Parsigecko, Safaei-Mahroo, Barbod, Ghaffari, Hanyeh & Anderson, Steven C., 2016

Safaei-Mahroo, Barbod, Ghaffari, Hanyeh & Anderson, Steven C., 2016, A new genus and species of gekkonid lizard (Squamata: Gekkota: Gekkonidae) from Hormozgan Province with a revised key to gekkonid genera of Iran, Zootaxa 4109 (4), pp. 428-444 : 430

Parsigecko gen. nov.

Type species. Parsigecko ziaiei sp. nov., herein described.

Definition. The monotypic genus of family Gekkonidae is readily distinguished from all other genera of the family by a combination of the following characters: dorsal scales smooth, granular, subequal in size, not tuberculate and not imbricated, two strongly keeled scales on each side of each annulus of tail. Other characteristics of the new genus are given in the species description.

This genus is distinguished from all other bent-toed geckos in lacking dorsal tubercles, and from Microgecko Nikolsky, 1907 in its enlarged lateral caudal scales and its single row of enlarged subcaudal scales.

Distribution. Koh-e Homag Protected Area, in Zagros Mountains, Hormozgan Province, southern Iran. Forest steppe habitat. Known only from the type locality.

Etymology. The generic nomen Parsigecko is derived from the word “Pars” which refers to an old name for Iran, the country where the new genus was found. Pars was the ancient seat of the Persian Empire which was centered in south-central Iran.

Comparisons. The genus Parsigecko gen. nov. can be distinguished from other genera of Middle Eastern Gekkonidae by a combination of the following characteristics (see also key below): having two strong keeled and pointed scales on lateral part of each caudal annulus side, tail dorsum covered with small scales without any tubercles or keels ( Figure 1 ) and precloacal region covered with distinctly enlarged and elongated scales arranged in a single arch-shaped row ( Figure 2 ). We surmise that these scales contain precloacal pores in males. It is distinguished from Agamura Blanford, 1874 , Alsophylax Fitzinger, 1843 , Bunopus Blanford, 1874 , Crossobamon Boettger, 1888 , Cyrtopodion Fitzinger, 1843 , Mediodactylus Szczerbak & Golubev, 1977 , Rhinogecko de Witte, 1973 and Tenuidactylus Szczerbak & Golubev, 1984 in not having strongly tuberculate or keeled dorsal scales; from Microgecko and Tropiocolotes Peters, 1880 in having subequal and non-imbricate dorsal scales ( Figure 3 ); from Agamura , Bunopus and Rhinogecko in not having tuberculate scales on the terminal whorl of each tail segment; from Cyrtopodion , Mediodactylus and Tenuidactylus in not having fully tuberculate or keeled scales on dorsal part of tail; from Crossobamon , Microgecko , Pseudoceramodactylus Haas, 1957 , Stenodactylus Fitzinger, 1826 and Tropiocolotes in not having uniform, equal sized and smooth caudal scales.

Contents. At present the new genus includes a single species, Parsigecko ziaiei sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Tail dorsal view of A: Agamura persica, B: Bunopus tuberculatus, C: Crossobamon eversmanni, D: Cyrtopodion scabrum, E: Parsigecko ziaiei sp. nov., F: Mediodactylus russowii G: Microgecko latifi, H: Tenuidactylus caspius, I: Tropiocolotes cf. steudneri. Photographs by B. Safaei-Mahroo.

FIGURE 2. Ventral view of abdomen, hind limb and tail of A: Agamura persica, B: Bunopus tuberculatus, C: Crossobamon eversmanni, D: Cyrtopodion scabrum, E: Parsigecko ziaiei sp. nov., F: Mediodactylus heterocercum, G: Microgecko latifi, H: Tenuidactylus caspius, I: Tropiocolotes cf. steudneri. Photographs by B. Safaei-Mahroo.

FIGURE 3. Dorsal view of A: Agamura persica, B: Bunopus tuberculatus, C: Crossobamon eversmanni, D: Cyrtopodion scabrum, E: Parsigecko ziaiei sp. nov., F: Mediodactylus heterocercum, G: Microgecko latifi, H: Tenuidactylus caspius, I: Tropiocolotes cf. steudneri. Photographs by B. Safaei-Mahroo.