Cnemaspis tenkasiensis, Khandekar & Thackeray & Agarwal, 2024

Khandekar, Akshay, Thackeray, Tejas & Agarwal, Ishan, 2024, Five new species of the Cnemaspis beddomei clade (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from high elevation, evergreen forests of the Southern Western Ghats, India, Zootaxa 5469 (1), pp. 1-70 : 54-64

Cnemaspis tenkasiensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A5EF4400-EF62-42FF-85EE-16828B7F5ABD

( Figs 27–31 ; Tables 15–17)

Holotype. NRC-AA-8408 ( AK-R 1283 ), adult male, near Ayanadu Estate (9.1156°N, 77.2369°E; ca. 1170 m asl.), Mekkarai, Tenkasi District , Tamil Nadu State, India; collected by Akshay Khandekar, Ishan Agarwal, Swapnil Pawar and team on 14 th April 2022.

Paratypes. NRC-AA-8409 ( AK-R 1282 ), NRC-AA-8410 ( AK-R 1284 ), adult males, same data as holotype ; NRC-AA-8411 ( AK-R 1285 ), NRC-AA-8412 ( AK-R 1287 ), NRC-AA-8413 ( AK-R 1303 ), adult males, from near Ayanadu Estate (9.1132°N, 77.2349°E; ca. 1000 m asl.), Mekkarai, same collection data as holotype .

Etymology. The specific epithet is a toponym for the Tenkasi District of Tamil Nadu, in which the type locality (Ayanadu Estate) of the new species is located.

Suggested common name. Tenkasi dwarf gecko.

Diagnosis. A large-sized Cnemaspis , snout to vent length up to 53 mm (n = 6). Dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous; weakly keeled granular scales intermixed with regularly arranged rows of enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles; 16–18 rows of dorsal tubercles at midbody, 20–23 tubercles in paravertebral rows; ventral scales subequal from chest to vent, weakly keeled on pectoral region and on both the sides of the midbody, rest smooth, subcircular and subimbricate with rounded pointed end; 22–24 scales across belly at midbody, 123–134 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca; subdigital scansors smooth, unnotched, mostly entire; 12–15 lamellae under digit I of manus and 12–16 under digit I of pes, 17–21 lamellae under digit IV of manus and 18–21 lamellae under digit IV of pes; males with continuous series of 6–8 precloacal pores (n = 6); scales on non-regenerated tail dorsum heterogeneous; composed of smooth, flattened and subimbricate scales that are larger than granular scales on midbody dorsum, gradually becoming larger and imbricate posteriorly and dorsolaterally, intermixed with enlarged, weakly keeled, pointed, weakly conical tubercles, becoming smooth posteriorly; enlarged tubercles on the tail forming whorls only on anterior one third potion of the tail; median series smooth, slightly enlarged than rest with condition of two slightly enlarged scales alternating with a divided scale. Dorsum in males olive-brown with a pair of small white cross-bars at forelimb insertions, flanks and tubercles strongly marked with silver-blue, tail with alternating black and white bands; juveniles dark brown, with indistinct mid-dorsal streak.

