Gekko aaronbaueri, Tri, Ngo Van, Thai, Pham Hong, Phimvohan, Anorath, David, Patrick & Teynié, Alexandre, 2015

Tri, Ngo Van, Thai, Pham Hong, Phimvohan, Anorath, David, Patrick & Teynié, Alexandre, 2015, Gekko aaronbaueri, a new gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from central Laos, Zootaxa 3914 (2), pp. 144-156 : 146-154

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3914.2.4
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D2D3EAA2-FF84-41EA-A40C-6EAC039BF348
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5686429
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03978826-4D70-3A0B-FF69-FD9DFA22FC57
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Gekko aaronbaueri
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Gekko aaronbaueri sp. nov.

( Figures 1–4 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3. A View FIGURE 4 )

Holotype. ITBCZ 2490, adult male, from Lom Yen Cave, Nhommalath District, Khammouan Province, central Laos, approximately 150–200 m elevation (17º35.072'N, 105º13.022'E), collected by Ngô Văn Trí, 28 January 2014.

Paratypes. ITBCZ 2491–2492, males, and ITBCZ 2493, female; same locality and collection date as holotype; collected by Ph ạm Hồng Thái and Ngô Văn Trí. ITBCZ 2331, adult female, collected by Ngô Văn Trí, 30 april 2014.

Additional specimens. ZFMK KM 2012.49, adult female, from a cave near Ban Nathan, Hin Boun District, Khammouan Province; four specimens photographed but not collected, see Materials & Methods.

Etymology. The specific epithet honors Professor Aaron M. Bauer, Villanova University, USA, who has made a great contribution to herpetological discovery. We suggest the following common names: English: Aaron Bauer’s Gecko and Vietnamese: Thằn lằn đá Aaron Bauer.

Diagnosis. A moderately sized Gekko species, maximum SVL 80.0 mm, that may be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: 0–1 internasal; 34–37 interorbital scales rows; smooth dorsal scales consisting of 98–104 scale rows at midbody; 39–43 ventral scale rows at midbody; 3–4 precloacal pores in a straight series in males, sometimes separated by one poreless scale; 16 lamellae beneath digit I of pes; 15–16 lamellae beneath digit IV of pes; tail relatively segmented with 10–11 scales rows in length; median subcaudal scales forming broad transverse plates; dorsal pattern of 5–6 dirty whitish vertebral blotches between nape and sacrum alternating with W-shaped darkish blotches with yellowish borders; 6–7 pairs of irregular whitish spots interspersed with yellowish edged blotches on flanks between limb insertions.

Description of Holotype ( Figs.1 View FIGURE 1 A, 2–3). ITBCZ 2490, adult male, SVL 74.4 mm. Head relatively long (HeadL/SVL = 0.26) and wide (HeadW/HeadL = 0.72), depressed (HeadD/HeadL = 0.35), distinct from neck. Loreal and interorbital regions weakly swollen, frontonasal region strongly concave. Snout elongate (SnEye/ HeadL = 0.42), blunt, longer than eye diameter (OrbD/SnEye = 0.58). Scales on snout and forehead small, granular, homogeneous; scales on snout larger than occipital scales; 34 interorbital scale rows. Eye large (OrbD/ HeadL = 0.24); pupil vertical with crenelated margins when nearly closed; superciliaries smooth, short, bearing several minute conical spines posteriorly. Ear opening obliquely oval, small (EarL/HeadL = 0.1); eye to ear distance longer than diameter of eye (EyeEar/OrbD = 1.20). Rostral rectangular, wider (2.3 mm) than high (1.4 mm), incompletely divided by a shallow inverted Y-shaped dorsal groove. Supranasals broadly contacting each other ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A); rostral in contact with supralabial I, nostril and supranasals; nostrils round, each surrounded by supranasal, rostral, first supralabial and two enlarged postnasals; 2–4 rows of small scales separate orbit from supralabials. Mental triangular (1.4 mm wide, deep 0.9 mm); anterior pair of postmentals elongate (2.8 mm long, 1.0 mm wide), each bordered anteromedially by mental, medially in broad contact with other postmental, bordered anterolaterally by first infralabial, laterally by second small postmental, posteriorly by two enlarged chin scales ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 B); 13 supralabials on both sides, 10 sublabials on both sides; 18 scale rows across the frontal bone and 34 interorbital scales between the dorsal margins of the orbit.

