Hemidactylus pfindaensis, Lobón-Rovira & Conradie & Iglesias & Ernst & Veríssimo & Baptista & Pinto, 2021

Lobon-Rovira, Javier, Conradie, Werner, Iglesias, David Buckley, Ernst, Raffael, Verissimo, Luis, Baptista, Ninda & Pinto, Pedro Vaz, 2021, Between sand, rocks and branches: an integrative taxonomic revision of Angolan Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820, with description of four new species, Vertebrate Zoology 71, pp. 465-501 : 465

Hemidactylus pfindaensis sp. nov.

Figs 8 , 9

Hemidactylus paivae: Ernst et al. 2020 [part]

Based on both phylogenetic hypothesis (BI and ML), Hemidactylus pfindaensis sp. nov. is the sister group of a well-supported clade within the H. bayonii / Hemidactylus nzingae -group, and represents a northern clade present in the Tropical and Subtropical Moist Forests Biome. Due to the lack of accurate morphological assessments within western African Hemidactylus until Ceríaco et al. (2020a), and the lack of detailed and extensive molecular data, this species may have been historically assigned to either H. longicephalus or H. muriceus , which have been reported from forest regions in northern Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo, respectively. However, morphological and genetic analyses, support H. pfindaensis sp. nov. as a new species (Table 2 ). The genetic ND2 p-distance differs 15.17% from H. bayonii , 17.21% from H. longicephalus and 14.01% from H. muriceus topotypic material.

Holotype.

ANGOLA • 1 ♀; Cabinda Prov., Chiloando; -5.12083°, 12.36667°; 95 m a.s.l.; 16 Mar. 2019; Pedro Vaz Pinto; FKH0178.

Paratypes.

ANGOLA • 1 ♂; same collecting information as the holotype; without tail; MNCN 50537 • 1 ♂; Uíge Prov., Macocola; -7.01802°, 16.07658°; 952 m a.s.l.; 25 Sept. 2018; Pedro Vaz Pinto; without tail; FKH 0044 • 1 ♂; Uíge Prov., Serra do Pingano; -7.68451°, 14.92978°; 957 m a.s.l.; 31 Oct. 2014; Raffael Ernst; MTD 48932.

Diagnosis.

A medium sized Hemidactylus , with SVL of 45.53 mm (mean) with moderate long snout, 10 supralabials and 8-10 infralabials (Fig. 8 ). Dorsal pholidosis with 11-12 rows of moderate dorsal keeled tubercle scales and ventral pholidosis with 28-30 smooth scale rows on midbody. The species present a large, triangular mental scale, two large postmentals followed by two enlarged post-postmentals. Base of the tail with four large keeled dorsal tubercle rows and subcaudal scales small, about one fourth of the tail width. Males with 8 continuous precloacal pores. Five divided scansors beneath first digit of both manus and pes, seven beneath fourth digit of manus, seven or eight beneath the fourth digit of pes. Dorsum presents dark coloration with two light brown crossbands from the posterior part of the eye to the sacrum, where the two bands meet each other to form a V-shaped marking.

Comparative diagnosis.

