Cnemaspis limayei, Sayyed & Pyron & Dileepkumar, 2018

Sayyed, Amit, Pyron, Robert Alexander & Dileepkumar, R., 2018, Four new species of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from the northern Western Ghats, India, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 157) 12 (2), pp. 1-29 : 4-21

Cnemaspis limayei sp. nov. ( Figs. 3–6)

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Holotype: BNHS 2454 (adult male); collected at night on 12 February, 2015 on a tree branch near a dry stream at Marutiwadi (16.221N, 73.475E; 132 m asl), near Phondaghat , Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, India.

Paratypes: BNHS 2455 (female), ZSI-WRC R/1051 , ZSI-WRC R/1052 (male) and ZSI-WRC R/1053 (female); same locality as holotype on the tree trunk and on the rocks of a dry stream, collected at the same place and time as holotype .

Diagnosis: Small-sized Cnemaspis, SVL less than 31

mm. Dorsal scales on trunk heterogeneous; granular, feebly keeled scales intermixed with large keeled depressed scales; conical and spine-like tubercles absent on flank; ventral scales smooth, larger than dorsal; pre-anal scales larger than ventral; 26s27 scales across the belly between lowest rows of dorsal scales; mental posteriorly pointed; two pairs of postmentals, primary larger than secondary, secondary postmentals touching first and second infralabials; nostrils in narrow contact with supralabial I; seven lamellae on digit I of the manus and 9s11 on digit IV, 7s8 on digit I of the pes, and 10s12 on digit IV. Males with 4s5 femoral pores on each side, pre-anal pores absent. Tail base visibly swollen, median sub-caudal scales not enlarged; one triangular, slightly keeled post-anal, very small tubercles along each side present in both sexes; broadly acute, prominent tubercles with small keeled scales dorsally on tail.

Description of Holotype: BNHS 2454 (adult male); has an entire, original tail ( Fig. 4a, b). SVL 29.72 mm; head short (HL/SVL = 0.13), wide (HW/HL = 1.0), not strongly depressed (HD/HL = 0.63), distinct from elongate neck; canthus rostralis not prominent; loreal slightly inflated; snout slightly longer (E-S/HL = 0.77), longer than eye diameter (OD/E-S = 0.30); scales on snout and canthus rostralis large, keeled, slightly larger than those on forehead and interorbital; scales on forehead, interorbital, and occipital smaller, slightly keeled, granular ( Fig. 6a); eye small (OD/HL = 0.23), pupil round, superciliaries not elongated; ear opening small, deep, oval shaped (0.07); eye to ear distance much greater than diameter of eye (E-E/OD = 2.0); rostral wider (1.12 mm) than deep (0.63 mm), slightly swollen, weakly divided; nostrils in narrow contact with supralabial I; rostral in Color in life ( Fig. 3): Dorsal body brown; asymmetrical black marks with yellow dots on head; yellow dots more on snout than head; pale brownish-black line from nasal to mid eye; supraciliaries yellow, alternatively black; iris orange with thin orange line bordering pupil; pupil circular, black; supralabials brown and yellow; lower jaw and ventral side of throat yellow; black “W” mark posteriorly yellow, present on basal part of head; black arrowhead shaped patch on nuchal; semicircular black marks, posteriorly yellow, present on dorsal vertebra to sacral vertebra; few yellow spots present on flank; fore and hindlimbs with brown background with pale yellow and black patches; ventral body whitish-yellow; tail dorsally brown, with irregular black patches, ventrally grayish.

Color pattern in preservation ( Fig. 4a, b): Dorsum col- or changes in to brownish-grey, black marking on body faded; ventral body color turned in to faded yellow; ventral head color changes in to yellow with scattered grey patches; ventral side of limbs and tail turned in to grey.

contact with supralabial I; single row of scales separates orbit from supralabials; mental triangular, wider (1.43 mm) than deep (1.06 mm), posteriorly pointed; two pairs of postmentals, primary larger than secondary, secondary postmentals touching first and second infralabials; single enlarged gular scale prevents posterior contact of left and right postmentals ( Fig. 6b); infralabials bordered by row of elongated scales; supralabials to angle of jawnine right, eight left; infralabials- eight left, eight right ( Fig. 6c); body relatively slender, not elongate (TRL/ SVL = 0.40), without ventrolateral folds; dorsal scales on trunk heterogeneous, granular, feebly keeled intermixed with large keeled depressed scales ( Fig. 5a); conical and spine-like tubercles absent on flank ( Fig. 5c); ventral scales smooth, larger than dorsal, pre-anal scales larger than ventral; 27 scales across the belly between lowest rows of dorsal scales ( Fig. 5b); pre-anal pores absent, five femoral pores on right, four on left side ( Fig. 6f); fore and hind limbs relatively short, slender; forearm and tibia short (FL/SVL = 0.12; TBL/SVL = 0.14); interdigital webbing absent. Lamellae 7s8s10s10s8 (right manus, Fig. 6d), 7s8s10s10s10 (right pes, Fig. 6e), relative length of digits (measurements in mm): IV (3.09)> III (2.74)> V (2.65)> II (1.84)> I (1.36) (right manus), IV (3.95)> III (3.16)> V (3.14)> II (2. 58)> I (1.61) (right pes); tail sub-cylindrical, longer than snout-vent length (TL/SVL = 1.22), base visibly swollen, median sub-caudal scales not enlarged; triangular, slightly keeled post-anal, very small tubercles along each side present; broadly acute, prominent tubercles with small keeled scales on dorsal tail.

Variation: Adult specimens range in the type series size 29 to 30.16 mm ( Table 1). All paratypes resemble the holotype in most respects except for the following characters: 9s11 lamellae under fourth digit of manus, 7s8 lamellae under first digit of pes and 10–12 under fourth digit of pes. ZSI-WRC R/1051 male has four femoral pores on each side.