Body slender, relatively short (TrunkL/SVL = 0.42) with weakly developed ventrolateral folds. Dorsal scales smooth, rounded, granular, juxtaposed ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C); 102 scale rows around midbody, smaller on body sides, and smallest in occipital region, this arrangement covering the whole of the body from occipital region to the base of the tail. Ventral scales much larger than dorsal scales, smooth, relatively round, subimbricate, gradually larger toward the posterior; 40 scale rows across venter between the weak ventrolateral folds ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 D, 3A); gular region with relatively homogeneous, smooth scales. Three precloacal pores arranged in a straight line; scale rows extending posteriorly from pore-bearing scales to anterior of cloacal lip, but somewhat smaller in front of the cloacal lip ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3. A B); no enlarged femoral scales. Scales of palms and soles smooth, flattened, round, juxtaposed, without enlarged tubercles; scales on venter of fore and hind limbs with smooth, flattened, subimbricate scales, slightly enlarged at joints.

Limbs long and relatively slender (ForeaL/SVL = 0.13; CrusL/SVL = 0.16). Digits moderately dilated, all bearing curved claws except the first finger and first toe ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 G, 2H); number of broad lamellae beneath each digit (14–12–12–14 –13 manus; 16–12–13–16 –13 pes); one to four granular lamellar rows between base and digits; interdigital webbing weakly developed. Length of digits (measurement in mm): manus: IV(6.2)> III(5.7)> V(5.3)> II(5.2)> I(4.0); (pes): V(7.7)> IV(7.3)> III(6.5)> II(5.2)> I(4.8).

Partly regenerated tail length of 67.8 mm, relatively slender, original portion segmented ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 E), tapering to tip; shorter than snout vent length (TailL/SVL= 0.91), two smooth postcloacal tubercles on each side. Each tail segment has 10–11 dorsal scales rows and 4–5 transversely enlarged subcaudal scales ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 F). Scales of tail dorsum heterogeneous, rectangular to hexagonal, juxtaposed.

Coloration (in life). Head dark brown with yellowish-brown stripes on rostrum and cream spots encircling the crown; nuchal spots arranged in a semicircle terminating at posterior margins of orbits. Iris color chestnut brown at night, bronze with chestnut edges in daylight.

Body dark brown body with a series of 5–6 dirty white, irregular, vertebral blotches between the nape and sacrum, and yellowish-white bars anterior in each dorsal blotch. Dorsal blotches extend onto tail, forming eight dirty yellowish-brown cross bands alternating with dark brown cross bands on original portion of tail. Regenerated portion of tail whitish-pink ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 A), original portion with small dark blotches on a pale background ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 A, 2E). Six to eight pairs of small, irregular, pale colored spots along the flanks between limb insertions. Dorsum with scattered dark brown to black flecking edged with yellowish-white. Limbs same color as dorsum with irregular yellowish-white or pale gray blotches and dark brown to black flecking. Venter marbled with dull yellow and purplish-brown ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3. A ). Pattern in preservative similar, but colors paler.

Variation. Variation in meristic and morphometric characters among the type series is summarized in Table 1 View TABLE 1 . There is considerable variation among specimens in the shape and size of dorsal blotches ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 A, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) with ITBCZ 2491 having them broken into two smaller cream spots ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 B) whereas ITBCZ 2331 has smaller spots on the sides of body ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 C).

Distribution. This species is currently known only from four localities in two provinces of Central Laos ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ): Khammouan Province—Lom Yen Cave (17º35.072’ N, 105º13.022’ E), Nhommalath District; near the subterranean part of Konglor River, two localities at 200 m and 1 km west of the river respectively (17º58.282’ N, 104º44.423’ E), elevation 180–190 m, Hin Boun District; a cave near Ban Nathan (17º58.521’N, 104º49.309’ E); Hin Boun District, elevation 220 m, in the corridor connecting the national parks of Phu Hin Boun and Nakai Nam Teun. Bolikhamxai Province—About 6 km west north-west of Na Hin (18º11.190’ N, 104º29.090’ E), elevation 300–350 m, Pakkading District, in the extreme south of the province, near the border with Khammouan Province in the northern tip of the “Limestone forest.

Natural History. All specimens of the type series were collected at night, between 17.30 and 21.00, 28 January 2014 on a rocky outcrop ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5. A ) in the same place as Cyrtodactylus lomyenensis Ngo & Pauwels, 2010 , except ITBCZ 2331 which was collected on a rock outcrop on 30 April 2009. Many recently laid pale pink eggs were observed on 30 April and 1 May 2009. No recently laid eggs were found in January 2014 in Lom Yen Cave but old egg shells were found glued underneath the ceiling of the cave and in crevices of stalactites to the sides of large rocks in this site.