Comparisons with members of beddomei clade. Cnemaspis tenkasiensis sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from all described members of the beddomei clade as well as from C. boiei by a combination of the following differing or non-overlapping characters: A large-sized Cnemaspis , snout to vent length> 50 mm (versus small-sized Cnemaspis , snout to vent length <40 mm in C. aaronbaueri , C. azhagu , C. boiei , C. galaxia , C. nigriventris , C. regalis , C. sathuragiriensis , C. sundara and C. vangoghi ; medium-sized Cnemaspis , snout to vent length 40–50 mm in C. agamalaiensis sp. nov., C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., C. anuradhae sp. nov., C. nairi , C. nimbus , C. ornata , C. rashidi , C. rubraoculus , C. wallaceii ); 16–18 rows of dorsal tubercles at midbody (versus only a few enlarged scattered tubercles at midbody dorsum in C. anamudiensis , 12–14 rows of dorsal tubercles at midbody in C. agamalaiensis sp. nov., 10–13 in C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., 13–15 in C. anuradhae sp. nov., two or three in C. azhagu , 9–12 in C. beddomei , eight in C. galaxia , 13 or 14 in C. nigriventris , 12–14 in C. nimbus , 12–14 in C. ornata , 7–9 in C. regalis , 8–12 in C. rubraoculus , 6–8 in C. sathuragiriensis , six in C. sundara , 10 or 11 in C. rashidi , 10 in C. vangoghi and 14 or 15 in C. wallaceii ); 22–24 scales across belly at midbody (versus 31–33 scales across belly at midbody in C. aaronbaueri , 28–33 in C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., 26–28 in C. anuradhae sp. nov., 34–44 in C. azhagu , 30–34 in C. beddomei , 27–31 in C. galaxia , 32 or 33 in C. nairi , 38–40 in C. nigriventris , 33–37 in C. ornata , 29–32 in C. rashidi , 40–44 in C. regalis , 30–37 in C. rubraoculus , 28–30 in C. sathuragiriensis , 30–36 in C. smaug , 35 or 36 in C. sundara , 29–31 in C. vangoghi and 28 or 29 in C. wallaceii ); 123–134 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca (versus 135–140 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca in C. aaronbaueri , 155–168 in C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., 151–171 in C. azhagu , 154–161 in C. beddomei , 117 in C. boiei , 153–159 in C. galaxia , 143–147 in C. nairi , 154–159 in C. nigriventris , 157–165 in C. ornata , 170–172 in C. rashidi , 148–154 in C. regalis , 141–152 in C. smaug , 156–160 in C. sundara and 154–156 in C. wallaceii ); 20–23 tubercles in paravertebral rows (versus paravertebral tubercles either absent or irregular in C. anamudiensis , C. azhagu , C. sathuragiriensis and C. sundara , 18 or 19 in C. beddomei , 14 in C. galaxia , 16 or 17 in C. nimbus , 12 in C. regalis , 12–17 in C. rubraoculus , 26–31 C. valparaiensis sp. nov. and 7–14 in C. vangoghi ); enlarged tubercles on midbody dorsum regularly arranged (versus enlarged tubercles on midbody dorsum absent in C. boiei , enlarged tubercles on midbody dorsum irregularly arranged in C. agamalaiensis sp. nov., C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., C. anuradhae sp. nov., C. beddomei , C. nimbus , C. rubraoculus , C. sathuragiriensis and C. sundara ); scales on non-regenerated tail dorsum heterogeneous, with the presence of enlarged tubercles (versus scales on non-regenerated tail dorsum homogeneous, lacking enlarged tubercles in C. agamalaiensis sp. nov., C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., C. anuradhae sp. nov., C. anamudiensis , C. beddomei , C. maculicollis and C. nimbus ); median row of subcaudals slightly enlarged with condition of two slightly enlarged scales alternating with a divided scale (versus median row of subcaudals slightly enlarged in C. agamalaiensis sp. nov., C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., C. anuradhae sp. nov. and C. rubraoculus ; median row of subcaudals enlarged with irregularly arranged scales in C. maculicollis ); males with continuous series of 6–8 precloacal pores (versus males with continuous series of two precloacal pores, but sometime precloacal pores separated by single poreless scale in C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., males with continuous series of two precloacal pores in C. anamudiensis and 10 in C. maculicollis ); ventral scales smooth (versus ventral scales weakly keeled in C. beddomei and C. rubraoculus ); pectoral scales smooth (versus pectoral scales weakly keeled in C. valparaiensis sp. nov.); a distinct pair white ocelli or streak on shoulder and behind the forearm insertion (versus a distinct white ocelli or streak on shoulder and behind the forearm insertion absent in C. aaronbaueri , C. agamalaiensis sp. nov., C. anamudiensis , C. anuradhae sp. nov., C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., C. azhagu , C. beddomei , C. galaxia , C. nairi , C. nigriventris , C. nimbus , C. ornata , C. rashidi , C. regalis , C. rubraoculus , C. sathuragiriensis , C. sundara , C. vangoghi and C. wallaceii ); a distinct white ocellus on ventrolateral sides of neck absent in both sexes (versus a distinct white ocellus on ventrolateral sides of neck present in males in C. galaxia , C. nairi , C. nigriventris , C. ornata , C. rashidi , C. sathuragiriensis , C. sundara and C. vangoghi ).