Etymology: Specific epithet is a patronym in honor of Mr. Sunil. B. Limaye, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Pune.

Common name: Limaye’s Day Gecko

Natural history: This is a nocturnal species found active on the tree trunk above 1s3 meters above ground, on the rock bed of a dried stream surrounded by forest ( Fig. 7). Individuals were also observed (not collected) on the walls of houses made of mud and on compound wall structures of stone in Marutiwadi village. The population of this species was not dense at the locality and nearby area where the type series were collected. Gravid females were observed in the months of October and November at the study area. The types were found sympatrically with Hemidactolus sp., Eutropis cf. macularia , Ahaetulla nasuta , and Amphiesma beddomei in the same habitat.

Distribution: This species is currently known only from the type locality at Marutiwadi (16.221N, 73.475E; 132 m asl), near Phondaghat, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, India ( Fig. 2).

Remarks: Cnemaspis limaoei is distinguished from C. girii and C. flaviventralis by the absence of conical and spine-like tubercles on flank, having more femoral pores, and pre-cloacal scales larger than ventral body scales ( Table 6). Additionally, C. girii and C. flaviventralis are reported from higher elevations ( Mirza et al. 2014; Sayyed et al. 2016), whereas C. limaoei is reported at lower elevations ~ 132 m asl. In this study we did not observe C. girii anywhere except from the Kaas plateau and Chalkewadi plateau, Satara district, Maharashtra, India, suggesting it is endemic to Satara.

Comparison: Cnemaspis limaoei sp. nov. can be separated from all its Indian congeners based on a combination of characters including: SVL 30.2 mm maximum in adults (vs. SVL 61.0 mm in C. anaikattiensis , 50.6 mm in C. beddomei , 45.1 mm in C. heteropholis , 41.7 mm in C. kottiooorensis , 42.3 mm in C. nilagirica , and 42.7 mm in C. sisparensis ); femoral pores present in males (vs. absent in C. assamensis , C. beddomei , C. nairi , and C. ornata ); 4s5 femoral pores on each side (vs. six in C. heteropholis , 5s 15 in C. jerdonii , 15s 18 in C. littoralis , and 7s 8 in C. sisparensis ); spine-like tubercles absent on flank (vs. present in C. assamensis , C. gracilis , C. indraneildasii , C. monticola , C. mosoriensis , C. nilagirica , and C. tropidogaster ); pre-anal pores absent (vs. present in C. adii , C. andersonii , C. australis , C. beddomei , C. goaensis , C. gracilis , C. monticola , C. nairi , C. ornata , C. otai , C. tropidogaster , C. wicksii , and C. oercaudensis ); median sub-caudal scales not enlarged (vs. enlarged in C. adii , C. australis , C. indica , C. littoralis , C. sisparensis , and C. wonadensis ); lamellae under fourth digit of pes 10s12 (vs. 12 in C. indraneildasii and 20s 21 in C. kottiooorensis ); dorsal scales on trunk heterogeneous (vs. homogeneous in C. adii , C. boiei , C. indica , C. jerdonii , C. kolhapurensis , C. littoralis , C. mosoriensis , C. nilagirica , and C. wonadensis ); midventral scales 26s27 (vs. 20s 22 in C. heteropholis ); two pairs of postmentals (vs. three pairs in C. anaikattiensis ); supralabials to angle of jaws 7s9, broadly acute shape, small tubercles intermixed with small keeled scales on tail (vs. supralabials to angle of jaws six, dorsal scales on tail granular and smooth in C. kottiooorensis ).

The new species is similar in general appearance to Cnemaspis girii but differs by absence of conical tubercles on flank (vs. conical tubercles present on flank); forehead, interorbital, and occipital with smaller slightly keeled granular scales, larger tubercles not present (vs. forehead and interorbital region, occipital and temporal region with much smaller, unkeeled, granular scales intermixed with larger tubercles); pre-cloacal scales larger than ventral body scales (vs. pre-cloacal scales and ventral body scales are equal); males with 4s5 femoral pores on each side (vs. males with four femoral pores on each side); nine supralabials to angle of jaws (vs. eight supralabials to angle of jaws); maximum SVL 31 (vs. maximum SVL 35 mm); 10s12 lamellae under fourth digit of pes (vs. 17s20) ( Table 6); from C. flaviventralis by having SVL less than 31 mm (vs. maximum SVL 37 mm); conical and spine-like tubercles absent on flank (vs. large keeled conical tubercles present on flanks); 26–27 midventrals (vs. 28s29 midventrals) ( Table 6); two pairs of postmentals (vs. three pairs of postmentals); males with 4s5 femoral pores on each side (vs. males with three femoral pores on each side); pre-cloacal scales larger than ventral body scales (vs. pre-cloacal scales same as ventral body scales).

Cnemaspis ajijae sp. nov. ( Figs. 8–11) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A88992C2-BBC4-4A32-80C9-6683C11A9252

Holotype: BNHS 2456 , adult male; collected by hand at night on 15 November, 2015, on a tree trunk beside a dry stream surrounded by dense forest, at Mahabaleshwar (17.545N, 73.403E; 1,377 m asl), Satara district , Maharashtra, India.

Paratypes: ZSI-WRC R/1054 , ZSI-WRC R/1056 (male), and ZSI-WRC R/1055 (female) share the same data and same locality as the holotype and ZSI-WRC R/1057 (male) and ZSI-WRC R/1058 (female), in the dense forest at Mahabaleshwar (17.553N, 73.391E; 1,291 m asl), Satara district , Maharashtra, India, collected on 15 November , 2015; ZSI-WRC R/1059 , ZSI-WRC R/1060 (male), and BNHS 2457 (female), Panchgani (17.554N, 73.483E; 1,323 m asl), Satara district, Maharashtra, India, collected on 29 October, 2015 .

