Cyrtodactylus varadgirii, Agarwal, Ishan, Mirza, Zeeshan A., Pal, Saunak, Maddock, Simon T., Mishra, Anurag & Bauer, Aaron M., 2016

Agarwal, Ishan, Mirza, Zeeshan A., Pal, Saunak, Maddock, Simon T., Mishra, Anurag & Bauer, Aaron M., 2016, A new species of the Cyrtodactylus (Geckoella) collegalensis (Beddome, 1870) complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Western India, Zootaxa 4170 (2), pp. 339-354 : 346-351

Cyrtodactylus varadgirii sp. nov.

Figs 4–7

Geckoella cf. collegalensis Mirza et al. 2010 ; Agarwal & Karanth 2015

Holotype. NCBS AQ475, adult male; Ulhasnagar Taluk , Thane District, Maharashtra, India; collected by Prathamesh Ghadekar, 0 3.02.2012.

Paratypes. NCBS AQ191, adult male; same locality and collection data as holotype. CES09/1381, adult male; Chikhli , Navsari District, Gujarat, India ; collected by Rohan Nimbalkar, 29.03.2012. CES/09/1368, adult male; Chandrapur District , Maharashtra, India ; collected by T. Khichi, 0 6.04.2012. CES09/1536, adult male and CES09/ 1537, adult female; Amravathi District , Maharashtra, India ; collected by Krishna Khan, 26.06.2014. BNHS 1427 , adult male; Sanjay Gandhi National Park , Mumbai, Maharashtra, India ; collected by A. C. Sekar & V. M. Hegde, 15.09.1993; BNHS 1434 , subdadult male; Junagadh District , Gujarat, India ; collected by Raju Vyas, 08.11.1997; NCBS AQ192, adult male, BNHS 1848 , adult male and BNHS 1849 , adult female, Aarey Milk Colony , Mumbai, Maharashtra, India ; collected by Zeeshan Mirza and Rajesh Sanap, 26.03.2008, BNHS 1929 subadult female with same collection details as previous specimens, except collected on 04.11.2008; BNHS 2099 ; adult female; Vansda National Park , Navsari District, Gujarat, India ; collected by Raju Vyas, 12.09.2008. CES09/1433, tissue sample only, Chikhli , Navsari District, Gujarat, India .

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym honouring our friend and colleague, Dr. Varad Giri (pronounced vʌrʌð gIri), former Curator of the Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai (BNHS), for his contributions to Indian herpetology. Most of Varad’s work has come from his time at the BNHS, and it is fitting that the type locality of this species is Mumbai (formerly Bombay).

Suggested common name. Giri’s Geckoella

Definition. A small Cyrtodactylus , snout-vent length to at least 56 mm; body slender, limbs and digits long, slender; two pairs of enlarged postmentals, outer pair smaller than and separated by inner pair which are in broad contact; homogeneous dorsal scalation consisting of small, granular, roughly circular scales; 33–36 ventral scales across belly; no precloacal groove, no enlarged precloacal or femoral scales, no precloacal or femoral pores. Lamellae 8–11 in basal series and 8–10 in apical series. Subcaudal scales subequal. Dorsal pattern consisting of 4– 6 paired subequal, rounded, dark black-edged spots from behind occiput to between hindlimb insertion — first ending above forelimb insertion and last ending at hindlimb insertion, lighter interspaces between adjacent pairs of spots ~1/2 width of spots, no stippling in interspaces, 5–7 small spots on flank between limbs; ground colouration tan, small spots and streaks on anterior half and lateral aspect of the gular region.

