Cnemaspis mundanthuraiensis, Khandekar & Thackeray & Agarwal, 2022

Khandekar, Akshay, Thackeray, Tejas & Agarwal, Ishan, 2022, Three more novel species of South Asian Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India, Vertebrate Zoology 72, pp. 385-422 : 385

Cnemaspis mundanthuraiensis sp. nov.

(Figs 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14

Holotype.

NRC-AA-1175 (AK-R 451), adult male, from Papanasam reserve forest, Mundanthurai forest range (8.6980°N, 77.3561°E; ca. 200 m asl.), Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu state, India; collected by Akshay Khandekar and team on 21 April 2021.

Paratypes.

NRC-AA-1176 (AK-R 443), NRC-AA-1177 (AK-R 445), NRC-AA-1178 (AK-R 446), BNHS 2822 (AK-R 448), BNHS 2824 (AK-R 450), and BNHS 2825 (AK-R 452), adult males; BNHS 2823 (AK-R 449), adult female; NRC-AA-1179 (AK-R 447), subadult female. AK-R 443 and AK-R 445 collected from the same locality and other details as holotype; AK-R 446, AK-R 448, and AK-R 450 collected from 8.7038°N, 77.3492°E, ca. 350 m asl.; AK-R 447, AK-R 449, and AK-R 452 collected from 8.7096°N, 77.3622°E; ca. 150 m asl.; all from Papanasam reserve forest, Mundanthurai forest range, Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu state, India; same collectors as holotype except collected on 22 April 2021.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a toponym for the Mundanthurai forest range of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, the type and currently only known locality for this species.

Suggested Common Name.

Mundanthurai dwarf gecko.

Diagnosis.

A small-sized Cnemaspis , snout to vent length less than 33 mm (n =9). Dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous; weakly keeled, weakly conical, granular scales intermixed with irregularly arranged rows of enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles which are gradually increasing in size towards flank; last two rows of enlarged tubercles on flank largest, spine-like; 6-8 rows of dorsal tubercles at mid-body, tubercles in paravertebral region irregular; ventral scales subcircular, smooth, subequal from chest to vent, 30-34 scales across belly at mid-body, 115-128 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca; subdigital scansors smooth, unpaired, unnotched; 10 or 11 lamellae under digit I of manus and 9-12 lamellae under digit I of pes, 14-18 lamellae under digit IV of manus and 18-22 lamellae under digit IV of pes; males (n =7/9) with 3-5 femoral pores on each thigh separated by 9-11 poreless scales from two precloacal pores, precloacal pores separated medially by 2-4 poreless scales (n =4/7), precloacal pores sometimes absent entirely and femoral pores on each thigh separated by 23-25 poreless scales (n =3/7); tail with enlarged, strongly keeled, pointed, and spine-like tubercles forming whorls; six tubercles on first six whorl, five tubercles on seventh, and four on eighth whorl; rest of the tail with tubercles present only on the paravertebral rows; median row of subcaudals smooth, roughly pentagonal, and distinctly enlarged. Dorsum pale brown with numerous light blotches and red patches (more prominent in males); single small central black ocellus on occiput and larger one anterior to forelimb insertions; original tail with 8-10 alternating black and light grey bands; ventral surfaces off-white, dark streaks on posterior margin of throat and sternal region (males with underside of hindlimbs and margin of belly suffused with yellow).

Comparison with members of C. gracilis clade.

Cnemaspis mundanthuraiensis sp. nov. is a member of the Cnemaspis gracilis clade and can be easily distinguished from all five members of the clade by a combination of the following differing or non-overlapping characters: 6-8 rows of dorsal tubercles at mid-body (versus 9-11 rows of dorsal tubercles at mid-body in C. agarwali Khandekar, 2019; 11-14 in C. gracilis (Beddome, 1870) and C. thackerayi Khandekar, Gaitonde and Agarwal, 2019; 10-14 in C. shevaroyensis Khandekar, Gaitonde and Agarwal, 2019); only a few irregularly arranged tubercles in paravertebral region (versus 12-17 tubercles in paravertebral rows in C. agarwali ; 9-12 in C. gracilis ; 11-12 in C. jackieii ; 13-17 in C. shevaroyensis ; and 12-14 in C. thackerayi ); spine-like tubercles present on flanks (versus spine-like tubercles absent on flanks in C. agarwali , C. jackieii , C. shevaroyensis , and C. thackerayi ); 30-34 ventral scales across belly at mid-body (versus 24-26 ventral scales across belly at mid-body in C. agarwali , 23-25 in C. gracilis , 21-24 in C. shevaroyensis , and 22-25 in C. thackerayi ).

Description of the holotype.