In the vicinity of Konglor River, a male was seen at 20.30 on 24 September 2009 while it was laying in ambush on a rocky outcrop. Very close to this place, a female was found active at 20.15 on 9 May 2010 on the ground at the foot of a cliff in a semi-evergreen forest. In this area, Gekko aaronbaueri sp. nov. is sympatric with Cyrtodactylus lomyenensis and/or C. teyniei David, Nguyen, Schneider & Ziegler, 2011 . Also in Khammouan Province, a large female (ZFMK KM 2012.49) was found while it was active during day time (17.00) on 14 May 2012 on the wall of a large cave. This cave is also inhabited by Oligodon nagao David, Nguyen, Nguyen, Jiang, Chen, Teynié & Ziegler, 2012 and Triceratolepidophis sieversorum Ziegler, Herrmann, David, Orlov & Pauwels, 2001 , a large pitviper (see Teynié & David 2010, 2014).

Lastly, in the Bolikhamxai locality, a specimen was seen on 7 May 2009 during day time. It was seemingly guarding two eggs glued on the ceiling of a cave about 8 meters above the ground. Another one was found on 21 August 2009 in a rocky crevice that included a termite mound (see Teynié & David 2014: 29, Fig. 16). At this locality, Gekko aaronbaueri sp. nov. is sympatric with Cyrtodactylus teyniei .

All known specimens of Gekko aaronbaueri sp. nov. have been found in karst formations. This species should be searched for in other limestone massifs of central Laos.

*interrupted by one poreless scale.

Comparisons. Gekko aaronbaueri sp. nov. differs from Gekko adleri , G. albofasciolatus (Günther) , G. auriverrucosus , G. canaensis Ngo & Gamble 2011 , G. canhi , G. carusadensis Linkem, Siler, Diesmos, Sy & Brown, 2010 , G. chinensis , G. c o i Brown, Siler, Oliveros, Diesmos & Alcala, 2011, G. crombota Brown, Oliveros, Siler & Diesmos, 2008 , G. ernstkelleri Rösler, Siler, Brown, Demeglio & Gaulke, 2006 , G. gecko (Linnaeus) , G. gigante Brown & Alcala 1978 , G. hokouensis , G. japonicus , G. kikuchii (Oshima) , G. grossmanni Günther, 1994 , G. lauhachindai Panitvong, Sumontha, Konlek & Kunya, 2010 , G. l i b o e n s i s, G. mindorensis Taylor , G. monarchus (Schlegel) , G. nutaphandi Bauer, Sumontha & Pauwels, 2008 , G. palawanensis Taylor , G. palmatus , G. petricolus Taylor 1962 , G. porosus Taylor , G. reevesii Gray, G. re m o t u s Rösler, Ineich, Wilms & Böhme, 2012, G. ro m b l o n Brown & Alcala 1978, G. rossi Brown, Oliveros, Siler & Diesmos, 2009 , G. russelltraini Ngo, Bauer, Wood & Grismer , G. scabridus , G. shibatai , G. siamensis Grossmann & Ulber 1990 , G. similignum , G. smithii Gray , G. swinhonis , G. takouensis Ngo & Gamble 2010 , G. t a yl o r i Ota & Nabhitabhata 1991, G. verreauxi Tytler , G. vertebralis , G. vietnamensis Nguyen 2010 , G. vittatus Houttuyn , G. wenxianensis , and G. yakuensis by the absence of dorsal tubercles (additional diagnostic characters are provided in Rösler et al. 2011).