Diagnosis: A medium sized Cnemaspis, SVL less than 37 mm. Dorsal scales on trunk heterogeneous; granular, keeled scales intermixed with large keeled, depressed scales; conical and spine-like tubercles absent on flank; ventral scales larger than dorsal, smooth; 29s30 scales across belly between lowest rows of dorsal scales; three pairs of postmentals, primary larger than others, secondary postmentals touching first and second infralabials; third chinshield smaller than second; 7s8 lamellae on digit I of manus and 9s12 on digit IV, 7s8 on digit I of pes and 10s13 on digit IV; males with three or four femoral pores, pre-anal pore absent; median row of sub-caudals smooth, imbricate not enlarged; small triangular tubercles along each side present in both sexes; very small acute, prominent tubercles with small keeled scales on dorsal tail.

Description of Holotype: BNHS 2456 (adult male); has an entire, original tail ( Fig. 9a, b). SVL 29.80 mm; head moderately short (HL/SVL = 0.17), wide (HW/HL = 1.03), not strongly depressed (HD/HL = 0.61), distinct from elongate neck; canthus rostralis not prominent; snout slightly longer (E-S/HL = 0.75), much longer than eye diameter (OD/ E-S = 0.30); weakly keeled, granular scales on snout and on maxilla; scales on forehead and on interorbital granular, smaller than snout ( Fig. 11a); eye fairly small (OD/HL = 0.23), pupil round; superciliaries not elongated; ear opening deep, circular, small (EL/HL = 0.02); eye to ear distance much greater than diameter of eyes (E-E/OD = 2.43); rostral wider (1.51 mm) than (TL/SVL = 1.10); tail base visibly swollen; triangular shape post-anal small keeled tubercles along each side present; median row of sub-caudals smooth, imbricate, not enlarged; very small acute, prominent tubercles with small keeled scales on dorsal tail.

Color in life ( Fig. 8): Dorsum ground color grey; heartshaped mark on the dorsal head; semicircular dark-black mark on the nape; vertically elongate black mark on cervical; black and brown chevron marks scattered on the dorsal vertebrae with light orange patches; brown and orange spots on flanks; supraciliaries brownish; pupil circular, black surrounded by yellowish-orange color; single brownish line with black scales from nasal to mid eye region, similar line runs from the posterior eye to ear opening; supralabials barred alternately with brown and light orange; throat and ventrum of body white; ventral view of lower and upper arm grey; original part of the tail brown with marks of black transverse lines; ventral part of the tail grayish.

deep (0.58 mm), slightly swollen, divided; nostrils not in contact with supralabial I; rostral in contact with supralabial I; two rows of scales separate orbit from supralabials; mental triangular, approximately equivalent (1.68 mm) as long (1.14 mm); three pairs of postmentals, primary larger than others, secondary postmentals touching to first and second infralabials, third chinshiled smaller than second; single enlarged gular scale prevents posterior contact of left and right postmentals ( Fig. 11b); infralabials bordered by a row of small elongated scales; supralabials to angle of jaw- seven right, eight left; infralabials- seven left, seven right ( Fig. 11c); body relatively slender, not elongate (TRL/SVL = 0.43) without ventrolateral folds; dorsal scales on trunk heterogeneous, granular, keeled, intermixed with large keeled depressed scales ( Fig. 10a); conical and spine-like tubercles absent on flank ( Fig. 10c); ventral scales smooth, larger than dorsal; midbody scales across belly between the lowest rows of dorsal scales 29 ( Fig. 10b); three femoral pores on each side, pre-anal pores absent ( Fig. 11f); fore and hindlimbs relatively short, slender; forearm and tibia short (FL/SVL = 0.14; TBL/SVL = 0.14); interdigital webbing absent; lamellae 7s8s10s10s9 (right manus, Fig. 11d), 7s8s10s11s10 (right pes, Fig. 11e); relative length of digits (measurements in mm): IV (2.92)> V (2.63)> III (2.41)> II (2.16)> I (1.84) (right manus); IV (3. 79)> V (3.30)> III (3.05)> II (2.85)> I (1.35) (right pes); tail sub-cylindrical, longer than snout-vent length

Color pattern in alcohol preservation ( Fig. 9a, b): Dorsum brown and black marks in life faded, turned in to brown, ventral body color turned in to yellowish-grey with scattered grey patches and ventral tail became darkgrey.

Variation: Adult specimens range in the type series size 28s 36.23 mm ( Table 2). All paratypes resemble the holotype in most respects except for the following characters: 7–8 lamellae under first digit of manus, 9–12 under fourth digit of manus, 7–8 lamellae under first digit of pes, and 10s13 under fourth digit of pes. Holotype BNHS 2456 (male) has three femoral pores each side, ZSI-WRC R/1054 , ZSI-WRC R/1059 , ZSI-WRC R/1056 , and ZSI-WRC R/1057 (males) have four femoral pores each side, ZSI-WRC R/1060 has four on right, three on left. 7s8 supralabials to the angle of jaw, 7s8 infralabials to the angle of jaw, and two pairs of postmentals in ZSI-WRC R/1056 and ZSI-WRC R/1058 .

Etymology: Specific epithet is a patronym in honor of Mrs. Ajija Sayyed, mother of the first author.

Common name: Ajija’s Day Gecko.

