Tropiocolotes naybandensis, Krause, Valentina, Ahmadzadeh, Faraham, Moazeni, Mostafa, Wagner, Philipp & Wilms, Thomas M., 2013

Krause, Valentina, Ahmadzadeh, Faraham, Moazeni, Mostafa, Wagner, Philipp & Wilms, Thomas M., 2013, A new species of the genus Tropiocolotes Peters, 1880 from western Iran (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae), Zootaxa 3716 (1) : -

Tropiocolotes naybandensis sp. nov.

Tropiocolotes steudneri – Gholamifard et al. 2010: 61

Holotype. ZFMK 92344, Bushehr Province, Asalouyeh, Nayband, Iran; 46 m asl. [27° 19’ 59,52’’ N, 52° 39’ 28,94’’ E], coll. M. Moazeni, 10 February 2011; Paratypes: ZFMK 92345-48, Bushehr Province, Asalouyeh, Nayband, Iran; 46 m asl. [27° 19’ 59,52’’ N, 52° 39’ 28,94’’ E], coll. M. Moazeni, 10 February 2011.

Diagnosis. Tropiocolotes naybandensis sp. nov. differs from T. tripolitanus , T. scorteccii , T. algericus , T. somalicus , T. occidentalis and T. bisharicus by possessing smooth or weakly keeled dorsal scales and smooth ventral scales (versus strongly keeled scales in T. tripolitanus , T. scorteccii , T. algericus , T. somalicus , T. occidentalis and T. bisharicus ). It differs from T. nattereri , by possessing clearly tricarinated subdigital scales (versus smooth subdigital scales).

It is distinguised from T. wolfgangboehmei by having three pairs of postmental scales (two pairs in T. wolfgangboehmei ) and by a completely different coloration and pattern (see Fig. 7 versusversus Fig. 9 ). It is differentiated from T. nubicus by having slightly keeled scales on tail and flanks (versus smooth scales in T. nubicus ) and larger gular scales (26-29 versus 31-38 in T. nubicus ). T. naybandensis differs from T. steudneri by possessing larger gular scales (26-29 versus 30-42 in T. steudneri ) and by differences in pattern (see Fig. 7 versus Fig. 10 ).

Description of the Holotype ( Figs. 7–8 ). An adult male with intact tail; snout-vent-length (SVL) 29.28 mm; tail length 34.31 mm; tail 1.17 times SVL, cylindrical tapering evenly to its tip; head narrow, 8.45 mm long (about 28.8% of SVL); head width (HW) 5.22 mm; head height (HH). 3.1 mm; eye diameter (ED) 2.17 mm; distance eye - snout (ESD) 2.84 mm; distance eye - ear (EED) 2.07mm; neck distinct, right limb length 9.58 mm; subdigital lamellae strongly tricarinate; lamellar formula (digit 1 to 5) for left manus is 11, 12, 15, 14, 12; rostral 1.35 times as wide as high, divided by a median cleft; nostril bordered by rostral, first upper labial and two small postnasals, which are separated by two large internasals; snout covered by irregularly shaped pentagonal and hexagonal scales which are juxtaposed; loreal region slightly swollen, scalation not different to remaining snout; 21 interorbitals, 10/ 10 upper labials, 8/8 lower labials; occipitalregion covered by juxtaposed scales slightly larger than the interorbitals; mental slightly wider than rostral, triangular in shape extending posteriorly not to the level of the suture between first and second lower labials; one pair of large postmentals, in contact with mental and the first two lower labials on the right body side and only in contact with the first lower labial on the left body side; second pair of postmentals only about one third the size of the first postmentals, separated from each other by three granular scales; the second pair of postmentals is in contact with the second lower labials (right body side) and with the first and second lower labial (left body side); the third pair of postmentals is only about a fourth of the size of the first postmental and not essentially larger than the surrounding scales but clearly discernible; body scalation along the vertebrate line homogenous, sub imbricate and smooth or weakly keeled. Flank scalation imbricate and clearly keeled; dorsal sides of forelimbs covered with imbricate scales, scales of ventral sides juxtaposed, partly imbricat and slightly swollen; dorsal and ventral sides of hind limbs covered with imbricate scales; ventral scales smooth, posteriorly pointed; dorsal and ventral scales of the tail homogenous and imbricate; scales at tail base not clearly carinated, but becoming increasingly so distally; hemipeneal pockets are well developed with three enlarged tubercular scales on either side; 3 postmental shields (PstmS); 21 interorbital scales including ciliary scales (IOS); 10 supralabial scales (Supralab); 7 sublabial scales (Sublab); 29 gular scales (Gulars); 2 nasalia (Nasalia); two internasal scales (INasals); 16 subdigital lamellae under the 1st toe (SDL 1. toe); 18 subdigitallamellae under the 3rd toe (SDL 3. toe); 60 scales around midbody (SAM); 77 ventral scales (Ventrals); three keels on each subdigitallamellae (KSDL); SVL/TL 0.85; SVL/HL 3.46; SVL/Arm length 3.06; SVL/Leg length 2.12; SVL/ED 13.49; HL/ED 3.89; HL/HH 2.72; HL/HW 1.63; Upper arm/ forearm 0.58; Thigh/shank 0.54. Dorsal side of head, body and limbs ivory-coloured with small, irregularly distributed dark brown (mostly star like) blotches on most scales; Only scales behind the eyes and on the nape predominantly brown, others more or less flecked, giving the animal a speckled appearance; On each side of the vertebral line six big unflecked (ivory-coloured) areas which are clearly separated but somehow forming transversal bands with single ivory-coloured scales in between; Tail with 13 ivory-coloured transversal bands; Ventral side of head, body and limbs ivory coloured and completely without any pattern; Ventral side of the tail also ivory-coloured and slightly speckled with small dark brown blotches.

