Calotes yunnanensis Annandale, 1905
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https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/vz.74.e109088 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D85DA495-4568-48EC-B0AA-2A9B48F817EA |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/50A2E4A2-D3DC-55E2-ABE8-8626E5561A87 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Calotes yunnanensis Annandale, 1905 |
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Calotes yunnanensis Annandale, 1905 View in CoL
Figures 4 View Figure 4 , 11 View Figure 11 , 12 View Figure 12
Chresonymy.
Calotes maria - Anderson (1879: 806)
Calotes jerdoni - Pope (1935: 468-469), Smith (1935: 194-195), Zhao and Adler (1993: 188), Zhao and Yang (1997: 156-157), Zhao et al. (1999: 90-91), Yang and Rao (2008: 189), Wang et al. (2020: appendix), Wang et al. (2022: appendix)
Holotype.
ZSI 6571, adult female from Teng-yue, western Yunnan, China.
Remarks on the type locality, gender, and measurements of holotype.
Most studies have considered Teng-yue as interchangeable with the modern Tengchong County in Yunnan Province (Zhao and Adler, 1993), including the museum label of the holotype at ZSI. Although Teng-yue includes the modern Tengchong County, they are not interchangeable: Teng-yue was the administrative unit of the Qing Dynasty and encompassed a much larger area west of the Gaoligong Mountains, which also includes modern-day Dehong Prefecture. Therefore, the type locality of the species should be revised as both modern-day Dehong Prefecture and Baoshan (which include Tengchong County).
Annandale (1905) noted that the holotype of C. yunnanensis is a male. However, our examination shows it to be a female (e.g., no distinct bulge at base of tail as in male specimens such as KIZ 014148, 029968, and 039747). Also, in the original description, Annandale (1905) measured the head length of the holotype as 34 mm and body length as 65 mm, which differs greatly from our measurement of head length (27.2 mm) and SVL (94.8 mm). As Annandale (1905) did not specify his measurement method, these differences could be explained by different measurement methods.
Additional examined specimens.
Topotypes: KIZ 014148, 029968, 039747, adult males; KIZ 015993, 014146, 014147, 030060, 50692, 034358, adult females; all from Yingjiang County, Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan, China. CAS 224511, adult male, from Nagmung Township, Putao, Kachin State, Myanmar (27.440861°N, 97.8950278°E, 573 m); CAS 221514, adult female, from Naung Mon Township, Putao, Kachin State, Myanmar (27.44122°N, 97.91875°E, 535 m); CAS 221551, adult female, from Machanbaw Township, Putao District, Kachin State, Myanmar (27.28994°N, 97.858472°E, 708 m); CAS 245278, adult female from Lahe township, Khandi District, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (26.324194°N, 95.44875°E, 900 m); CAS 245364, adult female, from Laung Nguk Village, Lahe Township, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (26.1590278°N, 95.529167°E, 833m).
Diagnosis.
Calotes yunnanensis is diagnosed from congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) body size large, SVL 73-120 mm; (2) tail slender, long, TAL 311.8-353.7% SVL; (3) conical scales forming two parallel ridges from posterior eye to temporal head, posterior most 3-5 scales of superior ridge distinctively differentiated but relatively low; (4) inferior ridge of conical scales 2-3 scale-rows away from superior tympanum, TRD 38.4-52.5% TD; (5) dorsal head scales posterolateral to parietal bearing oblique or lateral keels; (6) mental larger or about equal to first pair of chin shields; (7) gular scale count 21-25 along central-medial line, equal or larger than ventrals, strongly keeled, slightly mucronate, keel extending across entirety of each scale and elongated on posterior end into very short tips; (8) gular pouch present in life, weakly developed, but absent after preservation; (9) transverse gular fold absent; (10) shoulder fold present, short, covered with granular scales underneath; (11) nuchal crests long, lanceolate shape, dorsal crests moderately developed, TNC 14.1-21.2% HL; (12) neck scales and dorsal body scales weekly keeled, oriented upwards and backwards, larger than ventrals; (14) axillary scales oriented near vertically; (13) middorsal crest scale count 38-45, (14) scale rows around midbody 51-60; (15) ventral scale count 54-68; (16) F4S 26-29, T4S 31-34; (17) dorsal and ventral background coloration Yellow Green (Color 103) to Grass Green (Color 110) in normal condition, can change drastically to dark brown to blackish under stress; (18) shoulder fold Pale Neutral Gray (Color 296) to Brick Red (Color 36); (19) white to Pale Pinkish Buff (Color 3) patches present on elbows, knees, and ankles; and (20) Pale Pinkish Buff (Color 3) dorsolateral stripes from neck to basal tail present in some individuals.
Comparisons.
Calotes yunnanensis can be diagnosed from all congeners other than members of the C. jerdoni complex by having two parallel rows of conical or spinous scales on temporal region of the head (vs. absence) and by the absence of post orbital spikes (vs. presence).
For members of the C. jerdoni complex, C. yunnanensis was confused with C. maria and C. jerdoni , but it can be diagnosed from C. maria by the presence of a shoulder fold (vs. absence), a shorter distance between supratympanic ridge and tympanum (1-3 scales away vs. four or five scales); and from C. jerdoni by having a different shape of gular scales (heterogeneous in size, smaller in posteromedial region, without elongated tips or tips very short vs. homogeneous in size, with distinct, elongated tips), smaller gular scales and higher scale count (22-25 vs. 16-19), and by having longer nuchal crest scales (TNC 14.1-19.1% HL vs. 8.1-13.2%).
