Cnemaspis cavernicola, Khandekar & Thackeray & Kalaimani & Agarwal, 2023
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/vz.73.e110512 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:28B74482-219B-4F3E-B3A0-086DA17CA02B |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/AEFA6F98-35EF-4F2E-AED8-2FABFD139924 |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:AEFA6F98-35EF-4F2E-AED8-2FABFD139924 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Cnemaspis cavernicola |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Cnemaspis cavernicola sp. nov.
Figures 9 View Figure 9 , 10 View Figure 10 , 11 View Figure 11 , 12 View Figure 12 , 13 View Figure 13
Holotype.
NRC-AA-1286 (AK-R 2339), adult male (SVL 32.2 mm), from Pakkamalai Reserve Forest (12.17224°N, 79.31907°E; elevation ca. 400 m asl.), Gingee Hills, Viluppuram district, Tamil Nadu state, India, collected by Akshay Khandekar, Ishan Agarwal, Swapnil Pawar and team, on 19th September 2022.
Paratypes (n = 4).
NRC-AA-1287 (AK-R 135) and NRC--AA-1288 (AK-R 2341), adult males, same collection data as holotype except for NRC-AA-1287 which was collected by Akshay Khandekar, Swapnil Pawar and team on 3rd April 2021; NRC-AA-1289 (AK-R 2340) and NRC-AA-1290 (AK-R 2342), adult females, from near Sri Vanadurgai Amman Temple, Pakkamalai Reserve Forest (12.16991°N, 79.30865°E; elevation ca. 480 m asl.), Gingee Hills, Viluppuram district, Tamil Nadu state, India, same collection data as holotype.
Referred specimens (n = 2).
AK-R 134, AK-R 2343, juveniles, from Pakkamalai Reserve Forest (12.16825°N, 79.31971°E; elevation ca. 400 m asl.), same collection data as holotype.
Etymology.
The specific epithet is an adjective formed from the Latin “caverna’ for cave and “cola” meaning inhabitant or dweller, as the species is only known to occur in caves and crevices below large granite boulders.
Suggested Common Name.
Cave-dwelling dwarf gecko.
Diagnosis.
A small-sized Cnemaspis , snout to vent length less than 34 mm (n = 5). Dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous; weakly keeled, granular scales in vertebral and paravertebral region, intermixed with about two or three regularly arranged rows of large, weakly keeled tubercles on each side of flank, tubercles in lowest row largest and spine-like; 4-6 rows of dorsal tubercles; ventral scales smooth, subcircular, subimbricate, 28-32 scales across belly, 116-125 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca; subdigital scansors smooth, entire, unnotched; 10-12 total lamellae under digit I of manus and pes, 15-19 lamellae under digit IV of manus and 18-21 lamellae under digit IV of pes; males (n = 3) with one or two femoral pores on each thigh separated on either side by 8-10 poreless scales from a continuous series of three precloacal pores; tail with enlarged, strongly keeled, distinctly pointed, conical tubercles forming whorls; a median row of subcaudals smooth, distinctly enlarged. Dorsal colouration grey-brown with a single medial dark spot on nape followed by four light blotches from forelimb insertions to tail base, tail with 12-14 alternating light and dark bars.
Comparison with members of C. mysoriensis + Cnemaspis adii clade.