Hemidactylus pfindaensis sp. nov. differs from the other non-Angolan, western and central African congeners, based on the same characteristics of the other Angolan species ( Ceríaco et al. 2020a). However, this new species can easily be confused with H. muriceus -group, and differs from them by the presence of keeled dorsal tubercle scales vs. conical tubercle scales. Additionally, it differs from H. pseudomuriceus by lower number of precloacal-femoral pores (8 vs. 14-17) and one internasal scale vs. 2-3 in H. pseudomuriceus ; and from H. echinus by the presence of considerably larger ventral than dorsal scales vs. similar size ventral and dorsal scales, and by reduced number of scansors underneath the 1st and 4th toe (5 and 7-8 vs. 10 and 12-13, respectively). Differentiated from H. steindachneri by lacking a longitudinal row of ventrolateral keeled tubercles, and from H. hecqui in not having the nostrils in contact with the first supralabial. Hemidactylus pfindaensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from H. mabouia by the presence of smaller subcaudal scales (large and elongated in H. mabouia ) and from H. benguellensis by lower number of precloacal-femoral pores (8 vs. 23-33), and the dark dorsal color with dorsolateral light stripes and absence of dorsolateral orange tubercle rows (present in H. benguellensis ). Hemidactylus pfindaensis sp. nov. differs from H. longicephalus -group by having a smaller SVL (maximum length 49.09 mm [mean=45.53] vs. 60.08 [mean=46.57] in H. longicephalus and 64.8 [mean=58.96] in H. paivae ), more keeled tubercle scales and a lower number of dorsal tubercle rows (12 vs. 13-17 in H. longicephalus , and 13-16 in H. paivae ). It differs from the H. bayonii -group by having larger SVL (maximum length 49.09 mm [mean=45.53]), than H. bayonii 36.2 mm [mean=34.9] and H. vernayi (42.5 mm [mean=32.89]); from H. bayoni by having lower number of dorsal tubercle rows (12 vs. 14-16 in H. bayonii ), and head more compressed (HL/HW [mean=1.7] in H. bayonii vs. HL/HW [mean=1.5] in H. pfindaensis sp. nov.); from H. vernayi by presence of more precloacal-femoral pores (8 in H. pfindaensis sp. nov. vs. 4-6 in H. vernayi ), lower number of ventral scales across the belly (28-30) than H. vernayi (32-39) and higher number of infralabials (9-10 vs. 7-8); and differs from H. nzingae and H. gramineus by larger number of scales across the belly (28-30 vs. 22-27 and 23-25, respectively), lower number of dorsal tubercle rows than H. nzingae (12 vs. 16-21) and larger number of granular scales between the dorsal tubercle rows than H. nzingae and H. gramineus (4-5 vs. 2-3).

Holotype description.

Measurements and meristic characters of the holotype are presented in Table S5. Adult female with a snout-vent-length (SVL) of 49.09 mm, a regenerated tail length (TL) of 32.93 mm. Body slender, nape distinct. Head slightly narrower than the body and largely elongated (HW/HL 0.62). Canthus rostralis not prominent, but well-marked. Eye diameter (2.96 mm), with vertical pupil and crenulated margin. Supraciliar scales small and slightly pointed. Ear height (0.93 mm). Ear to eye distance slightly larger than orbit diameter (3.6 mm). Snout rounded. Frontal scales granular and larger than occipital scales. Occipital scales granular with lateral conical a large tubercle scale. Rostral wider than deep (2.21 vs. 1.04 mm, respectively). Rostral semidivided anterodorsally, in contact with 1st supralabial, nostril, prenasal and one internasal scales. 11 supralabials and 11 infralabials. First supralabial in contact with the nostril. Nostril circular rounded by rostral, supranasal, two postnasal and first supralabial. Postnasals larger than supranasal. Nostril in direct contact with the rostral and 1st supralabial. One row of scales between supralabials and the orbit. Mental large and markedly triangular, with two large rectangular postmental scales in broad contact posteriorly to the mental. 5 post-postmental scales, composed by post-postmental slightly smaller than postmental scales in contact with postmentals, 1st and 2nd infralabials, and 3 small post-postmental in contact with postmental scales. Gular scales and granular smaller than ventral scales. Between the gular scales and infralabials, a row of enlarged scales is present, decreasing in size until the 5th infralabial where they become the same size as the gular scales.

Body relatively slender and elongated (TRL/SVL 0.45). Ventral scales about double size than dorsal scales, with 28 scales across the belly. The dorsal pholidosis present heterogenous conical, granular scales interspersed by 12 keeled dorsal tubercle rows at midbody. Dorsal tubercle rows are separated by 4-5 granular scales. Tubercle scales reach the posterior part of head and the nape, where tubercle scales lose the keeling progressively. Base of the tail with four large keeled dorsal tubercle rows dorsally and subcaudal scales small, about one fourth of the tail width. Regenerated tail has no presence of tubercle scales, having largely homogeneous scales along and across the tail. Precloacal scales enlarged and one well-developed postcloacal spurs on each side.

