Gekko flavimaritus Rujirawan, Fong and Aowphol, 2019

Rujirawan, Attapol, Fong, Jonathan J., Ampai, Natee, Yodthong, Siriporn, Termprayoon, Korkhwan & Aowphol, Anchalee, 2019, A new karst-dwelling gecko of the Gekko petricolus group (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from Phitsanulok Provinceı central Thailand, Journal of Natural History 53 (9), pp. 557-576 : 562-572

Gekko flavimaritus Rujirawan, Fong and Aowphol , sp. nov.

( Figures 3 – 7 )

Holotype

An adult male, ZMKU R 00750, collected from Thailand, Phitsanulok Province, Neon Maprang District, Ban Mung Subdistrict , a karst hill part of the Phetchabun Range , 16.56398°N, 100.67318°E, elevation 104 m above sea level (asl), on 17 February 2018, by Attapol Rujirawan, Siriporn Yodthong, Natee Ampai and Piyawan Puenprapai.

Paratypes

Five adult males and 11 adult females. THNHM 28068 – 28069 , ZMKU R 00751(three adult males) and THNHM 28070 – 28071 , ZMKU R 00752 – 00755 (six adult females) have the same collection data as the holotype . ZMKU R 00747 (an adult female) has the same data as the holotype, except it was collected on 15 May 2017 by Anchalee Aowphol, Attapol Rujirawan, Korkhwan Termprayoon, Natee Ampai and Jonathan J . Fong.

ZMKU R 00746, ZMKU R 00748 (two adult males) and THNHM 28065 – 28067, ZMKU R 00749 (four adult females), collected from Thailand, Phitsanulok Province, Neon Maprang District, Ban Mung Subdistrict, 16.56542°N, 100.69306°E, elevation 152 m asl, on 15 May 2017 by Anchalee Aowphol, Attapol Rujirawan, Korkhwan Termprayoon, Natee Ampai and Jonathan J. Fong.

Diagnosis

The new species can be assigned to the G. petricolus group and distinguished from its congeners by having the following combination of morphological characters: medium size for Gekko (SVL 76.0 – 84.5 mm in six adult males, 67.5 – 78.3 mm in 11 adult females); nares in contact with rostral; two enlarged postmentals; 12 – 16 dorsal tubercle rows; 27 – 35 ventral scale rows; 10 – 15 subdigital lamellae on first toe, 15 – 18 on fourth toe; finger and toe webbing weakly developed; tubercles absent on dorsal surface of forelimbs and hindlimbs; adult males with 7 – 8 precloacal pores, in continuous row; precloacal pores absent in females; single postcloacal tubercle on each side; tubercles present on dorsal surface of tail base; subcaudals enlarged; sexual dimorphism present (colouration on dorsum in life — yellow in adult males while brownish grey in adult females); dorsum with whitish vertebral blotches between nape and base of tail.

Description of holotype

Adult male, SVL 79.9 mm, tail partially regenerated, TailL 91.3 mm; head longer than wide (HeadL:HeadW = 1.39), slightly depressed (HeadH:HeadL = 0.40), distinct from neck; rostral rectangular, wider than high (RW:RH = 1.71) and relatively equal to mental (RW: MW = 1.04), rostral groove present; rostral in contact with nostril, first supralabial and nasorostral; nostril round, touching rostral, first supralabial and three nasals (nasorostral, supranasal, postnasal); nasorostral enlarge in contact each other; supranasal equal to postnasal; internasal absent; posterior nasal region slightly concave; snout moderate (SnEYE:HeadL = 0.42), approximately twice larger than eye diameter (SnEye: OrbD = 1.88); snout region medially concave from interorbital region to rostral; granular scales on anteriodorsal surface on head larger than those on posterior surface; preorbitals 20/19 (L/R); interorbitals 32; eye relative large (OrbD:HeadL = 0.22); pupil vertical with crenulated margin; supraciliaries short, dorsoposterior bearing 4/5 minute spines; ear opening oval, obliquely oriented, smaller than eye (EarL:OrbD = 0.50); a few small tubercles present on head above ear opening and behind eye; mental triangular, slightly equal in width and length (MW:ML = 0.96); two enlarged postmentals, hexagonal, longer than wide; postmentals in contact with mental and first infralabials anteriorly and five gular scales posteriorly; supralabial to midpoint of orbit 10/12 (supralabial to angle of jaw 12/ 14); infralabials to midpoint of orbit 10/9 (infralabials to angle of jaws 12/10).