Description of the holotype. Adult male in good state of preservation except tail tip bent towards right and a 4.3 mm long incision in sternal region for tissue collection ( Fig. 27A–E ). SVL 51.2 mm, head short (HL/SVL 0.25), wide (HW/HL 0.65), not strongly depressed (HD/HL 0.41), distinct from neck. Loreal region marginally inflated, canthus rostralis indistinct. Snout half of head length (ES/HL 0.48), 2.5 times eye diameter (ES/ED 2.52); scales on snout and canthus rostralis elongate, subequal, keeled, conical, much larger than those on forehead and interorbital region; scales on forehead similar to those on snout and canthus rostralis except slightly smaller; scales on interorbital region even smaller, granular and weakly keeled; scales on occipital, and temporal region heterogeneous, composed of granular scales intermixed with enlarged, weakly keeled, conical tubercles ( Fig. 28A ). Eye small (ED/HL 0.19), with round pupil; supraciliaries short, larger anteriorly; 11 interorbital scale rows across narrowest point of frontal; 31 scale rows between left and right supraciliaries at mid-orbit ( Fig. 28A, C ). Ear-opening deep, oval, small (EL/HL 0.11); eye to ear distance much greater than diameter of eye (EE/ED 1.60) ( Fig. 28C ). Rostral almost two times wider (2.4 mm) than high (1.3 mm), incompletely divided dorsally by a strongly developed rostral groove for more than half of its height; a single enlarged, roughly rectangular supranasal on each side, slightly larger than upper postnasal, in strong contact with each other behind rostral; a pair of slightly enlarged scales on snout behind supranasals, separated from each other by two much smaller, granular scales on snout; rostral in contact with supralabial I, lower postnasal, nostril and supranasal on either side; nostrils oval, surrounded by two postnasals, supranasal, and rostral on either side; two postnasals on either side, upper postnasal roughly circular, slightly larger than the lower, lower postnasal elongate; two single row of scales separate orbit from supralabials ( Fig. 28C ). Mental enlarged, subtriangular, marginally wider (2.8 mm) than high (2.6 mm); two pairs of postmentals, inner pair roughly square, much shorter (1.1 mm) than mental, separated from each other below mental by single enlarged median chin shield; inner pair bordered by mental, infralabial I, outer postmental, median chin shield and four slightly enlarged chin shields on left and three on right side; outer postmentals roughly rectangular, much smaller (0.6 mm) than inner pair, bordered by inner postmentals, infralabial I & II, and three chin shields on left and four on right side, eight enlarged gular scales (including median chin shield) between left and right outer postmentals; all chin shields bordering postmentals protrudent, subequal, subcircular, smooth, and much smaller than outermost postmentals; scales on rest of throat, granular, much smaller, weakly keeled, subcircular, and conical ( Fig. 28B ). Infralabials bordered below by a row or two of slightly enlarged, much elongated scales, decreasing in size posteriorly. Nine supralabials on left and eight on right side up to angle of jaw and five at midorbital position on either side; supralabial I largest, gradually decreasing in size posteriorly; seven infralabials up to angle of jaw and five at midorbital position on either side; infralabial I largest, gradually decreasing in size posteriorly ( Fig. 28C ).

Body relatively slender (BW/AGL 0.39), trunk marginally less than half of SVL (AGL/SVL 0.45) without spinelike tubercles on flank ( Fig. 29A–C ). Dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous; weakly keeled granular scales intermixed with regularly arranged rows of enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles; granular scales gradually increasing in size towards each flank, largest on mid-flank; granular scales on occiput slightly smaller than paravertebral granules; enlarged tubercles in approximately 18 longitudinal rows at midbody; 22 (left) and 21 (right) tubercles in paravertebral rows ( Fig. 29A ). Ventral scales much larger than granular scales on dorsum, subequal from chest to vent, weakly keeled on pectoral region and lateral edges of the body, rest smooth, subcircular and subimbricate with rounded end; scales on precloacal region distinctly enlarged; midbody scale rows across belly 23; 134 scales from mental to anterior border of cloaca ( Fig. 29B ). A continuous series of seven precloacal pores, femoral pores absent ( Fig. 28D ).