Diagnosis. Cyrtodactylus varadgirii sp. nov. can be distinguished from all congeners by the following characters: adult SVL up to 56.0 mm; homogeneous dorsal scalation of small, rounded, granules; absence of femoral and precloacal pores; precloacal groove absent; 4–6 pairs of spots on body, one pair on the occiput, and five spots on the crown. Cyrtodactylus varadgirii sp. nov. can be differentiated from the Sri Lankan C. yakhuna by dorsal colour pattern (4–6 pairs of spots from behind occiput to between hindlimb insertion, occasionally broken into an extra spot on one side, approximately twice as broad as lighter interspaces vs. one or two rows of spots/ bands, equal to or narrower than interspaces); dorsal scalation (entirely homogeneous vs. presence of few enlarged scales near hind-limbs). The new species is most similar to C. collegalensis and C. speciosus , from which it can be distinguished by a patch of enlarged roughly hexagonal scales on the canthus rostralis and beneath the angle of jaw (vs. the absence of these enlarged scales in both C. collegalensis and C. speciosus ); its slightly longer limbs (SVL/ FL 6.12 ± 0.13 vs. 6.46 ± 0.23 in collegalensis and 6.87 ± 0.74 in speciosus , SVL/CL 5.58 ± 0.24, vs. 5.89 ± 0.14 and 5.96 ± 0.08), the eye and ear are closer together than the nostril and eye (EE/NE 0.94 ± 0.09 vs. 1.05 ± 0.07 and 1.09 ± 0.04 in collegalensis and speciosus ), the occipital collar (narrowly divided medially and separated from temporal blotch vs. notched or incompletely divided and usually connected to temporal blotch in C. collegalensis vs. complete and contiguous with temporal blotch in C. speciosus ), dorsal colour pattern (4–6 pairs of spots from behind occiput to between hindlimb insertion, occasionally broken into an extra spot on one side, lighter interspaces ~1/2 width of bands, no stippling vs. three pairs of dark spots that may be fused into 8-shaped markings from behind occiput to between hindlimb insertion, lighter interspaces smaller than largest spot and larger than smallest, stippled vs. two dark black-edged bands from behind occiput to between hindlimb insertion, lighter interspaces ~1/2 width of bands, little or no stippling in interspaces).

Description of Holotype. The holotype is in generally good condition apart from some artefacts of preservation ( Fig. 4 ). There is a fold of skin on the right side of the specimen, partially extending from the upper eyelid till mid-body; a large fold of skin ~ 6.5 mm on the abdomen, ending in a small depression at mid-abdominal position; 2 small folds on dorsal aspect of tail; and folds of skin on dorsal aspect of pes and on flanks near hindlimb insertion. The eyes are slightly shrunken.

Adult male SVL 47.0 mm. Head relatively long (HL/SVL ratio 0.30), slightly elongate (HW/HL ratio 0.65), as broad as body (HW/BW ratio 1.05), and somewhat depressed (HeadH/HL ratio 0.38), distinct from slender neck ( Fig. 5 A) and overhanging in lateral profile ( Fig. 5 B). Loreal and interorbital region weakly inflated, canthus rostralis not prominent. Snout short (SE/HL ratio 0.37); longer than eye diameter (ED/SE ratio 0.57); scales on occipital and interorbital region small, granular, homogeneous; those on canthus rostralis and snout larger, roughly hexagonal, flattened and juxtaposed, noticeably increasing in size toward the tip of the snout, largest scales at tip of snout; ( Fig. 5 B). Interorbital scale rows across narrowest point of frontal bone 29–30. Eye large (ED/HL ratio 0.22); pupil vertical with crenate margins; superciliaries short, larger anteriorly. Ear opening oblique (greatest diameter 1.4 mm); eye to ear distance greater than diameter of eye (EE/OD ratio 1.30). Rostral wider (2.3 mm) than deep (1.5 mm), incompletely divided dorsally by weakly developed rostral groove; two much enlarged internasals medially separated by a single, roughly hexagonal internasal, one supranasal on each side which is much smaller than the internasal; two postnasals on either side, slightly larger than supranasals, upper postnasal being largest; rostral in contact with nasal, supralabial I, internasals and scales separating internasal; nostrils rounded, directed outwards, covering most of the nasal scale; nasal on either side surrounded by supranasal, internasal, rostral, supralabial I and postnasals. Single row of highly enlarged scales above SL, from SL1–SL5. Mental slightly wider (2.1 mm) than long (1.8 mm), triangular, two well developed postmentals, the inner pair slightly longer (1.9 mm) than mental and broadly in contact with each other (1.0 mm) behind mental, outer postmental smaller (1.4 mm) than the inner postmental, separated from each other by inner pair ( Fig. 5 C). Inner postmental bordered by mental, first infralabial, posteriorly by second postmental, posterolaterally by two enlarged gular scales; outer postmental bordered by inner postmental, infralabial I and II, and 4 gular scales. 2(below IL 4)–5 (below IL 8) rows of enlarged elongated scales separating gular scales from IL. Infralabials bordered by a single row of enlarged and elongated scales on both sides. Supralabials (to midorbital position) 6 (right)–6 (left); supralabials (to angle of jaw) 8 (right)–7 (left); infralabials (to angle of jaw) 8 (right)–8 (left).