Natural history: This species can be found at night in dense evergreen forest, as well as in the human habitation in Mahabaleshwar. The type series (BNHS 2456 male and ZSI-WRC R/1055 female) were collected beside a dry stream surrounded by dense forest ( Fig. 12a), specimens (ZSI-WRC R/1060 male and ZSI-WRC R/1058 female) on the wall of bus stand in Mahabaleshwar, wall of lateritic plateau (tableland of Panchgani), and in the jungle area nearby the town of Panchgani ( Fig. 12b). During this survey we observed several individuals of Cnemaspis ajijae at both localities. The types were found sympatrically with Hemidactolus sp., Trimeresurus malabaricus , Trimeresurus gramineus , Boiga trigonata, Locodon aulicus, and L. travancoricus in the same habitat where specimens BNHS 2456 (male), ZSI-WRC R/1054 (male), and ZSI-WRC R/1055 (female) were collected. At Panchgani, Hemidactolus maculates and Hemidactolus sp. were observed at the same habitat where BNHS 2457 (female), ZSI-WRC R/1056 (male), and ZSI-WRC R/1057 (male) were collected.

Distribution: This species is seemingly abundant in Mahabaleshwar (17.545N, 73.403E; 1,377 m asl), (17.553N, 73.391E; 1,291 m asl), and in Panchgani (17.554N, 73.483E; 1,323 m asl), Satara district, Maharashtra, India. It is currently known only from a small area around the type locality. See Fig. 2 for the type locality of the species.

Remarks: Cnemaspis ajijae is distinguished from C. girii and from C. flaviventralis by several morphological characters. C. ajijae can easily be distinguished from C. girii by having maximum SVL 37 mm (vs. 35 mm); conical and spine-like tubercles absent on flank (vs. large keeled conical tubercles on flank); 29–30 midventrals (vs. 26s28 midventrals); three pairs of postmentals (vs. two pairs of postmentals); very small acute, prominent tubercles dorsally on tail (vs. large tubercles present on dorsal part of tail); from C. flaviventralis by absence of conical and spine-like tubercles on flank (vs. large keeled conical tubercles present on flanks); 29–30 midventrals (vs. 28s29); 7s8 supralabials (vs. 7s9); 10s13 lamellae on digit IV of pes (vs. 10s12); small tubercles on the tail (vs. large tubercles on the tail).

Comparison: Cnemaspis ajijae can be separated from all its Indian congeners based on a combination of characters including: SVL 37 mm maximum in adults (vs. SVL 61 mm in C. anaikattiensis , 50.6 mm in C. beddomei , 45.1 mm in C. heteropholis , 42.3 mm in C. nilagirica , and 42.7 mm in C. sisparensis ); males with femoral pores (vs. absent in C. assamensis , C. beddomei , C. nairi , and C. ornata ); males with 3s4 femoral pores (vs. six in C. heteropholis , 5s 15 in C. jerdonii , and 15s 18 in C. littoralis ); pre-anal pores absent in males (vs. present in C. adii , C. andersonii , C. australis , C. beddomei , C. goaensis , C. gracilis , C. monticola , C. nairi , C. ornata , C. otai , C. wicksii , and C. oercaudensis ); spine-like tubercles absent on flank (vs. present in C. assamensis , C. goaensis , C. gracilis , C. monticola , C. nilagirica , and C. tropidogaster ); dorsal scales on trunk heterogeneous (vs. homogenous in C. adii , C. boiei , C. indica , C. jerdonii , C. kolhapurensis , C. littoralis , C. mosoriensis , C. nilagirica , C. sisparensis , and C. wonadensis ); sub-caudal scales not enlarged (vs. enlarged in C. kottiooorensis , C. monticola , and C. wonadensis ); 29s30 midventral scales (vs. 26s 27 in C. anaikattiensis ); dorsal scales on both fore and hind limbs are weakly carinate (vs. dorsal scales on both fore and hind limbs smooth in C. wicksii ); 10s13 lamellae on fourth digit of the pes (vs. 20s 21 in C. kottiooorensis ); nostril not in contact with supralabial (vs. nostril in contact with the first supralabial in C. anaikattiensis ).

Cnemaspis ajijae can be distinguished from C. indraneildasii based on a combination of characters including: scales on flank heterogeneous (vs. flank mostly homogenous); spine-like tubercles absent on flank (vs. spine-like tubercles present on flanks); dorsal scales large (vs. small); 29s30 midventrals (vs. 20); nostrils not in contact with supralabial (vs. nostril connects first supralabial); dorsal scales on limbs weakly carinate (vs. not carinate); 7s8 supralabials to angle of jaw (vs. 8s9); very small acute shape, tubercles on the tail (vs. enlarged pointed tubercle); from C. girii by having maximum SVL 37 mm (vs. SVL less than 35 mm); conical and spine-like tubercles absent on flank (vs. large keeled conical tubercles on flank); 29–30 midventrals (vs. 26–28 midventrals) ( Table 6); three pairs of postmentals (vs. two pairs of postmentals); very small acute, prominent tubercles dorsally on tail (vs. large tubercles present on dorsal part of tail); from C. flaviventralis by absence of conical and spine-like tubercles on flank (vs. large keeled conical tubercles present on flanks); 29–30 midventrals (vs. 28–29); 7–8 supralabials (vs. 7s9); 10s13 lamellae on digit IV pes (vs. 10s12) ( Table 6); small tubercles on the tail (vs. large tubercles on the tail); from C. limaoei by having maximum SVL 37 mm (vs. less than 31 mm); 29s30 midventrals (vs. 26s27); three pairs of postmentals (vs. two pairs of postmentals); males with three or four femoral pores (vs. 4s5 femoral pores) ( Table 6).

Cnemaspis amboliensis sp. nov. ( Figs. 13–18) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6D80B074-DF22-478B-AD45-658640E80B6A

Holotype: BNHS 2458 (adult male); collected on 23 October, 2015 at Amboli (15.960 N, 73.999 E; 735 m asl), Sindhudurg district , Maharashtra, India.