Scales on palm and soles, smooth, oval or rounded, and flattened; scales on dorsal aspects of limbs homogenous; composed of small, weakly keeled, weakly conical and non-imbricate scales which are slightly larger on thigh and shank than upper and lower arm; scales on ventral aspect of upper arm smooth, granular, slightly smaller than granular scales on body dorsum, scales on ventral aspect of lower arm with much larger scales than those on upper arm, smooth, subcircular, weakly conical to flattened, and non-imbricate scales; ventral aspect of thigh and shank with enlarged, weakly keeled, flattened, subimbricate scales, slightly larger on the shank but otherwise similar in size to those on body ventrals ( Fig. 27A, B ). Forelimbs and hindlimbs slightly long, slender (LAL/SVL 0.14; CL/SVL 0.17); digits long, with a strong, recurved claw, distinctly inflected, distal portions laterally compressed conspicuously. Digits with mostly unpaired lamellae, separated into a basal and narrower distal series by single enlarged lamella at inflection; basal lamellae series: (4-5-4-6-5 right manus, 4-5-5-5-4 right pes), (4-5-4-6-5 left manus, Fig. 28E ; 5-6-5-6-4 left pes, Fig. 28F ); distal lamellae series: (10-11-14-13-11 right manus, 10-12-14-15- 14 right pes), (10-11-13-13-12 left manus, Fig. 28E ; 9-12-14-14-14 left pes, Fig. 28F ). Relative length of digits (measurements in mm in parentheses): IV (6.1)> III (5.4)> II (4.9)> V (4.5)> I (3.4) (left manus); IV (7.0)> V (6.2)> III (5.9)> II (5.4)> I (3.0) (left pes).

Tail original (except for tip which is regenerated), subcylindrical, slender, entire, marginally longer than body (TL/SVL 1.13) ( Fig. 27C–E ). Dorsal pholidosis on non-regenerated tail heterogeneous; composed of smooth, flattened and subimbricate scales that are larger than granular scales on midbody dorsum, gradually becoming larger and imbricate posteriorly and dorsolaterally, intermixed with enlarged, weakly keeled, pointed, weakly conical tubercles, becoming smooth posteriorly; enlarged tubercles on the tail forming whorls only on anterior one third potion of the tail; 12 tubercles on first whorl, nine in second and third whorls, eight in fourth whorl, six tubercles on 5–10th whorl, rest of the tail with either only paravertebral tubercles or lacking enlarged tubercles ( Fig. 27C ). Scales on tail venter much larger than those on dorsal aspect, smooth, roughly subcircular, flattened, subimbricate; median series smooth, slightly enlarged than rest with condition of two slightly enlarged scales alternating with a divided scale ( Fig. 27D ). Scales on tail base much smaller, smooth, subimbricate; three subequal and smooth postcloacal tubercle on either side ( Fig. 28D ).

Colouration in life ( Fig. 30A ). Dorsal ground colouration of head, body, and limbs olive-brown. A dark preorbital streak, and two dark postorbital streaks run till ear opening. Head with some light and dark markings; body dorsum with indistinct light vertebral streak, a white streak at 45° on each side above forelimb insertions and one pair just behind, tubercles and flank sliver-blue; tail with about nine black bands alternating with fine silver-blue bands. Ventral colouration white; throat with two fine dark lines from postmentals to jaw; some yellow scales on throat, under limbs, chest and on belly; subcaudals with alternating black and white bands on original portion; precloacal and femoral regions ochre-yellow. Pupil black, iris red.

Variation and additional information from the paratype series ( Figs 30B, C ; 31A, B ). Mensural, meristic and additional character state data for the type series is given in Tables 15–17 respectively. There are five adult males ranging in size from 45.9–51.2 mm ( Fig. 31A, B ). All paratypes resemble the holotype except as follows: Inner postmentals bordered by mental, infralabial I, outer postmental and an enlarged median chin shield in all paratypes except for NRC-AA-8411 (bordered by infralabial I & II on either side) and NRC-AA-8412 (bordered by infralabial I & II on left and infralabial II on right side, and not bordered by median chin shield); additionally, bordered by six smaller chin shields in NRC-AA-8409 and NRC-AA-8412, eight chin shields NRC-AA-8410, five in NRC-AA-8411. Outer postmentals bordered by inner pair and infralabial I & II in all paratypes except for NRC-AA-8411 (bordered by infralabial II on either side) and NRC-AA-8412 (bordered by infralabial II on left and infralabial I & II on right side); additionally, bordered by four smaller chin shields on either side in NRC-AA-8411. Two paratypes —NRC-AA-8409 and NRC-AA-8413 with original and complete tail, slightly longer than body (TL/SVL 1.18 and 1.15 respectively) but with partially or fully detached from the body; NRC-AA-8411 and NRC- AA-8412 with complete but fully regenerated tail, slightly to marginally shorter than body (TL/SVL 0.67 and 0.98 respectively); NRC-AA-8410 with original but partially broken and missing tail ( Fig. 31A ). A small patch of skin injury on the dorsal tail base in NRC-AA-8409, NRC-AA-8410 and NRC-AA-8411, and on midbody dorsal and temporal region in NRC-AA-8413; NRC-AA-8413 with partially everted hemipenis on right side ( Fig. 31A, B ). Original tail distinctly banded in paratypes with non-regenerated tail, regenerated tail not banded in NRC-AA-8411 and NRC-AA-8412 ( Figs 30B, C ; 31A, B ). Juveniles uniform brown without a black and white banded tail ( Fig. 30C ).