Body slender, elongate (TRL/SVL ratio 0.44) with no ventrolateral folds. Dorsal scales homogeneous across entire dorsum, granular, roughly circular in dorsal profile. Scales on nape marginally smaller than those on back, smaller still on occiput. Ventral scales larger than dorsals, smooth, slightly elongate, subimbricate; somewhat larger midventrally; midbody scale rows across belly 35-37. Gular region with relatively homogeneous, granular scales, increasing in size toward the mental, 7–8 rows behind the mental juxtaposed and polygonal. No enlarged precloacal or femoral scales, no precloacal or femoral pores; no precloacal groove ( Fig. 4 ). Scales on palm and soles smooth, granular, rounded; scales on dorsal aspects of limbs weakly heterogeneous; mixture of small, granules similar to dorsum and many smooth flattened and imbricate scales which are much larger than granules of the body dorsum, largest> 2x dorsal granules, largest on anterior aspect of the hands and feet. Lateral and ventral aspects of limbs with small granular scales.

Fore and hindlimbs moderately long, slender (FL/SVL ratio 0.16; CL/SVL ratio 0.17); digits short, slender, moderately inflected at interphalangeal joints, all bearing robust, slightly recurved claws; basal subdigital lamellae moderately broad, rectangular, all single except one or two a single lamellae on the inter phalangeal inflection and single penultimate lamella on basal series on all digits of the manus paired, lamellae proximal most at least twice the diameter of palmar scales to digital inflection (3–6–7–7–6 right manus; 4–6–7–8–8 right pes); lamellae distal to digital inflection and not including ventral claw sheath: 6–7–8–8–6 (right manus), 7–8–9–9–9 (right pes); interdigital webbing absent. Relative length of digits (manus; measurements in mm in parentheses): III (3.5)> II (3.3)> IV (3.2)> V (2.8)> I (2.7); (pes): III (4.5)> V (4.4)> IV 4.3)> II (4.0)> I (3.2).

Original tail short, circular in cross section with indistinct median dorsal furrow, relatively thick, tapering gradually to tip; shorter than snout-vent length (TL/SVL ratio 0.80); unsegmented; dorsal caudal scales large flat, rounded, smooth, imbricate, homogeneous along length of the tail except for 14–15 rows of smaller, subimbricate scales above tail base; scales on tail slightly larger toward the lateral aspect and ventral scales largest (2X tail dorsal scales), but not forming median row of transversely enlarged subcaudal scales. Small, smooth, conical postcloacal spurs on each side of tailbase, two on left and four on right. Prominent hemipenal swelling, flap of skin covering cloacal aperture. Tail slightly constricted at the base.

Coloration (in preservative). Dorsal ground colour light tan with five pairs of subequal, rounded, brown spots from behind occiput to between hindlimb insertion — first ending above forelimb insertion and last ending at hindlimb insertion ( Fig. 4 ). Spots edged by black on the outer 2-4 rows of scales, with 1–2 rows of lighter scales surrounding those. Flanks with an additional series of 5–6 smaller, irregular, rounded or elongate blotches or streaks with similar colouration as dorsal spots between shoulder and hindlimb insertions, a single blotch above shoulders being the largest and most elongate. An additional smaller series of dark spots below the flanks, bordering venter. Tail dorsum with light tan ground colour with six darker dark brown black-edged bands. Limbs similar in color to trunk with a series of small dark brown blotches or streaks, many of which are lighter in the centre. Occiput with pair of narrowly separated squarish brown spots that are dark edged with a posterior border of 1–2 rows of lighter scales, approximately the same size as dorsal spots, and separated from a subequal temporal/ postorbital spot. Crown slightly darker than the trunk with five brown markings that have an indistinct darker border 1–2 scales wide. A central occipital streak flanked by two occipital spots, followed by two interorbital spots, occipital and interorbital spots subequal and smaller than spots on collar and body. All head markings separated from each other except right interobital and occipital spots marginally connected. Frontal with a brown ‘Y’ shaped mark with two anterior arms going above canthus rostralis, touching nasal and supralabials I and II. A single semicircular blotch at preocular position on each side. A dark lateral blotch around nasal, covering most of supranasal, rostral supralabial I and postnasals on either side; dark band on suprabalials II and III and VI, similar band on infralabial I, III, VI and VII; brownblotch below eye which marginally continues on postocular region, a single brown streak starting from below the angle of jaw and ending on neck. Ventral aspects dirty white, except for small dark spot on mental, both inner postmentals, right outer postmental, similar small spots and streaks on anterior half and lateral aspect of the gular region, ventral aspect of tail dark with dirty white reticulations.