Adult male in good state of preservation except tail tip marginally bent towards right (Fig. 9A, B ); SVL 31.2 mm, head short (HL/SVL 0.24), wide (HW/HL 0.68), not strongly depressed (HD/HL 0.42), distinct from neck. Loreal region marginally inflated, canthus rostralis indistinct. Snout marginally larger than half the head length (ES/HL 0.52), slightly larger than 2.5 times eye diameter (ES/ED 2.66); scales on snout and canthus rostralis subcircular, subequal, weakly keeled, twice the size of those on forehead and interorbital region; scales on forehead similar to those on snout and canthus rostralis except much smaller and weakly conical; scales on interorbital region, still smaller, granular; scale occipital, and temporal region with small, smooth granular scales intermixed with slightly enlarged, weakly keeled, conical tubercles (Fig. 10A ). Eye small (ED/HL 0.19); with round pupil; supraciliaries short, larger anteriorly; seven interorbital scale rows across narrowest point of frontal bone; 30 or 31 scale rows between left and right supraciliaries at mid-orbit (Fig. 10A ). Ear-opening deep, oval, small (EL/HL 0.06); eye to ear distance greater than diameter of eye (EE/ED 1.53) (Fig. 10C ). Rostral twice as wide (1.4 mm) as high (0.7 mm), incompletely divided dorsally by a strongly developed rostral groove and by an internasal scale for more than half of its height; a single enlarged supranasal on each side, slightly larger than upper postnasal, separated from each other by a smaller, elongated internasal on the snout; rostral in contact with supralabial I, nostril, supranasal, internasal, and a lower postnasal on either side; nostrils oval, surrounded by two postnasals, supranasal, and rostral on either side; two postnasals on either side, both almost half the size than supranasal; a single row of scales separate orbit from supralabials (Fig. 10C ). Mental enlarged, subtriangular, slightly wider (1.8 mm) than high (1.3 mm); two pairs of postmentals, inner pair roughly rectangular, much shorter (0.6 mm) than mental, separated from each other below mental by a single enlarged median chin shield; inner pair bordered by mental, infralabial I, outer postmental and two enlarged chin shields on either side; outer postmentals roughly square, marginally smaller (0.5 mm) than inner pair, bordered by inner postmentals, infralabial I and II, and three enlarged chin shields on either side; two enlarged gular scales between left and right outer postmentals; all chin scales bordering postmentals flat, subcircular, smooth, smaller than outermost postmentals; scales on rest of the throat granular, smooth, decreasing in size posteriorly (Fig. 10B ). Infralabials bordered below by a row or two of slightly enlarged, much elongated scales, decreasing in size posteriorly and laterally. Six supralabials up to angle of jaw on left and seven on right side, and six at midorbital position on each side; supralabial I largest, gradually decreasing in size posteriorly; seven infralabials up to angle of jaw, six at midorbital position on either side; infralabial I largest, gradually decreasing in size posteriorly (Fig. 10C ).

Body relatively slender (BW/AGL 0.43), trunk less than half of SVL (AGL/SVL 0.41) without ventrolateral folds (Fig. 11B, C ). Dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous; weakly keeled, weakly conical granular scales intermixed with irregularly arranged rows of enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles which are gradually increasing in size towards flank; last two rows of enlarged tubercles on flank largest, spine-like; approximately six longitudinal rows at mid-body; only a few scattered enlarged tubercles in paravertebral region, not forming rows; granular scales on nape slightly smaller than paravertebral granules, still smaller and smooth on occiput (Fig. 11A ). Ventral scales much larger than granular scales on dorsum, subcircular, smooth, subequal from chest to vent; scales on precloacal region slightly enlarged; mid-body scale rows across belly 30; 115 scales from mental to anterior border of cloaca (Fig. 9B ). Scales on throat marginally smaller than those on belly, gular region with still smaller, smooth scales, those bordering postmentals enlarged, smooth, subcircular and flattened (Fig. 10B ). Three femoral pores on left thigh and four on right, separated by 10 poreless scales on left and nine on right side from two precloacal pores, precloacal pores separated medially by two poreless scales (Fig. 10D ). Scales on palm and soles small, smooth, subimbricate; scales on dorsal aspects of limbs heterogeneous is size, those on upper arm and thigh large, strongly keeled and imbricates except those near limb insertions that are much smaller, smooth and granular, posterolateral aspect of thigh with small, smooth to weakly keeled granular scales; dorsal aspect of lower arm and shank with scales smaller than those on upper arm and thigh, strongly keeled, imbricate; ventral aspect of upper arm with small, granular scales, lower arm with slightly larger, smooth, subimbricate scales; ventral aspect of thigh with scales similar to mid-body ventrals, scales on shank slightly larger than those on thigh, smooth, flattened and imbricate (Fig. 9A, B ).