Paratypes: BNHS 2459 (adult female) , BNHS 2504 , BNHS 2506 , BNHS 2507 , BNHS 2508 , and BNHS 2505 (all male) have the same collection data as for the holotype, collected on tree trunks, rocks, inside walls of local houses, and on stone compound walls .

Diagnosis: Medium-sized day gecko, SVL less than 32 mm; dorsal scales on trunk heterogeneous; granular, keeled, small scales intermixed with some large keeled scales; some conical and spine-like tubercles on flank; ventral scales smooth, imbricate, larger than dorsal; 19s22 midbody scales across the belly; scales on snout feebly keeled; canthus rostralis and forehead granular, feebly keeled; rostral not swollen, medial groove absent; gular with carinate scales, anterior gular scales smooth; dorsal scales on forelimb and hindlimb tricarinate; tail sub-cylindrical, ventrally swollen, one small triangular post-anal spur along each side present in males; sub-caudal smooth, imbricate, second and third rows each side carinated, median row slightly enlarged; 6s7 lamellae on digit I of manus and 10 on digit IV, 6s7 on digit I of pes and 10s11 on digit IV; males with three or four pre-anal pores and 3s4 femoral pores on each side of thigh.

Description of holotype: BNHS 2458 (adult male); in good condition with an original tail ( Fig. 14a, b); 29.87 mm SVL; head fairly short (HL/SVL = 0.19), wide (HW/ HL = 0.90), slightly depressed (HD/HL = 0.55), distinct from moderately elongated neck; loreal not inflated, canthus rostralis not prominent; snout elongated (E-S/ HL = 0.79), much longer than eye diameter (OD/E-S = 0.24); scales on snout, canthus rostralis and forehead granular, feebly keeled; scales on interorbital and occipital smaller, granular with some feebly keeled ( Fig. 16a); eye moderately small (OD/HL = 0.19), pupil round; supraciliary scales slightly enlarged; ear opening small, oval shape, higher than wide (EL/HL = 0.03); eye to ear distance greater than diameter of eyes (E-E/OD = 1.77); rostral smooth wider than deeper, not swollen, medial groove absent ( Fig. 16a, and Fig. 18a, c), in contact with first supralabial; nostrils not in contact with supralabial I; nares separated by two enlarged supranasals, three internasal scales, medal one moderately small, extends towards snout tip ( Fig. 18a, c, and Fig. 19a); two rows of scales separate the orbit from the supralabials; mental sub-triangular, slightly wider (1.48 mm) than longer (1.31 mm), posteriorly not pointed; two pairs of postmentals, primary postmentals separated by mental, larger than secondary, surrounded laterally by first infralabial, secondary in contact with first and second infralabial ( Fig. 16b and Fig. 19c); body relatively slender, not elongate (TRL/SVL = 0.38), without ventrolateral folds; supralabials to angle of jaw- seven right, eight left, at midorbital position- seven right, seven left; infralabialsseven left, seven right ( Fig. 16c); dorsal scales on trunk heterogeneous, granular keeled small scales intermixed with some large keeled scales ( Fig. 15a); neck and sacrum with feebly keeled scales, lateral part of the neck with granular, small feebly carinate scales; few conical tubercles and spine-like tubercles present on flank ( Fig. 15c); ventral scales smooth, imbricate, larger than dorsal ( Fig. 15b); 22 midbody scales across the belly between the lowest rows of dorsal scales; gular region with some feebly carinate scales, anterior gular scales smooth; three pre-anal and four femoral pores on each side ( Fig. 16f); fore and hindlimbs relatively short, slender; forearm and tibia short (FL/SVL = 0.13; TBL/SVL = 0.14); dorsal scales of the forelimb and hindlimb tricarinate, keels well aligned to form more or continuous lines on dorsal part of humerus and femur, laterally carinate ( Fig. 17a, b, and Fig. 20a, c), ventrally smooth; lamellae 7s8s11s10s9 right manus ( Fig. 16d), 7s9s11s11s10 right pes ( Fig. 16e); IV (3.05)> III (2.47)> II (2.35)> V (2.26)> I (1.47) (right manus); IV (4.06)> V (3.18)> III (3. 16)> II (2.20)> I (1.33) (right pes), interdigital webbing absent; tail longer than snout-vent length (TaL/SVL = 1.21), sub-cylindrical, ventrally swollen; small triangular post-anal tubercles present along each side; sub-caudal smooth, imbricate, median row slightly enlarged, second and third rows each side carinated ( Fig. 18d, 21c); prominent acuminate keeled tubercles present with small keeled scales on dorsal tail ( Fig. 18b, 21a).

Color in life ( Fig. 13): Dorsal body brownish-yellow including tail; faded brown line present at interorbital region; lateral side of head and neck consists of two pale brown lines, one from nasal to mid eye, other posterior age of eye to ear; semicircle in brown marking on posterior head; dark-blackish-brown notched mark with a light-yellow patch in posterior end of it present on neck; supraciliaries yellow; labials light yellow with some dark-yellow spots; pupil rounded, black with surrounding yellow iris; ventral arm, throat, and ventral head light brown; venter dusty white; ventral hindlimb and ground of tail dusty white with irregular yellow markings; mid-dorsal area of body brownish-yellow, with five arrowhead shaped markings between fore and hindlimbs; some brown spots present in upper flank, slightly augmented by yellow on lower flank; original part of tail brownish-yellow, with pale brown bands.

Color pattern in alcohol preservation ( Fig. 14a, b): Dorsum ground color became brownish, brown and black markings faded light; ventral body including tail color turned in to grey.

Etymology: The specific epithet amboliensis refers to the type locality Amboli, from which the type series was collected.