Cnemaspis cavernicola sp. nov. can be distinguished from all eight members of the Cnemaspis mysoriensis + Cnemaspis adii clade on the basis of the following differing or non-overlapping characters: 28-32 scales across belly at mid-body (versus 22-26 ventral scales across belly at mid-body in C. adii , 17-20 ventral scales across belly at mid-body in C. avasabinae , 20 or 21 ventral scales across belly at mid-body in C. mysoriensis , 18 ventral scales across belly at mid-body in C. otai , 25-27 ventral scales across belly at mid-body in C. pakkamalaiensis sp. nov., 23-25 ventral scales across belly at mid-body in C. rishivalleyensis , 20-22 ventral scales across belly at mid-body in C. stellapulvis , 23-25 scales across belly in C. tigris , and 18-20 ventral scales across belly at mid-body in C. yercaudensis ); 116-125 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca (versus 102-114 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca in C. avasabinae , 93-98 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca in C. otai , 100-112 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca in C. pakkamalaiensis sp. nov., 102-112 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca in C. rishivalleyensis , 90-107 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca in C. stellapulvis , 91-107 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca in C. tigris , and 90-105 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca in C. yercaudensis ); a median row of subcaudals distinctly enlarged (versus a median row of subcaudals slightly enlarged in C. avasabinae , C. mysoriensis , C. otai , C. pakkamalaiensis sp. nov., C. rishivalleyensis , C. stellapulvis , C. tigris , and C. yercaudensis ); enlarged tubercles in vertebral and paravertebral region absent, about two or three regularly arranged rows of large, weakly keeled tubercles on each side of flank (versus dorsal pholidosis homogeneous in C. adii , granular scales in the vertebral and paravertebral region with a few scattered enlarged keeled tubercles in C. mysoriensis , C. otai , C. pakkamalaiensis sp. nov., C. stellapulvis , C. tigris , and C. yercaudensis ); a mid-dorsal streak absent (versus a continuous light mid-dorsal streak runs from occiput onto tail base in C. mysoriensis , C. stellapulvis , C. tigris , and C. yercaudensis ; a light mid-dorsal streak formed by seven fused, elongate chain-links that runs from occiput to tail base in C. avasabinae , C. otai , C. pakkamalaiensis sp. nov., and C. rishivalleyensis ).
Description of the holotype.
Adult male in good state of preservation except extreme tail tip missing, partially everted hemipenis on left side, and a 4.0 mm long incision in sternal region for tissue collection (Fig. 9A-E View Figure 9 ). SVL 32.2 mm, head short (HL/SVL 0.25), wide (HW/HL 0.61), not strongly depressed (HD/HL 0.33), distinct from neck. Loreal region slightly inflated, canthus rostralis not prominent. Snout marginally less than half the head length (ES/HL 0.45), more than twice eye diameter (ES/ED 2.37); scales on snout and canthus rostralis large, subcircular, smooth; much larger than those on forehead and interorbital region; occipital and temporal region with much smaller, weakly keeled granules (Fig. 10A, C View Figure 10 ). Eye small (ED/HL 0.19); with round pupil; orbit with extra-brillar fringe scales that are largest anteriorly; supraciliaries not elongate; interorbital scale rows across narrowest point of frontal nine; 28 or 29 scale rows between left and right supraciliaries at mid-orbit (Fig. 10C View Figure 10 ). Ear-opening deep, oval, small (EL/HL 0.04); eye to ear distance greater than diameter of eye (EE/ED 1.62; Fig. 10C View Figure 10 ). Rostral twice wider (1.3 mm) than long (0.6 mm), incompletely divided dorsally by a strongly developed rostral groove for more than half of its length; a single enlarged supranasal on each side, marginally larger than postnasals, separated from each other by a single enlarged internasal and a smaller scale on snout; rostral in contact with nostril, supralabial I, supranasal and internasal; nostrils oval, each surrounded by postnasals, supranasal, rostral and supralabial I; two rows of scales separate the orbit from the supralabials (Fig. 10C View Figure 10 ). Mental enlarged, subtriangular, marginally wider (1.5 mm) than long (1.2 mm); two pairs of postmentals, inner pair slightly larger than outer pair, roughly square, separated from each other below mental by an enlarged chin scale; inner pair bordered by mental, infralabial I and II, outer postmental and three enlarged chin shields on either side; outer postmentals roughly square, bordered by inner postmentals, infralabial II, and four enlarged chin shields on either side; three enlarged gular scales prevent contact of left and right outer postmentals; chin shields bordering postmentals flat, smooth, smaller than outermost postmentals, rest flattened, smooth, even smaller (Fig. 10B View Figure 10 ). Infralabials bordered below by a row or two of slightly enlarged scales, decreasing in size posteriorly. Seven supralabials up to angle of jaw on left and eight on right, six at midorbital position; supralabial I largest, decreasing in size posteriorly; seven infralabials up to angle of jaw, six at midorbital position on left and five on right; infralabial I largest, infralabials decreasing in size posteriorly (Fig. 10C View Figure 10 ).