Forelimbs and hindlimbs slightly long, slender (LAL/SVL 0.15); (CL/SVL 0.18); digits long, with a strong, recurved claw, distinctly inflected, distal portions laterally compressed conspicuously. Digits with unpaired lamellae, separated into a basal and narrower distal series by single enlarged lamella at inflection; basal lamellae series: (1-3-4-5-3 right manus, 2-4-5-6-5 right pes), (1-3-3-5-4 left manus, Fig. 10E ; 2 - 4 - 5 - 7 - 5 left pes, Fig. 10F ); distal lamellae series: (9-10-11-13-11 right manus, 9-13-14-13-12 right pes), (9-11-13-12-11 left manus, Fig. 10E ; 9 - 12 - 13-13 - 12 left pes, Fig. 10F ). Relative length of digits (measurements in mm in parentheses): IV (2.7) = III (2.7)> V (2.3) = II (2.3)> I (1.7) (left manus); IV (3.7)> V (3.1) = III (3.1)> II (2.6)> I (1.6) (left pes).

Tail original, entire, subcylindrical, slender, slightly longer than snout-vent length (TL/SVL 1.39; Fig. 9C-E ). Dorsal pholidosis on tail heterogeneous; small, weakly keeled, flattened, and subimbricate scales (becoming larger, elongated and imbricates posteriorly) intermixed with enlarged, strongly keeled, pointed, and spine-like tubercles forming whorls; six tubercles on first six whorl, five tubercles on seventh, and four on eight whorl; rest of the tail (tail tip) with tubercles only on the paravertebral rows (Fig. 9C, E ). Scales on tail venter much larger than those on tail dorsal, smooth, flattened, and sub-imbricate; with a series of three enlarged subcaudal scales of which the median series almost twice the size of adjunct two rows, roughly pentagonal (Fig. 9D ). Scales on tail base much smaller, imbricate, and smooth; a single enlarged, conical postcloacal spur on each side (Fig. 9D, E ).

Colouration in life (Fig. 12A).

Dorsal ground colour of head, body, limbs and tail pale brown. Head with indistinct reddish markings and light grey blotches; anterior edge of brille yellow; upper labials dull white to yellow with dark blotches. Indistinct dark brown preorbital streak; three dark brown postorbital streaks, upper merging with light grey blotches on occiput, middle continuing until ear opening and lower to throat. Single central small black ocellus on occiput followed by a larger white marking and subsequently a larger dark central spot just anterior to forelimb insertions. About four light blotches on vertebral region between forelimbs and tail base, reddish patches and light spots scattered across dorsum; dorsum of forelimbs and hindlimbs with light blotches and bands, dark blotches speckled with yellow scales, digits with alternating dark and light yellow bands; dorsum of original tail with eight black and nine light grey bands. Ventral surfaces white except sternal region, edges of belly and underside of hindlimbs suffused with yellow; gular region with numerous streaks along the posterior edge; underside of tail white. Pupil black, iris golden.

Variation and additional information from type series.

Mensural, meristic and additional character state data for the type series is given in Tables 6 , 7 & 8 respectively. There are six adult males, a single adult female and a subadult female specimens ranging in size from 22.6-32.2 mm (Fig. 13 ). All paratypes resemble holotype except as follows: two internasal scales between supranasals on snout in NRC-AA-1176 and BNHS 2823; supranasals in contact with each other posteriorly on the snout in NRC-AA-1177 and BNHS 2824. Upper postmentals in contact with each other below mental in BNHS 2822; upper postmentals bordered by infralabial I, outer postmental and by a single large chin scale on left side in NRC-AA-1178 and BNHS 2822. Outer postmental bordered by inner postmental, infralabials I & II, and four chin scales on left side in NRC-AA-1176 and BNHS 2824; outer postmental bordered by inner postmental, infralabials I & II, and four chin scales on either side in NRC-AA-1177, NRC-AA-1178, BNHS 2822, and BNHS 2823; outer postmental bordered by inner postmental, infralabials I & II, and four chin scales on right side in NRC-AA-1179; outer postmental bordered by inner postmental, infralabials II, and four chin scales on right side in BNHS 2825; outer postmental separated from each other below mental by three enlarged chin scales in NRC-AA-1176, NRC-AA-1179, BNHS 2823, BNHS 2824, and BNHS 2825. Four paratypes - NRC-AA-1177, BNHS 2824, BNHS 2825, and NRC-AA-1179 with original and complete tails, slightly longer than body (TL/SVL 1.28, 1.25 and 1.24 respectively) and tail marginally longer than body in NRC-AA-1179 (TL/SVL 1.08); tail partially detached from the body and lost in NRC-AA-1178 and BNHS 2823; NRC-AA-1176 is with tail partially detached from the body, marginally shorter than the body (TL/SVL 0.97); BNHS 2822 with complete but fully regenerated tail, almost equal to body (TL/SVL 1.01). All paratypes agree with the holotype in colouration except that the female paratypes (NRC-AA-1179 and BNHS 2822) have a muted dorsal colouration with less red and are ventrally off-white. Original tail with 8-10 alternating black and light grey bands, regenerated tail in BNHS 2822 uniform light brown (Figs 12B & 13 ).