Common name: Amboli Day Gecko.

Natural history: This species was nocturnally active on the tree trunks and rocks of the wooded area of Amboli town ( Fig. 22a) and was also found on the inside and outside of the walls of local houses and on the stone compound walls in Amboli town ( Fig. 22b). They were not found active during the day time in the study area. Apparently healthy populations of this species can be seen during JunesSeptember; we have observed gravid females in the months of September and October. The types were found sympatric with Hemidactolus sp., Cortodactolus albofasciatus, H. prashadi, Cnemaspis kolhapurensis , C. flaviventralis , Bungarus caeruleus , Trimeresurus malabaricus , Locodon travancoricus , Macropisthodon plumbicolor , Uropeltis sp. , Raorchestes ghatei , Pseudophilautus amboli , Indirana chiravasi , Rhacophorus malabaricus, Xanthophrone tigerina, and Duttaphronus melanostictus.

Distribution: This species is currently known only from its type locality at Amboli (15.960N, 73.999E; 735 m asl), Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, India. See Fig. 2 for the type locality of the species.

Variation: Adult specimens range in size from 28s 32 mm ( Table 3). All paratypes resemble the holotype except as follows: the number of lamellae on digit I of the manus is seven in all males, female BNHS 2459 with six, and 10 on digit IV in all the specimens, on digit I of the pes it is seven, specimen number BNHS 2507 male with six at left pes, female BNHS 2459 with six on left and right pes, and 10s11 on digit IV. Holotype male BNHS 2458 has four pre-anal and four femoral pores on each side. All specimens are almost similar with each other in color and in external features. Mensural data for the type series is given in Table 3.

Remarks: Cnemaspis amboliensis is distinguished from C. goaensis by having a maximum SVL 32 mm (vs. less than 28.3 mm); rostral scale not divided, medial groove absent (vs. rostral scale partially divided by a medial groove); nares separated by two supranasals, of the three internasal scales, middle one extends towards snout tip (vs. nares separated by two enlarged supranasals, a single internasal); primary postmental scale separated by mental scale (vs. primary postmental scale separated by single gular scale); scales on ventral surface of neck smooth (vs. scales on ventral surface of neck feebly carinate); dorsal scales on forelimb and hindlimb tricarinate (vs. dorsal scales on both fore and hindlimb weakly carinate) ( Table 6).

Comparison: Cnemaspis amboliensis may be distinguished from all other peninsular Indian congeners on the basis of the following differing or non-overlapping characters: dorsal scales on trunk heterogeneous (vs. dorsal scales homogenous in C. adii , C. boiei , C. indica , C. indraneildasii , C. jerdonii , C. kolhapurensis , C. littoralis , C. mosoriensis , C. nilagirica , C. sisparensis , and C. wonadensis ); males with pre-anal and femoral pores (vs. males with femoral pores in C. flaviventralis , C. girii , C. heteropholis , and C. kottiooorensis ; no pre-anal or femoral pores in C. assamensis ; two pre-anal pores present which is separated by two unpored scales, 3s5 femoral pores on each side in C. gracilis ; femoral pores absent whereas pre-anal pores present in C. nairi ); spine-like tubercles present on flanks (vs. spine like tubercles absent on flanks in C. anaikattiensis , C. australis , C. beddomei , C. ornate , C. otai , and C. oercaudensis ); sub-caudal slightly enlarged and smooth; rostral medial groove absent (vs. no median series of enlarged sub-caudals; rostral medial groove present in C. flaviventralis ; sub-caudals enlarged, keeled intermixed with smooth, carinate scales; rostral scale partially divided by a medial groove in C. monticola ; no median series of enlarged sub-caudals in C. andersonii ); males with three or four pre-anal pores and 3s4 femoral pores on each side of the thigh; dorsal scales on forelimb and hindlimbs tricarinate, (vs. four pre-anal pores, four or five femoral pores on each side; dorsal scales on both fore and hind limbs smooth in C. wicksi ); ventral scales smooth, imbricate; 19s22 midventrals (vs. ventral scales of the body keeled and imbricate; 28 midventrals in C. tropidogaster ); from Cnemaspis limaoei sp. nov. and Cnemaspis ajijae sp. nov. by having conical and spine-like tubercles on flank; presence of pre-anal pores; 19s22 midventrals (vs. conical and spine-like tubercles absent; pre-anal pores absent in both species; 26s27 midventrals in Cnemaspis limaoei sp. nov., 29s 30 in Cnemaspis ajijae sp. nov.). New species is similar in size and general appearance to Cnemaspis goaensis , however differs from this by rostral scale not divided, medial groove absent ( Fig. 18a and 19a) (vs. rostral scale partially divided by a medial groove ( Fig. 19b)); nares separated by two supranasals, of the three internasal scales, middle one extends towards snout tip (vs. nares separated by two enlarged supranasals, single internasal); primary postmental scale separated by mental scale (vs. primary postmental scale separated by single gular scale); scales on ventral surface of neck smooth (vs. scales on ventral surface of neck feebly carinate); granular keeled small scales intermixed with some large keeled scales dorsally; neck and sacrum with feebly keeled scales (vs. mid-dorsal granules, mixed with large keeled tubercles from head to sacrum); dorsal scales on forelimb and hindlimb tricarinate ( Fig. 17a, b, and 20 a, c) (vs. dorsal scales on both fore and hindlimb weakly carinate ( Fig. 20b, d)); lamellae manus 7s8s11s10s9, pes 7–9–11–11–10, measurement of right fingers: fourth finger larger than third, third larger than second, second larger than fifth, and fifth larger than first; toes: fourth larger than fifth, fifth larger than third, third larger than second, and second larger than first (vs. lamellae manus 9s12s13s15s11, pes 9s12s16s16s16; measurement of right fingers: fourth finger equal to second, third smaller than fourth and second, fifth smaller than third, and first smaller than fifth; toes: second larger than first, first larger than third, third larger than fourth, and fourth larger than fifth); sub-caudal smooth, imbricate, median row slightly enlarged, second and third rows each side carinated ( Fig. 18d and 21c) (vs. median row of subcaudals slightly enlarged, smooth ( Fig. 21d)); prominent acuminate keeled tubercles present with small keeled scales on dorsal tail ( Fig. 18b and 21a) (vs. dorsal scales on mid-tail acute, imbricate, carinate ( Fig. 21b)).