Body relatively slender (BW/AGL 0.52), trunk less than half of SVL (AGL/SVL 0.41) without ventrolateral folds; three spine-like scales on either side of flank. Dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous; weakly keeled, granular scales on the vertebral and paravertebral region, intermixed with about three irregularly arranged rows of large, weakly keeled, tubercles on each side of flank (Fig. 11A-C View Figure 11 ). Scales on occiput and nape much smaller and weakly keeled than those on paravertebral rows; scales on flank slightly larger than those on dorsum, weakly keeled, conical or spine-like. Ventral scales much larger than granular scales on dorsum, those on belly smooth, subcircular subimbricate, equal from chest to vent except for those on precloacal region which slightly larger; mid-body scale rows across belly 29; 123 scales from mental to anterior border of cloaca (Fig. 11B View Figure 11 ). Scales on throat slightly smaller than those on belly, imbricate; gular region with much smaller, flattened scales with those on chin bordering postmentals, enlarged, juxtaposed and flattened (Fig. 10B View Figure 10 ). A single femoral pore on left thigh and two on right separated by eight poreless scales on left and 10 on right from a continuous series of three precloacal pores (Fig. 10D View Figure 10 ).
Scales on dorsal aspect of manus heterogenous, upper arm with scales much larger than dorsal granules, weakly keeled, imbricate; those near forelimb insertion much smaller than scales on upper arm; dorsal aspect of lower arm and elbow with scales much smaller than those on upper arm, weakly keeled, flat, roughly rounded; dorsal aspect of hand predominantly bearing large, flattened, smooth to weakly keeled, imbricate scales. Ventral aspect of upper arm with smooth, roughly rounded, subimbricate scales; scales on lower arm and wrist large, smooth, imbricate; scales on palm and sole smooth, flat and subcircular. Scales on anterodorsal aspect of thigh much larger than those on dorsal granules, weakly keeled, imbricate except those near hindlimb insertion which are granular, much smaller than dorsal granules, conical; scales on posterodorsal aspect smaller, smooth to weekly keeled, granular. Scales on dorsal aspect of knee and shank fairly smaller than those on dorsum of thigh, subimbricate, weakly keeled; dorsal aspect of foot predominantly bearing small, flattened, smooth to weakly keeled, imbricate scales; scales on ventral aspect of thigh and shank more or less equal to those on mid-body ventrals, smooth, subcircular, subimbricate on thigh and imbricate on shank (Fig. 9A, B View Figure 9 ).
Fore-limbs and hind-limbs moderately long, slender (LAL/SVL 0.14); (CL/SVL 0.17); digits long, with a strong, recurved claw, distinctly inflected, distal portions laterally compressed conspicuously. Series of unpaired lamellae on basal portion of digits, separated from unpaired, narrower distal lamellae by a single large scale at the inflection; basal lamellae series: 2-3-3-5-4 (right manus), 2-4-6-6-6 (right pes), 2-3-4-5-4 (left manus; Fig. 10E View Figure 10 ), 2-5-6-6-5 (left pes; Fig. 10F View Figure 10 ); distal lamellae series: 9-10-13-12-11 (right manus), 9-11-13-14-13 (right pes), 9-10-13-12-11 (left manus; Fig. 10E View Figure 10 ), 9-11-13-14-13 (left pes; Fig. 10F View Figure 10 ). Relative length of digits (measurements in mm in parentheses): IV (2.7)> III (2.5)> II (2.3) = V (2.3)> I (1.7) (left manus); IV (3.7)> III (3.6)> V (3.2)> II (2.8)> I (1.8) (left pes).