Distribution and Natural history.

Cnemaspis mundanthuraiensis sp. nov. is currently known only from around its type locality (Papanasam reserve forest, Mundanthurai forest range, ca. 150-350 m asl.) in Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu (Fig. 1 ). Like most other members of the Cnemaspis gracilis clade, the new species seems to be diurnal, rupicolous, and locally abundant. At all three collection sites, many individuals (n =>25) were observed active during the daytime (0900-1230 hrs) on rocks below 2 m height in moist deciduous forest patches (Fig. 14A-C ). Individuals of the new species were observed inactive during the night, resting on rocks openly less than 1 meter from where holotype and two paratypes were collected. Sympatric geckos encountered on the rocks at the locality include Cnemaspis regalis , Hemidactylus cf. acanthopholis , Hemidactylus cf. frenatus , and Hemidactylus cf. leschenaultii .

Figures

Figure 1. Elevation map of southern Kerala and Tamil Nadu showing the distribution of all known Cnemaspis species from the region: circles, Cnemaspis beddomei clade; squares, Cnemaspis gracilis clade; triangle, Cnemaspis littoralis clade; pentagon, Cnemaspis australis clade.

Figure 2. Maximum likelihood (ML) phylogeny of South Asian Cnemaspis based on the mitochondrial ND 2 gene. Bootstrap support> 70 shown at nodes; Cnemaspis beddomei, Cnemaspis gracilis and Cnemaspis littoralis clades marked by text. Roman numerals indicate other broad clades: I, Cnemaspis australis; II, Cnemaspis mysoriensis; III, Cnemaspis goaensis; IV, girii; V, Cnemaspis bangara; VI, Cnemaspis indica; VII, Cnemaspis podihuna; VIII, Cnemaspis assamensis; IX, Cnemaspis wynadensis. Top left inset is a 16 S ML phylogeny of the Cnemaspis littoralis clade (outgroups not shown).

Figure 4. Cnemaspis azhagu sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA- 1170): A dorsal aspect of head, B ventral aspect of head, C lateral aspect of right side head, D aspect of cloacal region showing precloacal pores, E ventral aspect of left manus, and F ventral aspect of left pes. Scale bars 5 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar and Satpal Gangalmale.

Figure 5. Cnemaspis azhagu sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA- 1170): A dorsal aspect of mid-body, B ventral aspect of mid-body, and C right side lateral aspect of mid-body. Scale bars 5 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar and Satpal Gangalmale.

Figure 7. Paratype series of Cnemaspis azhagu sp. nov. from left to right, NRC-AA- 1171, NRC-AA- 1172, NRC-AA- 1173, NRC-AA- 1174, BNHS 2818, BNHS 2819, BNHS 2820, and BNHS 2821. Scale bar 10 mm; photo by Akshay Khandekar and Satpal Gangalmale.

Figure 9. Cnemaspis mundanthuraiensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA- 1175): A dorsal aspect of body, B ventral aspect of body, C dorsal aspect of tail, D ventral aspect of tail, and E lateral aspect of tail. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar and Satpal Gangalmale.

Figure 10. Cnemaspis mundanthuraiensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA- 1175): A dorsal aspect of head, B ventral aspect of head, C lateral aspect of right side head, D aspect of cloacal region showing precloacal and femoral pores, E ventral aspect of left manus, and F ventral aspect of left pes. Scale bars 5 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar and Satpal Gangalmale.

Figure 11. Cnemaspis mundanthuraiensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA- 1175): A dorsal aspect of mid-body, B ventral aspect of mid-body, and C right side lateral aspect of mid-body. Scale bars 5 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar and Satpal Gangalmale.

Figure 12. Colouration in life of Cnemaspis mundanthuraiensis sp. nov.: A adult male (holotype, NRC-AA- 1175), and B adult male (paratype, NRC-AA- 1177). Photos by Akshay Khandekar and Satpal Gangalmale.

Figure 13. Paratype series of Cnemaspis mundanthuraiensis sp. nov. from left to right, NRC-AA- 1176, NRC-AA- 1177, NRC-AA- 1178, NRC-AA- 1179, BNHS 2823, BNHS 2824, BNHS 2825, BNHS 2822. Scale bar 10 mm; photo by Akshay Khandekar and Satpal Gangalmale.

Figure 14. Habitat at the type locality of Cnemaspis mundanthuraiensis sp. nov.: A general habitat showing the moist deciduous forest dominated by rocks, and B & C microhabitat showing the rock and its base from where the type series were collected. Photos by Akshay Khandekar.