Fore- and hindlimbs relatively short, stout; forearm short (FL/SVL 0.17); tibia short (CL/SVL 0.18). Short digits and clawed. All digits of manus and pes indistinctly webbed. Scansors beneath each toe equally divided, with the exception of 1st and terminal scansor undivided. 4th and 5th toes with 2 and 3 undivided terminal scansors, respectively. Scansors beneath each finger equally divided, with the exception of 1st and two terminal scansor undivided. 1st and 5th fingers with 3 undivided terminal scansors. Number of scansors: 5-7-7-8-7 (right manus), 5-7-8-8-9 (right pes). Relative length of digits: V < IV=III=II > I (right manus); V < IV=III > II > I (right pes).

Variation.

Variation in scalation and body measurements of the paratypes of H. pfindaensis sp. nov. are reported in Table S5. All the material analyzed agrees entirely with the holotype description. However, paratype FKH0179, shows undivided rostral scales and MTD 48932, 3rd and 4th supralabials semi-fused at the base.

Coloration.

In life (specimen FKH0178; Fig. 9A ): this species presents dark coloration over the dorsum with two light brown crossbands from the posterior part of the eye to the sacrum, where the two bands meet each other to form a V-shaped marking; the rest of the dorsal part of the body is mostly dark uniformly brownish with some patches of light brown, especially at the nostril area and the hindlimbs. Coloration of the regenerated tail is uniform dark brown. The ventral part of the body is lighter, fully covered with scattered black speckles, from head to tail. Iris golden with a black narrow pupil and brownish-golden reticulation. In preservative (Holotype; Fig. 8 ): dorsum with dark uniform coloration; ventrum is light beige with scattered black speckles. Variation: occasionally difficult to differentiate the dorsal pattern, due to a uniform dark coloration across the whole body.

Etymology.

The name " Hemidactylus pfindaensis " derives from the local word “pfinda” which in Kikongo - the main language used in Uíge Province and northwestern Angola - refers to a "gallery forest" or a "continuous block of thick forest", the main habitat type associated with the species.

Distribution and conservation (Fig. 9C ).

A typical forest gecko, this species has been found in two sites of northern Angola, both in Uíge Province, and on a third site in the enclave of Cabinda. Its known presence north and south of the Congo River, suggests a much larger distribution range, that will likely extend to Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo, and possibly also into Gabon. In Angola, it will also likely be present in the Mayombe Forest and Northeastern Forest-Savanna Mosaic. However, due to limited number of records we cannot calculate the EOO and thus we regard the conservation status of the species as Data Deficient, and further studies are suggested to better assess its full distribution and conservation status. Although central African forests are currently threatened by deforestation and human encroachment, the occurrence of this species across a large geographical and altitudinal range, suggests that it is likely common, yet further studies are necessary to evaluate its conservation status.

Natural history and habitat.

Hemidactylus pfindaensis sp. nov. appears to be a species strongly associated with moist evergreen forests. Specimens were collected at various altitudes, both near sea level and above 900 m a.s.l., but always in moist gallery forest, within the Northwestern Forest-Savanna Mosaic. All specimens were found foraging at night on tree trunks of well-developed trees, approximately 1-2 m above ground. Although never found hiding, it seems likely that it finds shelter under tree bark.

Figures

Figure 8. Holotype of Hemidactylus pfindaensis sp. nov. (FKH 0178) from Chiloando, Cabinda Province, Angola. A - Dorsal and ventral view of body. B - Detail of head in lateral, dorsal and ventral views (from top to bottom). C - Detailed of left toes and right fingers (from left to right). Photos by Pedro Vaz Pinto.

Figure 9. A - Dorsal view of Hemidactylus pfindaensis sp. nov. (Holotype, FKH 0178). B - habitat of H. pfindaensis sp. nov. C - records of H. pfindaensis sp. nov. (yellow circles represent records of H. pfindaensis sp. nov.; star depicts the type locality). Photos by Pedro Vaz Pinto (A) and Luke Verburgt (B).