Tail entire except for extreme tip which is missing, original, subcylindrical, relatively slender, flattened beneath, marginally shorter than snout-vent length (TL/SVL 0.96) (Fig. 9C-E View Figure 9 ). Dorsal scales at tail base granular, similar in size and shape to those on midbody dorsals, gradually becoming larger, flatter, subimbricate posteriorly, intermixed with much enlarged, strongly keeled, distinctly pointed, conical tubercles forming whorls; six tubercles on first eight whorls. Scales on ventral aspect of original tail much larger than those on dorsal aspect, subimbricate, smooth, with a series of three enlarged subcaudal scales of which the median series is distinctly larger than adjunct two rows, covering almost entire portion of the tail; those on tail base much smaller, imbricate and smooth, a single enlarged, smooth postcloacal spur on each side (Fig. 9D View Figure 9 ).
Colouration in life (Fig. 12A View Figure 12 ).
Dorsal ground colour of head, body, limbs and tail grey-brown; head mottled, with a few dark blotches; anterior of brille yellow. Fine dark brown preorbital streak runs from nasal to orbit, two fine dark brown postorbital streaks extend till neck; labials yellow with darker bars. Dorsal markings consist of a dark ocellus outlined by brown just anterior to forelimb insertions followed by four off-white blotches from forelimb insertions to tail base; rest of dorsum strongly mottled with light grey blotches and fine black spots. Flank with smaller dark spots and light grey markings. Tail more grey than body, with 14 alternating light and dark bands, tail tip black. Dorsum of limbs with scattered light grey, brown and black markings; two strong dark streaks on the posterior of femur, digits with alternating dark and light bands. Ventral surfaces dull white, fine speckling under forelimbs, throat with a grey longitudinal stripe on each side with some dark markings below eye and angle of jaw, no dark markings on belly, underside of tail lined by a fine dark border. Pupil black, iris silver with an orange streak toward the posterior of the pupil.
Variation and additional information from paratype series.
Mensural, meristic and additional character states evaluation data for the paratype series is given in Tables 3 View Table 3 - 5 View Table 5 respectively. There are two males and two females ranging in size from 28.2-34.0 mm (Fig. 13A, B View Figure 13 ). All paratypes resemble the holotype except as follows: two internasals separating the supranasals behind rostral in NRC-AA-1288. Inner postmental bordered by infralabial I on either side in NRC-AA-1287, NRC-AA-1289, NRC-AA-1288; inner postmentals bordered by infralabial I and II on left and infralabial I on right side in NRC-AA-1290. Outer postmentals bordered by infralabial I & II in NRC-AA-1287, NRC-AA-1289, NRC-AA-1288; outer postmentals bordered by infralabial II on left and infralabials I & II on right side in NRC-AA-1290; outer postmental bordered by four gular scales on left and three on right side in NRC-AA-1289; and by five gular scales on left and three on right side in NRC-AA-1290. Two paratypes-NRC-AA-1287 and NRC-AA-1290 with original and complete tail, marginally and slightly longer than body (TL/SVL 1.10 and 1.21 respectively); NRC-AA-1289 with half original half regenerated tail; NRC-AA-1288 with half of the tail missing (Fig. 13A, B View Figure 13 ). All paratypes agree with the holotype in overall colouration except for unvouchered hatchling and a juvenile which are overall duller than adults and have orange tail tips. (Fig. 12B-D View Figure 12 ).
Distribution and natural history.
Cnemaspis cavernicola sp. nov. is known only from its type locality (Pak-kamalai Reserve Forest, Gingee Hills in Viluppuram district, Tamil Nadu), at elevations of ca. 400-480 m asl. (Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ). Cnemaspis cavernicola sp. nov. was encountered during a single day of fieldwork each on two different fieldtrips in Pakkamalai. Individuals were observed in small numbers (>10 in 2 hrs) and only in the higher reaches of Pakkamalai in shaded and relatively cooler areas among very large granite boulders. A few individuals were seen moving around in the morning (0930-1130 hrs) on granite rocks ≥ 2 m above the ground and NRC-AA-1287 and a juvenile specimen were seen inactive in a small rock crevice located inside a granite cave in the evening (Fig. 8A, B View Figure 8 ). Sympatric lizards recorded by us at the type locality include Cnemaspis pakkamalaiensis sp. nov. Calodactylodes aureus , Hemidactylus frenatus , H. pakkamalaiensis , H. whitakeri , Eutropis carinata , and Psammophilus dorsalis .
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