs and only on the distal portions of forelimbs (TDL). Hind limbs tubercles are larger than tubercles on forelimbs and larger than the dorsal tubercles organized in the 12 parallel longitudinal rows. A few scattered tubercles are also found on the posterior-lateral portion of the head and the neck. Dorsal scales on the tail are small and granular with smooth surface and of the same size as the dorsal scales on body. Eight dark whorls with one or two transverse rows (ring) of enlarged tubercles of each of the first five dark whorl are alternated until the tail tip with seven paler whorls with two transverse rows (rings) of enlarged tubercles, one at the anterior and one at the posterior border of each of the first four pale whorl. Enlarged tubercles on tail are larger than the dorsal tubercles organised in the 12 parallel longitudinal and the enlarged tubercles present of limbs. Whorl 1 and 2 have 12 enlarged tubercles, whorls 3 and 4 have six enlarged tubercles, whorls 5 and 6 have four enlarged tubercles, whorl 7 has three enlarged tubercles, whorl 8 has two enlarged tubercles, whorl 9 has a single enlarged tubercle. The two distalmost pale whorls are lighter than the previous ones. Dark whorls size increases in posterior direction. Pale whorl size increases in posterior direction until the fourth pale whorl, with the remaining three pale whorls gradually decreasing towards the tail tip. Transverse rows of enlarged tubercles with rounded or subconical shape encircle the tail dorsolateral surface (TT). Tubercle size gradually decreasing in posterior direction. Scales on the body ventral surface are mostly regular rhombus-shaped and juxtaposed with smooth surface (VE). They are unpigmented or poorly pigmented (pigments are visible only under stereo microscope). Slightly imbricate, cycloid scales begin behind throat and cover chest and belly. Ventral surface of forelimbs covered with granular scales on proximal segment and imbricate cycloid scales on distal segment. Hind limbs have mostly large polygonal and slightly imbricate scales with smooth surface and unpigmented to the naked eye, as described above for the ventral body surface. Some pale scale pigmentation is only visible on belly. Ventral surface of pelvis and thigh (proximal portion of hind limbs) covered with imbricate cycloid scales. Scales on the hind limbs distal (tibial) portion are larger than on the proximal portion. They gradually increase in size towards pes, and the three distalmost form large plates (VET) as large as half the limb width. Subcaudal scales are enlarged transversely, smooth, and pigmented, especially in their anterior and posterior borders (SC). In the distalmost part of the tail, they tend to be pigmented also in their central portions and follow the alternated dark and pale colour pattern of the dorsal whorls described above. In the proximal portion of the tail, there are three central longitudinal rows of large imbricate and mostly cycloid scales and, starting from the section corresponding to the second dark dorsal whorl and in posterior direction, they form a unique longitudinal row of imbricate undivided plates almost as large as the tail width. These central longitudinal rows are laterally bordered on both sides by 1 to 3 longitudinal rows of smaller imbricate cycloid scales. Scales immediately adjacent to cloacal opening much smaller than surrounding scales. Precloacal or femoral pores are absent. Preaxial border of palm and digit I of manus covered with large scales. The pes palm is covered with mostly granular scales in their central part and relatively large cycloid imbricate scales on the lateral portions. In particular, on the pes preaxial ventral portion between the end of the tibia and the base of digit I there is a longitudinal row of five (right) and six (left) large imbricate cycloid scales with smooth surface on pes (SPP). Subdigital scalation of digit I of manus and pes organised into a basal longitudinal row of relatively large imbricate scales on the proximal portion, followed by two intermediate parallel rows of smaller juxtaposed scales (composed of three scales on left manus and pes; SS), and a distal enlarged rectangular pad with an extremely small claw (only visible with a stereo microscope) on top of it. Mostly imbricate cycloid scales on basal portions of digits II-V of manus and pes followed by rows of undivided and transversely enlarged pads covering the distal two-thirds of digits. Lamellae cover the most distal pads of digits II-V with the following numbers on the left side: 6, 7, 7, 7 pads (manus), 8, 8, 7, 7 pads (pes) (SLMP). Claw-bearing segments on top of the subdigital lamellae composed of relatively large imbricate rectangular scales organised into longitudinal rows with some degree of overlap between them. In the central row, the distalmost scale is markedly larger than the others and composed of the following scale numbers on left digits II-V: 5, 5, 5, 5 (manus) and 5, 6, 5, 5 (pes) (SSC). Comparative finger and toe length in manus is 1 <2 <5 <3 <4, in pes 1 <2 <3 <4 <5.	en	Belluardo, Francesco, Piccoli, Costanza, Lobón-Rovira, Javier, Oliveira Alves, Ivo, Rasoazanany, Malalatiana, Andreone, Franco, Rosa, Gonçalo M., Crottini, Angelica (2025): A new microendemic gecko from the small forest fragments of south-eastern Madagascar (Squamata, Gekkonidae, Paragehyra). ZooKeys 1240: 1-38, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1240.151016
