Gekko (Japonicgekko) subpalmatus ( Günther, 1864 )

Lyu, Zhi-Tong, Lin, Chao-Yu, Ren, Jin-Long, Jiang, Ke, Zhang, Yin-Peng, Qi, Shuo & Wang, Jian, 2021, Review of the Gekko (Japonigekko) subpalmatus complex (Squamata, Sauria Gekkonidae), with description of a new species from China, Zootaxa 4951 (2), pp. 236-258 : 247

Gekko (Japonicgekko) subpalmatus ( Günther, 1864)

Chresonymy.

Gecko subpalmatus — Günther 1864.

Gekko subpalmatus — Schmidt 1927 (part); Pope 1935 (part); Zhao et al. 1999 (part).

Gekko (Japonigekko) subpalmatus — Wood et al. 2020.

Type materials. Holotype. BMNH 1946.8 .2592, adult female, collected by Fortune from Chikiang [= Zhejiang], PR China.

Specimens examined. Eight adult male and three adult female specimens. Males SYS r001380–1381, collected from Donghai Canyon, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, PR China; males SYS r001767 ( Fig. 5A 1 ), 2065, 2068–2070, 2072, and females SYS r001762 ( Fig. 5A 2 ), 1768, 2071, collected from Xikou Township, Fenghua District , Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province .

Common name. Webbed-toed Gecko (in English); pǔ zhǐ bì hŭ (×flŧt).

Etymology. The specific epithet subpalmatus is a compound adjective of sub- (‘under’, ‘beneath’ in Latin) and palmâtus (‘palmated’ in Latin), referring to the fingers and toes basally webbed in this species.

Revised diagnosis. (1) medium-sized gecko species, SVL 50.9–65.8 mm in adults; (2) tubercles on dorsal body, limbs and tail absent; (3) eye moderate, ED/HL ratio 0.18–0.22; (4) rostral moderate, elongate transversely, RW/HW ratio 0.18–0.22, RW/RH ratio 2.08–2.30; (5) mental elongate transversely, MW/HW ratio 0.10–0.15, MW/ML ratio 1.00–1.70; (6) nares bordered by rostral, internasals 0–1; (7) interorbital scales between anterior corners of the eyes 28–37; (8) midbody scale rows 129–156; (9) ventral scale rows at midbody 39–46; (10) scales between mental and cloacal slit 144–190; (11) subdigital lamellae on first fingers 9–11, on fourth fingers 11–15, on first toes 9–12, on fourth toes 11–14; (12) fingers and toes with distinct webbing; (13) 5–9 precloacal pores in a continuous row in males; (14) a single postcloacal tubercle on both sides; (14) dorsum greyish white to dark brown, with five regular dark bands between nape and sacrum ( Fig. 6A ).

Hemipenial characteristics ( Fig. 3A ): (1) hemipenis clavate, bilobed, densely covered with denticulate-seamed calyces; (2) sulcus spermaticus centrifugal, bifurcate at crotch of hemipenis; (3) lateral welt well developed, visible from asulcate side, not in contact with sulcus lip; (4) calyces confined to lobes and distal 2/3 of truncus; (5) tonguelike welt well-developed; (6) apical folds large, comma-shaped, in contact with each other; (7) a small and boomerang-like area on the asulcate side of the lobe center, calyces on this area not well developed ( Fig. 3A , Ch. 7).

Remark. The type locality of Gekko (Japonigekko) subpalmatus is in “Chikiang” [= Zhejiang] according to the original description, but the specific locus is unknown ( Günther 1864; Pope 1935). Subsequently, this species has been reported from multiple localities in eastern, southern, and southeastern China ( Schmidt 1927; Pope 1935; Zhao et al. 1999). Currently, G. (J.) subpalmatus can be recognized only from Zhejiang based upon voucher specimens and molecular data in this study. The populations in Fujian are temporally retained under the name of G. (J.) subpalmatus (see Discussion section). The previous records in eastern and southeastern Guangdong and southern Jiangxi should be as allocated to G. (J.) melli ( Yang et al. 2012; this study), and the previous records in Sichuan, Guizhou, and Chongqing should be as allocated to G. (J.) cib sp. nov. (this study).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Localities of specimens and tissue samples of Gekko (Japonigekko) subpalmatus complex used in this study. Provinces names with black labels are those in which members of the G. (J.) subpalmatus complex have been recorded. (1) Chengdu, Sichuan; (2) Mt Emei, Emeishan, Sichuan; (3) Zihuai, Hejiang, Sichuan; (4) Malu, Jinsha, Guizhou; (5) Xikou, Fenghua, Zhejiang; (6) Donghai Canyon, Zhoushan, Zhejiang; (7) Mt. Jiulian, Longnan, Jiangxi; (8) Mt.Yinping, Dongguan, Guangdong; (9) Mt. Yangtai, Shenzhen, Guangdong; (10) Kanghe, Dongyuan, Guangdong; (11) Daping, Puning, Guangdong.

FIGURE 2. Scatter plot of PC1 and PC2 of Principal Component Analysis based on the morphometric measurements, distinguishing species within Gekko (Japonigekko) subpalmatus complex.

FIGURE 3. Sulcate, asulcate, lateral, and apical side of the hemipenis morphology distinguishing species within Gekko (Japonigekko) subpalmatus complex. (A) G. (J.) subpalmatus; (B) G. (J.) melli; (C) G. (J.) cib sp. nov.. Characteristics: (1) lateral welt of the base of the sulcus spermaticus; (2) boundary between naked area and ornamented area; (3) sulcus spermaticus; (4) sulcus lip; (5) tongue-like welt; (6) apical folds; (7) area with undeveloped calyces on asulcate side of the lobe.

FIGURE 5. Morphological features of (A) Gekko (Japonigekko) subpalmatus and (B) G. (J.) melli, in preservative.

FIGURE 6. Living color patterns of (A) Gekko (Japonigekko) subpalmatus, (B) G. (J.) melli, and (C) G. (J.) cib sp. nov..