Colouration (in life). Pattern identical to preserved specimen, ground colour rufous, spots coffee coloured, bordered by black, lighter scales around spots white to straw coloured ( Fig. 6 ).

TABLE 3. Measurements (mm) for the type series of Cyrtodactylus varadgirii sp. nov. Abbreviations as in materials anđ methođs. * inđicates regenerateđ/incomplete tail.

Variation. Mensural data for the type series is given in Table 3 and six paratypes are shown in Fig. 7 . There are a juvenile male, seven adult male, and three adult female paratypes that range in size from 31.7 to 56.0 mm, and closely match the holotype except as follows: Range of supralabials from 7–10 (6–8 below mid-orbital position), 7–10 infralabials, 8–10 lamellae under F4 and 10–12 under T4. Number of pairs of dorsal spots from behind occiput to between hindlimb insertion 4–6 (occasionally broken into an extra spot on one side), dorsal spots just in contact in a few cases (one pair each in CES/09/1368, CES/09/1381, CES/09/1537). Shape of occipital spots varies from squarish to elongate horizontally/vertically, usually slightly smaller than dorsal spots, occipital streak broken into two spots in NCBS AQ191; head markings generally separated except interorbital spots fused in CES/09/1368, CES/09/1536, additionally occipital spot fused with interorbital spot on right in CES/09/1536. Marking on frontal sometimes a spot, separated from markings on nasal and supralabials I and II. Amount of speckling on gular variable.

Distribution and Natural History. Cyrtodactylus varadgirii sp. nov. is widely distributed in scattered localities across Western and Central India ( Fig 1 ). This species is found across a range of habitats, including deciduous forest, scrub and agricultural land ( Fig. 8 ). The species is known from sea level near Mumbai, Maharashtra; up to ~ 350 m in Amravathi, Maharasthra (and potentially from Ujjain, ~ 450 m, P. Mohapatra pers. comm.; and from very close to the coast (<20 km, Mumbai), as well as localities much further inland (~ 700 km from the west coast, Chandrapur). These small nocturnal geckos are exclusively ground-dwelling, found active at night and under rocks/logs in the day. Cyrtodactylus varadgirii sp. nov. makes squeaking calls like many other Geckoella spp. under stress. Gravid females have been seen from early April to June. Eggs, usually two in number, are laid in a cavity dug in the ground by the female. Hatchlings have been found from October onwards ( Mirza et al. 2010; Sanap et al. 2011).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution of Cyrtodactylus collegalensis (blue), C. speciosus (green) and C. varadgirii sp. nov. (red) in western and southern peninsular India. Indian states are labeled, stars indicate type localities, circles localities associated with specimens, and squares indicate photographic records.

FIGURE 4. Dorsal and ventral view of holotype of Cyrtodactylus varadgirii sp. nov. (NCBS AQ 475). Scale bars 10 mm.

FIGURE 5. Dorsal (A), lateral (B) and ventral (C) view of head of holotype of Cyrtodactylus varadgirii sp. nov. (NCBS AQ 475). Scale bars 10 mm.

FIGURE 6. Holotype of Cyrtodactylus varadgirii sp. nov. in life (NCBS AQ 475).

FIGURE 7. Six paratypes of Cyrtodactylus varadgirii sp. nov. in (A) dorsal and (B) ventral view (from left to right, CES 09 / 1537, NCBS AQ 192, CES 09 / 1368, CES 09 / 1536, NCBS AQ 191, CES 09 / 1381). Scale bars 10 mm.

FIGURE 8. Habitat of Cyrtodactylus varadgirii sp. nov. from Aarey Milk Colony, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India in the dry season (top panel) and monsoon (bottom panel). Photos by ZM.