Body slender, trunk relative long (TrunkL:SVL = 0.47), dorsoventrally depressed in cross section; dorsal scales on body smooth, round or oval, granular, juxtaposed; dorsal tubercles 3 – 4 times the size of dorsal scales, smooth, round to oval, convex, surrounded by 8 – 10 dorsal scales; dorsal tubercles extending from occiput region to base of tail; tubercles in 14 at midbody; dorsal surface of forelimbs and hindlimbs without tubercles; ventrolateral fold weakly developed, without tubercles; ventral scales at midbody 33; ventral scales on abdomen much larger than dorsal or lateral scales, becoming smaller in chest and gular regions, flatted, subimbricate. Slightly enlarged precloacal scales bearing a continuous row of eight precloacal pores; enlarged femoral scales absent; scales on dorsal surface of limbs larger than dorsum, smooth, round, or oval, granular, juxtaposed; scales on palms and soles smooth, round, or oval, granular, juxtaposed; scales on dorsal of digits, anterior surfaces of forearm, thigh, flatted, subimbricated.

Forelimbs and hindlimbs well developed, moderately long, slender; forearm and tibia moderately long (ForeaL:SVL = 0.14; CrusL:SVL = 0.17); digits moderately expanded, digit I, both fingers and toes, clawless, all remaining digits clawed; finger and toe webbing weakly developed; subdigital lamellae, unnotched, undivided: 13-13-15-16-14 (left manus), 13-14-14- 16-14 (right manus), 12-13-17-17-16 (left pes), 12-14-17-17-14 (right pes). Relative length of fingers: IV> III> V> II> I; of toes: IV> III> V> II> I.

Tail depressed, slightly longer than head and body (TailL:SVL = 1.14); tail swollen at base, with a single blunt postcloacal tubercle on each side; dorsal tubercles present at tail base; dorsal scales of tail, smooth, oval to square, juxataposed to weakly subimbricated in regular transverse rows; ventral scales much larger than dorsal, smooth, imbricated, with enlarged subcaudal plates.

Colour of holotype in life ( Figure 3 )

Dorsal and lateral surfaces of head and neck yellowish grey-brown with scattered whitish blotches and dark flecks; ground colour of dorsum yellow with distinct vertebral whitish blotches between nape and base of tail, flanks with indistinct, light-yellow flecks between limb insertions; dorsal part of limbs mottled with small, light blotches irregularly scattered; dorsal tail greyish, yellow with four whitish bands, regenerated portion brownish grey without band; ventral body, limbs and precloacal regions immaculate creamy white; ventral tail yellowish cream with a single, indistinct, dark stripe medially; ventral regenerated tail grey. Iris brownish cream with minute, dark brown reticulations; pupil solid black with a red-orange edge.

Colour of holotype in preservative ( Figure 6 )

Dorsal and lateral surfaces of head, body and limbs brownish grey with indistinct light grey blotches and dark flecks; dorsum brownish grey with vertebral whitish blotches, indistinct posteriorly between nape and base of tail dorsum; tail similar to dorsal ground colour with light grey bands and scatted small dark flecks; ventral body, limbs and precloacal regions creamy grey with minute dark pigment speckles on gular and limbs regions; ventral tail dark grey.

Measurements of holotype (in mm)

SVL 79.9; TailL(regenerated) 91.3; TrunkL 37.4; HeadL 22.5; HeadW 16.2; HeadH 9.0; ForeaL 11.4; CrusL 13.8; SnEye 9.4; NarEye 7.2; Internar 2.0; OrbD 5.0; Interorb 7.3; EarL 2.5; RW 2.4; RH 1.4; MW 2.3; ML 2.4.