Cnemaspis mahabali sp. nov. ( Figs. 23–26) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D25C0B90-783A-4057-9D68-278200660A0E

Holotype: BNHS 2449 (adult male) collected on 21 December 2016 at Bhira , near Tamhini (18.454N, 73.222E; 558 m asl), Pune district, Maharashtra, India.

Paratypes: BNHS 2502 and BNHS 2450 (adult male) , BNHS 2451 and BNHS 2503 (adult female) , have same collection data as holotype on the tree trunk .

Diagnosis: A medium-sized, robust Cnemaspis with maximum snout-vent length of 32.25 mm; dorsal scales heterogeneous consisting of granular small scales intermixed with few large feebly keeled scales; conical and spine-like tubercles absent on the flank; scales on neck not keeled; ventral part of neck feebly carinate; gular smooth; ventral scales of body smooth, imbricate, larger than dorsal; 26 midbody scales across the belly; dorsal scales of forelimb and hindlimb strongly keeled; ventral scales of both limbs smooth; scales on snout, canthus rostralis, and forehead granular, feebly keeled and those on interorbital and occipital smaller, granular; rostrum with partially dividing median groove, rostral in contact with first supralabial; nares separated from each other by two supranasals and a small internasal scale; nostrils not in contact with supralabial I; nasals bordered posteriorly by three post nasals; mental scale sub-triangular, longer than wider, posteriorly not pointed; two pairs of postmentals, primary postmentals separated by large median scales, primary postmentals larger than secondary, secondary postmentals in contact with first and second infralabial; supralabials 8s9; infralabials 7s8; three femoral pores on each side; 10s11 lamellae on digit IV of manus and 11s12 on digit IV of pes; extremely small post-anal spur along each side; sub-caudal smooth, imbricate, median row weakly enlarged; small keeled pointed tubercles present with small, keeled scales on dorsal tail.

Description of holotype: BNHS 2449 (adult male), in good condition with an entire tail ( Fig. 24a, b). 31.06 mm SVL; head short (HL/SVL = 0.27), slightly wide (HW/HL = 0.60), depressed (HD/HL = 0.34); snout short (E-S/HL = 0.43), longer than eye diameter (OD/E-S = 0.27); scales on snout, canthus rostralis, forehead granular, feebly keeled; interorbital, occipital smaller, granular scales ( Fig. 26a); eye small (OD/HL = 0.11), pupil round; supraciliary scales slightly enlarged; ear opening very small, higher than wide (EL/HL = 0.004); eye to ear distance greater than diameter of eyes (E-E/OD = 2.64); rostrum broader than long, with a partially dividing median groove, rostral in contact with first supralabial; nares separated from each other by two supranasals and a small internasal scale ( Fig. 26a); nostrils not in contact with supralabial I; nasals bordered posteriorly by three post nasals ( Fig. 26c); mental scale sub-triangular, longer than wide, posteriorly not pointed; two pairs of postmentals, primary postmentals separated by large intermediate scales, primary postmentals larger than secondary, surrounded laterally by first infralabial, secondary in contact with first and second infralabial ( Fig. 26b); body relatively slender, not elongate (TRL/SVL = 0.42), without ventrolateral folds; supralabials to angle of jaweight right, eight left; infralabials- seven left, eight right ( Fig. 26c); dorsal scales on trunk heterogeneous, granular small scales intermixed with few large feebly keeled scales ( Fig. 25a); scales on neck not keeled; scales on ventral part of neck feebly carinate; conical and spine-like tubercles absent on the flank ( Fig. 25c); ventral scales smooth, imbricate, larger than dorsal ( Fig. 25b); 26 midbody scales across belly between lowest rows of dorsal scales; gular smooth; three femoral pores on each side ( Fig. 26f); fore and hindlimbs relatively short, slen- der; forearm and tibia short (FL/SVL = 0.12; TBL/SVL = 0.13); dorsal scales on forelimb and hindlimb strongly keeled; ventral scales of both limbs smooth; lamellae 7s9s11s10s9 right manus ( Fig. 26d), 7s9s11s11s11 right pes ( Fig. 26e); IV (2.58)> III (2.22)> II (2.04)> V (1.97)> I (1.72) (right manus); IV (3.30)> V (2.66)> III (2.65)> II (2.36)> I (1.61) (right pes), interdigital webbing absent; tail longer than snout-vent length (TaL/ SVL = 1.15), sub-cylindrical, ventrally swollen; extremely small post-anal spur along each side; sub-caudal smooth, imbricate, median row weakly enlarged ( Fig. 24b); small keeled pointed tubercles present with small, keeled scales on dorsal tail ( Fig. 24a).

Color in life ( Fig. 23): Dorsal part of body brown; dark-brown line present on canthal region connected with eye to nasal; chevron-like single mark on interorbital area; ‘W’ mark on head; small black patch on the nuchal; five dark-brown markings posteriorly surrounded by light-yellow present on mid dorsal body; supraciliaries brown; pupil circular, black with surrounding being reddishbrown; supralabial brown with orange spots; ventral side of body including throat grey; brown with light-yellow stripes on both limbs and on fingers; ventral side of lower and upper arm grayish; light-yellowish spots scattered in upper flank; original part of tail grayish-brown with few irregular dark-brown patches; ventral surface of tail grayish.

