Calotes iadina Wang, Deepak & Grismer, 2024
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publication ID |
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/5BFD358A-B843-413A-B4AB-931536B89F97 |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:5BFD358A-B843-413A-B4AB-931536B89F97 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Calotes iadina Wang, Deepak & Grismer |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Calotes iadina Wang, Deepak & Grismer sp. nov.
Figures 4 View Figure 4 , 9 View Figure 9 , 10 View Figure 10
Chresonymy.
Calotes jerdoni - Zug et al. (2006: 60)
Holotype.
CAS 219992, adult male from Baw Khue Plantation, Nat Ma Taung National Park, Min Dat Township, Min Dat District, Chin State, Myanmar (21.38375°N, 98.89886°E, elevation 1787 m).
Paratypes.
CAS 219993, adult male, same collection information as the holotype; CAS 233207, adult female, from Chun Kyone, Haka Township, Chin State, Myanmar (22.77231°N, 93.56411°E, elevation 1705 m) on July 15, 2003; CAS 233229, 233233, 233235, adult males; CAS 233232, 233234, adult females, all from Falam Township, Chin State, Myanmar (22.81439°N, 93.55752°E, elevation 1630 m), collected on July 18, 2003.
Etymology.
The species name iadina is derived from Greek, which means “emerald” and refers to the bright green coloration of the new species.
Diagnosis.
Calotes iadina sp. nov. can be diagnosed by a combination of the following morphological characters: (1) body size large, SVL 63.2-102.5 mm; (2) tail slender, long, TAL 293.9-367.9% SVL; (3) conical scales of two parallel ridges triangular shaped, relatively low, not in spine shape; (4) inferior row of conical scales 2-3 scale rows away from superior tympanum, TRD 14.8-28.8% TD; (5) mental larger than first pair of chin shields; (6) gular scale count 16-19, much larger than ventrals, strongly keeled, mucronate, each bearding a distinctively elongated tip on posterior end; (7) gular pouch feeble or absent, transverse gular fold absent; (8) shoulder fold present, covered with granular scales underneath; (9) nuchal crests relatively short, lanceolate shape, TNC 8.27-13.3% HL, dorsal crests moderately developed; (10) neck scales oriented posteriorly or posterosuperiorly; (11) axillary scales oriented vertically or near vertically; (12) dorsal body scales keeled, oriented posterosuperiorly, larger than ventrals; (13) middorsal crest scale count 39-43, (14) scale rows around midbody 48-53; (15) F4S 22-27, (16) T4S 27-33; (16) dorsal and ventral background coloration Yellow Green (Color 103) to Grass Green (Color 110) in normal condition, can change drastically to brownish to blackish under stress; (17) shoulder fold Pale Neutral Gray (Color 296) to Jet Black (Color 300); (18) white to Pale Pinkish Buff (Color 3) patches sometimes present on elbows, knees, and ankles, and same colored dorsolateral stripes sometimes present from neck to base of tail.
Comparisons.
The new species 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). Within the C. jerdoni complex, C. iadina sp. nov. is most similar to C. jerdoni , but it differs from the latter by having vertical or near vertical orientation of axillary scales (vs. mostly oriented posteriorly or slightly upward, with an angle less than 60°; Fig. 4 View Figure 4 ) and larger and fewer ventral scales (48-54 vs. 62-75). Moreover, the ANOVA analyses corroborated this statistical difference, recovering varying numbers of significantly different mean values between C. iadina sp. nov. and C. jerdoni , in which females of the new species differ from the females of C. jerdoni in having significantly different mean values head width (HD), interorbital distance (IOD), middorsal crest scale length (MD), tympanum diameter (TD), finger IV length (F4L), and orbital diameter (OD) (Appendix V). Males of C. iadina sp. nov. differ significantly from males of C. jerdoni in head length (HD), interorbital distance (IOD), tympanum diameter (TD), toe IV length (T4L), femur length (FEL), ventral scale count (VN), and orbital diameter (OD) (Appendix V).
For remaining species of the C. jerdoni complex, C. iadina sp. nov. differs from C. yunnanensis and C. medogensis by having larger and fewer gular scales along medial central axis (16-19 vs. 23-26 for C. medogensis , 20-23 for C. yunnanensis ), presence of a distinct, elongated posterior tip on each gular scale (vs. absent or much shorter), larger and fewer ventral body scales (VEN 48-53 vs. 57-61 in C. medogensis , 54-62 in C. yunnanensis ), and greatly overlapping supraciliaries (overlapping half of scale length vs. less than one third). Additionally, C. iadina sp. nov. differs from C. yunnanensis by having shorter nuchal crest scales (TNC 8.3-13.3% HL vs. 14.1-19.1%); from C. medogensis by having greatly overlapping supraciliaries (overlapping more than half of scale length vs. less than half); and from C. maria by having fewer scale rows between supratympanic ridge and superior edge of tympanae (1 or 2 rows vs.>3 rows), larger and fewer gular scales (16-19 vs. 27-31), much shorter nuchal crests (TNC 8.3-13.3% HL vs.>17.6%), the presence of shoulder fold (vs. absence), and the absence of spike-shaped scales on posterior end of the parallel ridges of the head (vs. presence). For the nomen dubium, C. platyceps , C. iadina sp. nov. differs by having more conical scales on the supratympanic ridge (6 or 7 vs. 8 or 9) and by the presence of a black stripe running through the eyes (vs. absence).