Variation

Variation in morphometric and meristic data among the type series are shown in Tables 4 and 5. A single internasal present only in THNHM 28071 (absent in other specimens). In all female paratypes ( THNHM 28065 – 28067 , THNHM 28070 – 28071 , ZMKU R 00747, ZMKU R 00749, ZMKU R 00752 – 00755 ), precloacal pores absent and postcloacal tubercles relatively small compared to those of males . Three adult males ( THNHM 28068 , ZMKU R 00746 and ZMKU R 00748) have seven precloacal pores . Colouration in life: ground colour of dorsum yellow (same as holotype) in all male types while all female paratypes have brownish grey colouration on dorsum. The dark flecks on dorsum are variable, ranging from distinct (e.g. ZMKU R 00749; Figure 7 (d)) to poorly distinguishable (e.g. THNHM 28068 ; Figure 7 (b)) .

Distribution

Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. is only known from the type locality ( Figures 1 and 8 ). Individuals were collected from karst hills that are part of the Phetchabun Range in Ban Mung Subdistrict , Neon Maprang District, Phitsanulok Province, Thailand .

Etymology

The specific epithet flavimaritus is taken from flavus L. for yellow and maritus L. for married man or husband, in reference to the adult males of the new species having yellow colouration on the dorsum in life.

Natural history notes

The type locality of Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. is a karst forest. The type series was collected in February 2018 at 19.00 – 20.30 hours, temperature 27.7°C and relative humidity 61.8%; and May 2017 at 19.00 – 22.00, temperature 28.3°C and relative humidity 100.0%. Most specimens were found on outcrops and boulders. They live both inside and outside of the wall crevices and cracks. Some individuals were found perching on branches ( THNHM 28067 AA 04107 and ZMKU R 00746) and vines ( THNHM 28070 ) near the karst boulders and outcrops . There are several caves in the type locality but all specimens were found outside those caves.

All collected females in February 2018 (THNHM 28070 – 28071, ZMKU R 00752 – 00755) and one of five females in May (THNHM 28066) were gravid, having two eggs in their abdomens (externally visible). The smallest size of a mature female with eggs is 67.5 mm SVL (THNHM 28071). The new species was found to co-occur with four other gecko species: Cyrtodactylus auribalteatus Sumontha, Panitvong and Deein , Dixonius siamensis (Boulenger) , Gekko gecko (Linnaeus) and Hemidactylus frenatus Duméril and Bibron. A pair of unhatched eggs were found alongside an adult G. flavimaritus inside a small boulder crevice in February 2018 ( Figure 8 (d)) at the type locality. We believe these eggs are from G. flavimaritus based on their location and size. These eggs were similar to eggs in gravid females. Compared to the sympatric gecko species, D. siamensisı G. gecko and G. mutilata have different sized eggs, while C. auribalteatus lays eggs on the ground.

Comparisons

Based on molecular analysis, its morphology and its distribution, G. flavimaritus sp. nov. was placed within the G. petricolus group. Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. can be distinguished from the five other species groups (sensu Rösler et al. 2011; Luu et al. 2015, 2017) as follows: from the G. gecko group by having a smaller size with maximum SVL 84.5 mm (150.0 – 191.0 mm in G. gecko group), nostril touching rostral (no contact in G. gecko group except G. verreauxi ), lacking tubercles on forelimb and hindlimbs (present in the G. gecko group); from the G. japonicus group (based on species that occur in Laos and Vietnam) by having 12 – 16 dorsal tubercles (absent in G. japonicus group), having tubercles on dorsal surface of tail (absent in G. japonicus group); from the G. monarchus group by having 7 – 8 precloacal pores in males (32 – 70 in G. monarchus group), lacking tubercles on forelimb and hindlimbs (present in G. monachus group); from the G. porosus group by having a smaller size with maximum SVL 84.5 mm (89.2 – 108.2 mm in G. porosus group), 7 – 8 precloacal pores in males (52 – 88 in G. porosus group), lacking tubercles on forelimb and hindlimbs (present in G. porosus group); from the G. vittatus group by having a smaller size with maximum SVL 84.5 mm (140 mm in G. vittatus group), 7 – 8 precloacal pores in males (14 – 58 in G. vittatus group), lacking tubercles on forelimb and hindlimbs (present in G. vittatus group), and lacking tubercles on lateral fold (present in G. vittatus group).