Distribution and natural history. Cnemaspis tenkasiensis sp. nov. is known only from its type locality (around Ayanadu Estate, Mekkarai in Tenkasi District, Tamil Nadu) ( Fig. 1 ). The new species was recorded in evergreen forest patches at elevations of 1000–1200 m asl. ( Fig. 32A ) active during the daytime (1030–1300 hrs) on rocks <3 m high from the base in dense evergreen forest patches ( Fig. 32B ). During summer a moderate number of sightings (n = ~ 10/ hr) were obtained at the sampled locations indicating moderate abundance. Sympatric lizards we recorded at the type locality include Cnemaspis cf. littoralis , C. nairi , Kaestlea sp. Calotes calotes (Linnaeus) , and Monilesaurus cf. ellioti .

for: L&R = Left & Right, M = male, A = absent.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Elevation map of the southern Western Ghats, India showing sampled localities for the anamudiensis (triangles) and beddomei (circles) subclades of the beddomei clade.

FIGURE 5. Cnemaspis agamalaiensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8374): (A) dorsal view of midbody, (B) ventral view of midbody, (C) lateral view of midbody. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 6. Cnemaspis agamalaiensis sp. nov. in life: (A) adult male (holotype, NRC-AA-8374), (B) adult male (paratype, NRC-AA-8381), and (C) subadult female (paratype, NRC-AA-8376). Photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 9. Cnemaspis anuradhae sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8385): (A) dorsal view of body, (B) ventral view of body, (C) dorsal view of tail, (D) ventral view of tail, (E) lateral view of tail. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 10. Cnemaspis anuradhae sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8385): (A) dorsal view of head, (B) ventral view of head, (C) lateral view of head on right, (D) view of precloacal region showing precloacal pores, (E) ventral view of left manus, (F) ventral view of right pes. Scale bars 5 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 11. Cnemaspis anuradhae sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8385): (A) dorsal view of midbody, (B) ventral view of midbody, (C) lateral view of midbody. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 12. Cnemaspis anuradhae sp. nov. in life: (A) adult male (holotype, NRC-AA-8385), (B) adult female (paratype, NRC-AA-8386), and (C) juvenile (uncollected). Photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 13. Paratype series of Cnemaspis anuradhae sp. nov., from left to right, NRC-AA-8386–8391: (A) dorsal view and (B) ventral view. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 14. Habitat photos of Cnemaspis anuradhae sp. nov.: (A) general view of evergreen forest and (B) microhabitat photo showing the cave located inside the evergreen forest patch from where the new species was collected; both from the type locality, near Mangalamkombu, Palani Hills in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu. Photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 27. Cnemaspis tenkasiensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8408): (A) dorsal view of body, (B) ventral view of body, (C) dorsal view of tail, (D) ventral view of tail, (E) lateral view of tail. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 28. Cnemaspis tenkasiensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8408): (A) dorsal view of head, (B) ventral view of head, (C) lateral view of head on right, (D) view of precloacal region showing precloacal pores, (E) ventral view of right manus, (F) ventral view of right pes. Scale bars 5 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 29. Cnemaspis tenkasiensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8408): (A) dorsal view of midbody, (B) ventral view of midbody, (C) lateral view of midbody. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 30. Cnemaspis tenkasiensis sp. nov. in life: (A) adult male (paratype, NRC-AA-8409), (B) adult male (paratype, NRC-AA-8410), and (C) juvenile (uncollected). Photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 31. Paratype series of Cnemaspis tenkasiensis sp. nov., from left to right, NRC-AA-8409–8413: (A) dorsal view and (B) ventral view. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 32. Habitat photos of Cnemaspis tenkasiensis sp. nov.: (A) general view of evergreen forest and (B) microhabitat photo showing the boulder located inside the evergreen forest patch from where the new species was collected; both from the type locality, near Ayanadu Estate, Mekkarai in Tenkasi District, Tamil Nadu. Photos by Akshay Khandekar.