Lygodactylus hapei, Vences & Multzsch & Gippner & Miralles & Crottini & Gehring & Rakotoarison & Ratsoavina & Glaw & Scherz, 2022

Vences, Miguel, Multzsch, Malte, Gippner, Sven, Miralles, Aurélien, Crottini, Angelica, Gehring, Philip-Sebastian, Rakotoarison, Andolalao, Ratsoavina, Fanomezana M., Glaw, Frank & Scherz, Mark D., 2022, Integrative revision of the Lygodactylus madagascariensis group reveals an unexpected diversity of little brown geckos in Madagascar’s rainforest, Zootaxa 5179 (1), pp. 1-61 : 38-41

Lygodactylus hapei sp. nov.

Lygodactylus sp. 26: Gippner et al. (2021).

Holotype. ZSM 298 /2018, female, collected at Djangoa (Djohahely) in the Sambirano Region in north-western Madagascar, approximately at geographical coordinates S13.7993, E48.3361, 20 m a.s.l. ( Fig. 15 ), by unspecified local collectors.

Diagnosis. Lygodactylus hapei sp. nov. corresponds to a genetically highly distinct lineage from a poorly known site in north-western Madagascar, and forms a clade with L. tantsaha (described above) and L. sp. 24, both from Montagne d’Ambre in the North. Considering this lineage as a new species is justified by its very deep genetic divergence of over 14% to all other Domerguella (16.3–16.4% to L. tantsaha ), differences in scale counts, and a distinct longitudinally striped pattern on the throat not known from any other Domerguella . The new species belongs to subclade A2 within Domerguella as defined herein. It can also be assigned to the subgenus Domerguella by an undivided mental scale with two postmentals, and absence of a claw on the first finger. Within Domerguella , the new species is only known from one locality in the Sambirano region in northern Madagascar, and differs from the other nominal species of Domerguella by the presence of a longitudinally striped pattern on the throat, and additionally from the species occurring in northern Madagascar as follows: from L. expectatus by non-enlarged dorsolateral scales (longitudinal count of dorsal scales>185 vs. <170), and by a pattern of dorsolateral stripes (vs. unstriped in the only known specimen (vs. scapular semi-ocellus usually present, and striped pattern unknown); from L. rarus by lack of regular crossbands on tail (vs. presence) and different body shape without elongated limbs (relative hindlimb length 0.43 vs.>0.55); from L. madagascariensis , L. petteri , L. salvi , and L. tantsaha by smaller longitudinal dorsal scale count (179 vs.>188) and smaller longitudinal ventral scale count (87 vs.>96). The new species appears to be very similar to L. roellae , a species from subclade A3, in scale counts and color pattern, but it may differ by smaller body size (SVL 26.3 vs. 35.9–36.0). The new species is genetically highly distinct from all species in subclade A5, based on concordant differentiation in mitochondrial genes (with deep divergence in 16S to all other species:>14%) and the unlinked loci CMOS and RAG-1. In addition it appears to differ by the absence of a spine at the tail base, which is weakly recognizable also in the females of all subclade A5 species except L. fritzi . Furthermore, the longitudinal dorsal scale count is smaller than in all known individuals of this subclade.

For a distinction from additional species newly named and described herein, see the respective diagnoses below.

Etymology. We dedicate this species to Hans-Peter “HaPe” Berghof, in recognition of his contributions to the knowledge of Madagascar geckos, especially Phelsuma . The name is a patronym (i.e., a noun in the genitive case).

Description of the holotype. Adult female, in good state of preservation, tail regenerated, fourth toe on the left hind limb is removed as source of tissue for molecular analysis ( Fig. 15 ). SVL 26.3 mm, TAL 27.4 mm; for other measurements see Table 1 . Head slender with long neck, body broader than head. The distance from the tip of the snout to the anterior border of the eye (3.5 mm) is greater than the interorbital distance anteriorly (3.2 mm), and greater than the distance between the eye and ear opening. Snout covered with granular scales equally sized compared to the rest of the dorsum. Nostril surrounded by three scales: rostral, first supralabial, and two supranasal. Mental scale undivided; no contact between posterior projection of mental scale and first infralabial; two symmetrical postmental scales with five postpostmental scales; seven infralabial scales; eight supralabial scales; three internasal scales; granular dorsal scales; dorsum with small, homogeneous, granular, and unkeeled scales of similar size to those on trunk, the scales on limbs are not distinctly larger; 179 dorsal scales longitudinally along the body; 87 ventral scales between mental and cloaca; venter with large homogeneous smooth scales; first finger present but very small, not bearing a claw; three pairs of subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; no dorsolateral tubercle; tail without whorls; no obvious lateral spines at the base of the tail.

TABLE 2. (Continued)

Based on available photograph ( Fig. 19 ), the holotype in life displayed a broad brown stripe on the back with a brighter center running along the spine reaching from the snout to the base of the tail. Along the brighter center, irregularly scattered black spots are present. Flanks are yellowish brown with irregular small dark spots. A distinct black stripe is running from the snout through the eye to the shoulder ending in a black marking somewhat reminiscent of a scapular semi-ocellus, but positioned more posteriorly. Above this, a second whitish and broader stripe is present, reaching from the eye to the shoulder. Dorsally brown with a diffuse pattern consisting of dark and light spots, venter whitish. Flanks brighten towards venter with a diffuse ocelli-like pattern. Brown color on head with distinct border on supralabials to whitish venter. Six black stripes radially arranged around the eye. Tail slightly brighter than dorsum with pairs of black and white spots running posteriorly along the caudal spine ( Fig. 19 ). During preservation in ethanol, the specimen darkened and patterns faded. Preserved specimen displays dark irregular spots on whitish gular region expanding to the anterior ventral torso.

Variation. Only a single individual of this species (the holotype) is known.

Natural history. The only known specimen was photographed millimeters from the posterior end of a planthopper larva ( Fig. 19 ), and was presumably consuming honeydew excreted by the insect, as is known from other gecko species ( Fölling et al. 2001).

Distribution. L. hapei is only known from its type locality, Djohahely.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Dorsal and ventral views of preserved holotypes of new species of the Lygodactylus madagascariensis group named in the current study.

FIGURE 19. Photo of Lygodactylus hapei sp. nov., holotype ZSM 298/2018 from Djangoa (Djohahely), in life. Photo by H.-P. Berghof.