Morphologically, C. yunnanensis is most similar to C. medogensis , but it differs from the latter by having obliquely or longitudinally oriented keels on scales posterolateral to the parietal (vs. transversely oriented keels), larger mental scale relative to first pair of chin shields (vs. smaller), more distinctly keeled gular scales, particularly on posterolateral region (keel extending across the entirety of each scale vs. only extending across posterior half or less), and by the presence of white dorsolateral stripes on some individuals (vs. always absent) (Fig. 4 View Figure 4 ).
Description of holotype.
Adult female, body size medium, SVL 94.8 mm, body not dorsally compressed, cross-section triangular shaped; tail slender, broken. Head somewhat elongate, HW 63.6% HL, HD 60.4 % HL; jaw not distinctively swollen; snout length moderate, SEL 44.4% HL. Rostral rectangular, length four times height, two scales away from nasal; nasal oval, separated from first supralabials by single scale; supralabials 11/10, all smooth; loreal region slightly concave, loreal scales medium in size, all keeled, 6 scales away from orbit; eye surrounded by fine ciliary scales; suborbital scale rows 3/3, medial row much enlarged; canthal ridge distinct, canthus rostralis 10/10, supraciliaries overlapping about one third length. Two distinct ridges on temporal head, parallel anteriorly but joining posteriorly on squamosal region; anterior ridge continuous from last canthal rostralis, consisting 10/10 conical scale that each bearing single lateral keel; inferior ridge starting post orbit, consisting 9/10 enlarged scales, each bearing single lateral keel; inferior ridges 3 scale rows away from tympana; region between two ridges slight concave; tympana exposed, oval, vertically oriented, TD 12.7% HL; jaw scales enlarged, moderately keeled, slightly mucronate, imbricate. Dorsal head scales weakly keeled, heterogeneous in size and shape; slightly enlarged scales arranged in Y-shape, single scales posterior to rostral along longitudinal midline, all about equal size; 16 scales transversely across dorsal head between supraciliary at widest point; parietal scale enlarged, rectangular, parietal eye distinct; scales posterolateral of parietal bearing oblique keels.
Mental triangular, smaller than and separating first pair of chin shields; chin shields 6/7, first two on each side in direct contact with infralabials, remaining ones separated by one or two small scale-row; first four chin shields smooth, remaining one each bearing single weak lateral keel; remaining gular scales all distinctively keeled, imbricate, mucronate, some bearing single short tip, gradually increasing in size posteromedially, gular scale 23.
Dorsal body scales feebly keeled, mostly homogeneous in size; scales on neck oriented obliquely upward at about 45°; axillary scales smaller, oriented near vertically, which then gradually changing to a more oblique orientation superiorly and posteriorly; shoulder fold present, distinct, with granular fine scales underneath; flank scales large, mostly smooth, some with minimal lateral keel on posterior tip only, imbricate in regular oblique rows, 56 scale rows at mid body. Crest distinct, nuchal crest not significantly differentiated from adjacent dorsal crests, lanceolate shaped, relatively long; middorsal crest scale 45, gradually reducing height posteriorly. Dorsal scales on limbs mostly homogeneous in size and shape, smooth or feebly keeled, keel status slightly more distinct proximally on lower appendages. Tail not swollen at base, broken in four sections, scales feebly keeled on anterior part, gradually increasing in keel status posteriorly and forming carinate rows.
Ventral body scales smaller than gular and dorsals, distinctively keeled, mucronate, imbricate, forming carinate rows; ventral scale row 58; ventral scales of limbs more distinctively keeled. Limbs slender, partially broken at elbow and knee joints.
Coloration.
The holotype is nearly uniform light-gray, with the temporal region slightly darker, and the ventral surface paler. For newly collected specimens, the coloration in life varies drastically based on the mood and status of the lizards. The background coloration of dorsal and lateral surfaces ranges from Cinnamon (Color 255) to bright Pistachio (Color 102). Some individuals possess Light Buff (Color 2) dorsolateral stripes from the neck to the anterior one third of tail, some Light Buff (Color 2) or Clay Color (Color 18) oblique stripes on dorsum, and others are uniformly colored with no ornamentation patterns. All individuals possess Light Buff (Color 2) patches on limb joints, either on elbows, knees, ankles, or any combination of thereof. The palate and buccal mucosa are Jet Black (Color 300), but the gums and the tongue are Pink (Color 242).
Natural history, distribution, and conservation.
Currently, C. yunnanensis has been recorded from the southwestern Yunnan Province of China and Sagaing and Kachin States of Myanmar. It likely inhabits northern Shan State in Myanmar as well. Anderson (1879) speculated that C. yunnanensis (identified as C. maria at the time) is less arboreal than C. versicolor and C. emma , because the collecting site was mostly deforested. However, based on our field observations, we found this is not true: C. yunnanensis is highly arboreal, and individuals were found inhabiting well-forested tropical and subtropical regions in Southwest Yunnan.
In China, although the habitat of C. yunnanensis is well-protected by nature reserves, it has very restricted range, and has been targeted by domestic illegal pet traders (yingjiang.gov.cn, 2019). On the other hand, globally, C. yunnanensis has a considerable distribution range that consists of well-preserved habitats. Therefore, we assess the species as Near Threatened (NT) for China’s domestic Red List Assessment, and as Least Concern (LC) globally based on IUCN criteria.
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