There are nine known species in the G. petricolus group (sensu Rösler et al. 2011; Luu et al. 2015): G. boehmeiı G. badeniiı G. canaensisı G. grossmanniı G. lauhachindaiı G. petricolusı G. russelltrainiı G. takouensis and G. vietnamensis . The following details comparing these species are summarised in Table 6 . Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. differs from G. boehmeiı G. badeniiı G. canaensisı G. petricolus and G. takouensis by having a smaller body size with maximum SVL 84.5 mm (105.3 mm in G. boehmei , 108 mm in G.badenii , 108.5 mm in G.canaensis , 101.0 mm in G. petricolus and 107.0 mm in G. takouensis ). Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. differs from G. boehmei and G. petricolus by lacking tubercles on hind limbs (present in G. boehmei and G. petricolus ). Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. differs from G. grossmanni by having tubercles on the dorsal surface of the tail (absent in G. grossmanni ).

Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. differs from G. boehmeiı G. badeniiı G. canaensisı G. lauhachindaiı G. petricolusı G. takouensis and G. vietnamensis by having 7 – 8 precloacal pores in males (10 – 11 in G. boehmei , 10 – 18 in G. badenii , 14 – 18 in G. canaensis , 12 – 14 in G. lauhachindai , 9 – 11 in G. petricolus , 11 – 14 in G. takouensis and absent in G. vietnamensis ). Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. differs from G. badeniiı G. canaensisı G. grossmanniı G. russelltraini and G. takouensis by having one postcloacal tubercle on each side (two in G. badeniiı G. canaensisı G. grossmanni and G. russelltraini and 2 – 3 in G. takouensis ). Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. differs from G. boehmeiı G. badeniiı G. canaensisı G. grossmanniı G. lauhachindaiı G. petricolusı G. russelltrainiı G. takouensis and G. vietnamensis by having sexual dimorphism in ground colouration in life on the dorsum: yellow in adult males and brownish grey in adult females (absent in all these species).

Figures

Figure 1. Map showing the type locality of Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. (red star) at Ban Mung Subdistrict, Noen Maprang District, Phitsanulok Province, central Thailand.

Figure 3. Adult male holotype of Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. (ZMKU R 00750) in life.

Figure 4. Head of the holotype of Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. (ZMKU R 00750): (a) lateral view of head, (b) dorsal view of snout and (c) ventral view of chin.

Figure 5. Adult male holotype of Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. (ZMKU R 00750) immediately after euthanasia: (a) dorsal view, (b) ventral view, (c) dorsal view of trunk, (d) precloacal region showing eight continuous precloacal pores, (e) dorsal view of base of tail, (f) right manus and (g) right pes.

Figure 6. Adult male holotype of Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. (ZMKU R 00750) in preservative: (a) dorsal and (b) ventral views.

Figure 7. Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. paratypes in life: (a) adult male ZMKU R 00746, (b) adult male THNHM 28068, (c) adult female ZMKU R 00747 and (d) adult female ZMKU R 00749.

Figure 8. Habitat of Gekko flavimaritus sp. nov. at the type locality, Ban Mung Subdistrict, Noen Maprang District, Phitsanulok Province, central Thailand: (a) landscape view of karst formation, (b) karst microhabitat structure, (c) microhabitat and egg-laying site in a karst bounder crevice and (d) a pair of eggs of G. flavimaritus sp. nov. (the site enclosed by the red dashed line in (c)).