Description of holotype.
Adult male, body size medium, SVL 84.5 mm, body not compressed, cross-section lachrymiform shaped; tail slender, long, TAL 364.0% SVL. Head narrow, somewhat elongate, HW 58.9% HL, HD 53.0% HL; jaw muscular, slightly swollen, HWJ 111.8% HW; snout length moderate, SEL 38.6% HL. Rostral rectangular, length four times height, bordering five small scales excluding supralabials, single scale away from nasal; nasal oval, in contact with first two supralabials; supralabials 11/10, 3-5 feebly keeled; loreal slightly concave, loreal scales medium in size, all keeled, 5-7 scales away from orbit; eye surrounded by fine ciliary scales; suborbital scale rows 3/3, medial row much enlarged; canthal ridge distinct, canthus rostralis 10/11, supraciliaries overlapping about half scale length of consecutive ones. Two distinct ridges on temporal head, parallel anteriorly but joining posteriorly on squamosal region; superior ridge continuous from last canthal rostralis, consisting 7/6 conical scale that each bearing single lateral keel; inferior ridge starting post orbit, consisting 11/10 enlarged scales, anterior most two on each side smooth, convex, remaining ones conical, with posterior-most 2 largest and tallest, but none of them elongated into spikes; inferior ridges 1/2 scale rows away from tympana; region between two ridges slight concave; tympana exposed, oval, vertically oriented, TD 13.3% HL, OTD 22.0% HL; jaw scales enlarged, distinctively keeled, mucronate, imbricate. Dorsal head scales weakly keeled, heterogeneous in size and shape; enlarged scales arranged in Y-shape, single scales posterior to rostral along longitudinal midline, all about equal size; 14 scales transversely across dorsal head between supraciliary at widest point; parietal scale enlarged, narrow, elongated, parietal eye distinct; scales posterolateral of parietal bearing oblique keels.
Mental triangular, separating and much larger than first pair of chin shields; chin shield 8/7, first three on each side in direct contact with infralabials, remaining ones separated by single, small scale-row; first four chin shields smooth, remaining one each bearing single indistinct lateral keel; remaining gular scales all distinctively keeled, imbricate, mucronate with long tips, gradually increasing in size posteromedially, gular scales 16 along central-medial line.
Dorsal body scales feebly keeled, more distinct anteriorly on neck and inferiorly close to ventrolateral flank, mostly homogeneous in size; scales on neck oriented horizontally backward or obliquely upward at less than 45°; axillary scales smaller, oriented near vertically, which then gradually change to a more oblique orientation superiorly and posteriorly; shoulder fold present, distinct, with granular fine scales underneath; flank scales large, with minimal lateral keel on posterior tip only, imbricate in regular oblique rows, 45 scale rows at mid body. Crest distinct, nuchal crest not significantly differentiated from dorsal crests, lanceolate shaped, relatively short, TNC 11.9% HL; middorsal crest scale 41, gradually reducing height posteriorly, crest scale height equal width from anterior one third of body, remaining dorsal crests longer than height. Dorsal scales on limbs mostly homogeneous in size and shape, smooth or feebly keeled, keel status slightly more distinct proximally on lower appendages. Tail swollen at base, feebly keeled on anterior one sixth of length, gradually increasing in keel status posteriorly and forming carinate rows.
Ventral body scales smaller than gulars and dorsals, distinctively keeled, mucronate, imbricate, forming carinate rows; ventral scale row 51; F4S 27/25, T4S 32/33; ventral limb scales more distinctively keeled; ventral tail scales more distinctively keeled, carinate at base.
Coloration.
In life, background coloration is light grass green. Distinct black radial stripes are present around eyes, forming a transverse oriented Y-shape across eyes, with its opening facing posteriorly. The shoulder fold is black. Numerous indistinct, black, oblique transverse stripes are present on flank. The gular and ventral body are lighter and more yellowish. Two parallel rows of single white scales are present on ventrolateral body between axillary and groin. Under preservation, the dorsal background green body coloration turns into dark bluish gray, and the ventral color turns into light blue.
Variation.
Morphometric and pholidosis variation are summarized in Table 4. Additionally, all paratypes have more distinctly keeled scales on the dorsal surface of the limbs than the holotype. Two preserved female paratypes (CAS 233232 and 233234) possess light-gray dorsolateral stripes, which extend from the neck to the base of tail. Some individuals also have indistinct oblique transverse stripes (CAS 233233 and 233234).
Natural history and conservation.
Based on collection notes, specimens were found along a road during morning hours, although the species is likely to be arboreal. Some of the females were gravid, suggesting that breeding occurs during July. Currently, the species is only known from western Myanmar along the Chin Hills, and no imminent conservation threat is known. The species is known to be capable of changing its ground color, from blackish brown to its original green (Fig. 9 View Figure 9 ). Given the lack of data on habitat quality and population trend, we propose to list the new species as Data Deficient (DD) for its IUCN assessment.
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