Color pattern in alcohol preservation ( Fig. 24a, b): Dorsum body color became light brown; vertebral markings became dark-brown; dorsal part of limbs and tail became light brown with dark patches; one light brown radiating line from posterior edge of eyes; venter of throat, body and tail unpatterned yellowish-brown.

Etymology: The specific epithet is a patronym, honoring Mr. Anil Mahabal, retired scientist of Zoological Survey of India, Pune, Maharashtra, for his immense contribution to Indian natural history.

all specimens are similar with each other in color and in external features.

Remarks: Cnemaspis mahabali is distinguished from C. girii , C. flaviventralis , and C. ajijae by several morphological characters. C. mahabali can easily be distinguished from C. girii and C. flaviventralis by lacking conical tubercles on the flanks; low count of midventrals 19s22; scales on ventral part of neck carinate; and from C. ajijae by having few large weakly keeled scales on the dorsal body; carinate scales on ventral part of neck; two pairs of postmentals ( Table 6).

Common name: Mahabal’s Day Gecko

Natural history: All specimens in the type series were collected at night on tree trunks and on branches. This species was not observed to be active in the day time during the study period. This species is widely distributed in the western parts of Maharashtra, recorded from the coastal area to up on the hills of the Western Ghats below the elevation 600 m from the sea level. Type locality of this gecko is Bhira, near Tamhini, Pune district, Maharashtra, India ( Fig. 27a, b), where all the specimens were collected. The types were found sympatrically with Hemidactolus sp., H. cf. maculates, Macropisthodon plumbicolor, Duttaphronus melanostictus, Raorchestes ghatei , and Polopedates maculates.

Distribution: This species is widely distributed in most parts of the coastal forest and hilly regions of western Maharashtra. In this study we have reported this species from Ratnagiri district, parts of Thane district, the hilly area of Raigad district, and Pune district. Live specimens were examined from Devrukh, Guhagar, Chiplun, Mulshi, Tail Baila, Patnus, Bhira, Phansad, Mangaon, Tambadi, and Uran in Maharashtra. Type specimens were collected from Bhira, near Tamhini (18.454N, 73.222E; 558 m asl), Pune district, Maharashtra, India. See Fig. 2 for the type locality of the species.

Variation: Adult specimens range in size from 27s 33 mm ( Table 4). All paratypes resemble the holotype and

Comparison: Cnemaspis mahabali may be distinguished from all other peninsular Indian congeners on the basis of the following differing or non-overlapping characters: dorsal scales on trunk heterogeneous (vs. dorsal scales homogenous in C. adii , C. boiei , C. indraneildasii , C. indica , C. jerdonii , C. kolhapurensis , C. littoralis , C. mosoriensis , C. nilagirica , C. sisparensis , and C. wonadensis ); conical and spine-like tubercles absent on the flank (vs. spine-like tubercles present on flank in C. assamensis , C. indraneildasii , C. jerdonii , C. littoralis , C. monticola , C. mosoriensis , C. nilagirica , and C. tropidogaster , conical tubercles present on flanks in C. kottiyoorensis and C. flaviventralis ); males with three femoral pores on each side (vs. males with six femoral pores in C. heteropholis , five in C. indica , 5s 15 in C. jerdonii , 15s 18 in C. littoralis , 7s 8 in C. sisparensis , 4s 6 in C. wonadensis ; males with pre-anal as well as femoral pores in C. andersonii , C. australis , C. goaensis , C. gracilis , C. mosoriensis , C. otai , and C. oercaudensis ; femoral pores absent whereas pre-anal pores present in C. beddomei , C. nairi , and C. ornata ; pores absent in both sexes of C. assamensis and C. boiei ; continuous series of 24s28 pre-anal femoral pores in C. kolhapurensis ); two pairs of postmentals (vs. three pairs of postmentals in C. ajijae sp. nov. and C. anaikattiensis ); gulars scales smooth; scales on ventral part of neck feebly carinate (vs. gulars scales carinate in C. andersonii , scales on ventral part of neck smooth in C. kolhapurensis and C. flaviventralis ); differs from Cnemaspis amboliensis sp. nov. by conical and spine-like tubercles absent on flank; 26 midventrals; dorsal scales on forelimb and hindlimbs strongly keeled; three femoral pores (vs. conical and spine-like tubercles on flank; 19–22 midventrals; dorsal scales on forelimb and hindlimb tricarinate; males with three or four pre-anal pores and 3s4 femoral pores).

This new species is similar in size and general appearance to Cnemaspis girii , C. ajijae , and C. limaoei , but differs from these by having large feebly keeled scales on dorsal part of body; conical tubercles absent on flank; 26 midventrals; scales on ventral part of neck feebly carinate; two pairs of postmentals; dorsal scales on forelimb and hindlimb strongly keeled; inner surface of forelimb and hindlimb smooth; three femoral pores on each side; pre-anal scales same as ventral scales of the body; small keeled pointed tubercles present on dorsal tail (vs. large smooth scales on dorsal aspect; conical tubercles present; part of neck smooth; inner surface of forelimb and hindlimb keeled; large pointed tubercles present on the dorsal tail in C. girii ; dorsal granular, keeled scales intermixed with large keeled depressed scales; part of neck smooth; 29s30 midventrals; three pairs of postmentals in C. ajijae sp. nov.; dorsal scales feebly keeled; intermixed with large keeled depressed scales; part of neck smooth; pre-anal scales large than ventral; males with 4s5 femoral pores on each side in C. limaoei ( Table 6).