Variation of the Paratypes (ZFMK 92345-48). Of the four paratypes two are males (ZFMK 92347-48) and two are females (ZFMK 92345-46), of which ZFMK 92347 has an incomplete tail. Paratypes do not differ from the holotype regarding scalation, colouration and pattern; 3 postmental shields (PstmS); 17-22 interorbital scales including ciliary scales (IOS); 10-11 supralabial scales (Supralab); 7-8 sublabial scales (Sublab); 26-29 gular scales (Gulars); 2 nasalia (Nasalia); 2 internasal scales (INasals); 16 subdigital lamellae under the 1st toe (SDL 1.

toe); 17-18 subdigitallamellae under the 3rd toe (SDL 3. toe); 56-60 scales around midbody (SAM); 74-78 ventral scales (Ventrals); three keels on each subdigital lamellae (KSDL); snout-vent- length (SVL) 27.10-32.41 mm; tail length (TL) 29.46-35.46 mm; head length (HL) 7.7-8.1 mm; head width (HW) 4.4-5.0 mm; head height (HH 3.0- 3.1 mm; eye diameter (ED 1.8-1.9 mm; distance eye - snout (ESD 2.0- 2.2 mm; distance eye - ear (EED) 2.0- 2.4 mm; SVL/TL 0.84-0.91; SVL/HL 3.51-4.02; SVL/Arm length 2.60-3.02; SVL/Leg length 1.93-2.23; SVL/ED 14.26-16.88; HL/ED 4.05-4.35; HL/HH 2.51-2.62; HL/HW 1.60-1.72; Upper arm/ forearm 0.54-0.58; Thigh/shank 0.53-0.63.

Etymology. This species is named after the type locality Nayband ( Figs. 11 & 12 ).

Ecological notes. The ecology of this species is largely unknown. Specimens were found under stones. The species is nocturnal and starts its activity at dawn. The type locality is a semi desert habitat, sparsely vegetated with Ziziphus spina-christi , Prosopis cineraria , Prosopis juliflor, Calotropis procera, Ficus religiosa, Lycium edgewothii and Zygophyllum atriplicoides . Its climate is characterized by hot summers and mild winters. The collection site is close to the sea (only some hundred meters away). Sympatric lizard and snake species are: Hemidactylus flaviviridis Rüppell , Hemidactylus persicus Anderson , Pristurus rupestris Blanford , Cyrtopodion kiabii Ahmadzadeh, Flecks, Torki & Böhme , Laudakia nupta ( De Filippi) and Echis carinatus (Schneider) .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Holotype of Tropiocolotes naybandensis sp. n. (ZFMK 92344), dorsal view. Picture: T. Wilms

FIGURE 9. Paratype of Tropiocolotes wolfgangboehmei (ZFMK 87120), dorsal view. Picture: T. Wilms

FIGURE 10. Tropiocolotes steudneri (ZFMK 33850), dorsal view. Photo: T. Wilms.

FIGURE 11. Type locality of Tropiocolotes naybandensis sp. n.; Nayband, Iran (27 ° 19 ’ 59,52 ’’ N, 52 ° 39 ’ 28,94 ’’ E). Photo: M. Moazeni.

FIGURE 12. Distribution of species the genus Tropiocolotes from Arabia and adjacent areas (based on specimens examined in the present study): № T. bisharicus; ⋅ T. nattereri; ★ T. naybandensis sp. n. (type locality); ⊙ T. nubicus; • T. scorteccii, x T. steudneri; • T. cf. steudneri; ˔ T. somalicus; • T. tripolitanus; ♦ T. wolfgangboehmei.