7289D03F015E5A86B55EB513AC249CA1.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The specific epithet derives from the type locality Tsaranoro. The name is used as an invariable noun in apposition to the generic name.	en	Belluardo, Francesco, Piccoli, Costanza, Lobón-Rovira, Javier, Oliveira Alves, Ivo, Rasoazanany, Malalatiana, Andreone, Franco, Rosa, Gonçalo M., Crottini, Angelica (2025): A new microendemic gecko from the small forest fragments of south-eastern Madagascar (Squamata, Gekkonidae, Paragehyra). ZooKeys 1240: 1-38, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1240.151016
7289D03F015E5A86B55EB513AC249CA1.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Paragehyra tsaranoro sp. nov. is currently known from south-eastern Madagascar, restricted to three localities within the western part of the region surrounding the Andringitra Massif (Haute Matsiatra administrative region, Fianarantsoa province): Tsaranoro, Ambatomainty, and Iantaranomby (Suppl. material 1; Figs 1, 2). Iantaranomby is on the western slope of the Andringitra Massif, while Tsaranoro and Ambatomainty forests are in the plateau located west to the Massif, laying at the foot of two granitic domes rising a few hundred meters relative to ground elevation. The species has been sampled within an elevation range between 897 m (Ambatomainty) and 1,610 m a. s. l. (Iantaranomby).	en	Belluardo, Francesco, Piccoli, Costanza, Lobón-Rovira, Javier, Oliveira Alves, Ivo, Rasoazanany, Malalatiana, Andreone, Franco, Rosa, Gonçalo M., Crottini, Angelica (2025): A new microendemic gecko from the small forest fragments of south-eastern Madagascar (Squamata, Gekkonidae, Paragehyra). ZooKeys 1240: 1-38, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1240.151016
7289D03F015E5A86B55EB513AC249CA1.taxon	distribution	Updated distribution and proposed conservation status of P. felicitae. When P. felicitae was formally described, the species was only known from its type locality within Anja reserve and a few boulders located ca 1 km away, on the opposite side of the national road RN 7 relative to the reserve (Fig. 2 F; Suppl. material 1; Crottini et al. 2015). Due to the limited knowledge of the species distribution within the areas surrounding Anja and following IUCN Red List guidelines, Crottini et al. (2015) proposed to consider the species as Data Deficient. During the herpetological survey conducted by Belluardo et al. (2021 a) in several localities of the Andringitra region, including several areas surrounding Anja, the species was confirmed within Anja reserve and a few individuals were found in the forest of Sakaviro reserve (Fig. 2 E; Suppl. material 1), located ca 8 km north of Anja (Fig. 1). The semi-deciduous forest in Sakaviro is smaller than in Anja (14 vs 36 ha, Gould and Andrianomena 2015), and host similar environmental characteristics, being located at the base of a small granitic peak and with the presence of several large granitic boulders. Species elevation ranges between 950 m (Anja) and 1,089 m a. s. l. (Sakaviro). With the improved knowledge on the species distribution in the region surrounding the type locality, it is now possible to propose a new conservation status for P. felicitae. The updated EOO and AOO total 5 km 2 and 16 km 2, respectively. The EOO has been adjusted to 16 km 2 as it cannot be smaller than AOO (IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee 2024). Although smaller grid cells might produce lower and more realistic AOO extents, we followed IUCN Red List guidelines in using 2 × 2 km cells. We propose to evaluate this species as CR under criterium B 1 ab (iii) based on the narrow distribution (EOO <100 km 2), the occurrence at three isolated threat-defined locations (Anja reserve, the few boulders located at ca 1 km away from Anja and Sakaviro reserve), and the continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat due to persistent deforestation and forest degradation in the surrounding areas. Similar to P. tsaranoro sp. nov., P. felicitae seems to be associated with granitic boulders within or close to semi-deciduous forest (Crottini et al. 2015). Despite their limited extensions, both Anja and Sakaviro forests seem to host suitable habitats and the species was found to be relatively abundant in both localities. Anja and Sakaviro forests are managed by local community associations: Anja Miray (since 2000) and Sakaviro Miray (since 2012), respectively (Gould and Andrianomena 2015). Anja forest has been subject to selective logging and introduction of non-native trees before the community-managed reserve became established (Gabriel et al. 2018). Some human disturbance at the forest edge (i. e., tree logging and cattle grazing) has been observed (Crottini et al. 2015), suggesting that some level of forest use for livelihood resource remains, as expected in community-managed forests (Raik 2007; Nopper et al. 2017). The combination between severe habitat fragmentation and continued widespread deforestation within the region surrounding Anja and Sakaviro and some level of human disturbance in these forests (Crottini et al. 2015; Gould and Andrianomena 2015; Gould and Gabriel 2015) represent the main threats to P. felicitae and might seriously impact the viability of local populations causing the long-term decline of the species.	en	Belluardo, Francesco, Piccoli, Costanza, Lobón-Rovira, Javier, Oliveira Alves, Ivo, Rasoazanany, Malalatiana, Andreone, Franco, Rosa, Gonçalo M., Crottini, Angelica (2025): A new microendemic gecko from the small forest fragments of south-eastern Madagascar (Squamata, Gekkonidae, Paragehyra). ZooKeys 1240: 1-38, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1240.151016