Among the group of Gekko species lacking dorsal tubercles (following Rösler et al. 2011; Phung & Ziegler 2011), Gekko aaronbaueri sp. nov. differs from G. a t h y m u s Brown & Alcala, 1962 by its smaller adult size (SVL maximum SVL 80.0 mm vs. 95.9 mm), higher number of interorbital scales rows (34–37 vs. 50–54), lower number of scale rows at midbody (98–104 vs. 122–140), and the presence of precloacal pores and absence of femoral pores (vs. precloacal and femoral pores in a continuous series.); from G. melli by its higher number of lamellae beneath first toe (16 vs. 10–12) and lamellae beneath fourth toe (15–16 vs. 11–14), presence (versus absence) of enlarged postmental scales, absense of interdigital webbing (versus webbed toes), and lower number of precloacal pores in males (3–4 vs. 9–11); from G. badenii Szczerbak & Nekrasova, 1994 by the absence of narrow bands on the dorsum, lower number of scale rows at midbody (98–104 vs. 114–136), and lower number of precloacal pores in males (3–4 vs. 10–15); from G. subpalmatus by its non-banded dorsal pattern (versus banded), lack of extensive webbing between the toes, lower number of ventral scales rows (39–43 vs. 48), and lower number of precloacal pores in males (3–4 vs. 5–11); from G. tawaensis by presence of precloacal pores (versus absence); from G. truongi Phung & Ziegler, 2011 by smaller adult SVL (80.0 mm maximum SVL versus 95.9 mm), higher number of interorbital scales rows (34–37 vs. 45–58), lower number of scale rows at midbody (98–104 vs. 131–143), higher number of ventral scales (39–43 vs. 35–36), and lower of precloacal pores in males (3–4 vs. 10–11); from G. taibaiensis by its larger adult size (SVL maximum: 80.0 mm vs. 69.0 mm), higher number of interorbital scales rows (34–37 vs. 28), higher number of subdigital lamellae on the first toe (16 vs. 6–7), higher number of subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe (15–16 vs. 7–8), and lower number of precloacal pores in males (3–4 vs. 4–8).

Lastly, Gekko aaronbaueri sp. nov. is morphologically similar to Gekko scientiadventura in having smooth dorsal scales and approximately the same number of ventral transverse scale rows (39–43 vs. 38–43). However, it may be distinguished from this species by the presence of 0–1 internasal scale (versus no internasal in G. scientiadventura ), higher number of subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe (15–16 vs. 12–15); lower number of interorbital scales rows (34–37 vs. 41–51); lower number of scale rows around midbody (98–104 vs. 118–140); lower number of precloacal pores in males (3–4 vs. 5–8); and lower number of postcloacal tubercles (1–2 vs. 2– 3).

	Holotype ITBCZ 2490	Paratypes ITBCZ 2491	ITBCZ 2492	ITBCZ 2493	Min–Max ITBCZ 2331 x ±S.D.
Sex	M	M	M	F	F 3M, 2F
SVL	74.4	77.9	77.2	80.0	64.1 64.1–80.0 74.7±6.3
TailL	67.8 (Reg)	96.7 (Reg)	80.1 (Reg)	78.5 (Reg)	76.2 67.8–96.7
HeadL	19.2	19.5	19.4	20.9	16.8 16.8–20.9 19.2±1.5
HeadW	13.8	14.8	14.5	15.1	11.8 11.8–15.1 14.0±1.3
HeadD	6.7	7.6	7.4	8.5	6.1 6.1–8.5 7.3±0.9
SnEye	8.0	8.2	7.9	8.7	6.9 6.9–8.7 7.9±0.7
NarEye	5.6	6.1	6.0	6.7	5.2 5.2–6.7 5.9±0.6
OrbD	4.6	5.1	4.9	5.8	4.7 4.7–5.8 5.0±0.5
EarL	2.0	2.2	2.1	2.2	1.7 1.7–2.2 2.0±0.2
EyeEar	5.5	5.6	5.6	5.9	4.2 4.2–5.9 5.4±0.7
Interorb	6.3	7.2	7.1	7.4	5.2 5.2–7.4 6.6±0.9
Internar	2.1	2.2	2.1	2.4	1.6 1.6–2.4 2.1±0.3
TrunkL	31.0	31.8	34.6	36.1	26.6 26.6–36.1 32.0±3.7
ForeaL	9.7	9.8	9.7	9.9	8.2 8.2–9.9 9.5±0.7
CrusL	11.7	12.2	12.2	12.5	10.1 10.1–12.5 11.7±1.0
IntNas	0	1	1	1	1 0–1
ChinSc	4	5	5	6	4 4–6
FrontSc	18	18	17	18	19 17–19
IntOrb	34	35	35	34	37 34–37
SupraL	13	14	13	13	14 13–14
InfraL	10	10	10	11	11 10–11
Midbod	102	104	102	98	100 98–104
VentSc	40	42	39	40	43 39–43
F1	14	17	16	15	15 14–17
F4	14	15	16	15	16 14–16
LamPesI	16	16	16	16	16 16
LamPesIV	16	16	15	16	16 15–16
PrePores	3	3*	4*	0	0 3–4
PCT	2	2	2	1	2 1–2
Whorl3	11	11	11	–	11 11