Cnemaspis valparaiensis, Khandekar & Thackeray & Agarwal, 2024

Khandekar, Akshay, Thackeray, Tejas & Agarwal, Ishan, 2024, Five new species of the Cnemaspis beddomei clade (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from high elevation, evergreen forests of the Southern Western Ghats, India, Zootaxa 5469 (1), pp. 1-70 : 44-52

Cnemaspis valparaiensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:81FCF6AD-FEB5-4C1C-8BAF-1B9DD8911E9E

( Figs 21–25 ; Tables 12–14)

Holotype. NRC-AA-8401 ( AK-R 1953 ), adult male, near Kamatchi Amman Temple (10.3901°N, 76.9970°E; ca. 1410 m asl.), on Pollachi to Valparai road, Anaimalai Tiger Reserve , Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu State, India; collected by Akshay Khandekar, Ishan Agarwal, Swapnil Pawar and team on 18 th May 2022.

Paratypes. NRC-AA-8402 ( AK-R 1954 ), adult male, NRC-AA-8403 ( AK-R 1955 ), adult female, same data as holotype ; NRC-AA-8404 ( AK-R 1956 ), NRC-AA-8405 ( AK-R 1990 ), adult females, NRC-AA-8406 ( AK-R 1993 ), adult male, from near Valparai Tea Plantations (10.3400°N, 76.9677°E; ca. 1200 m asl.) , Valparai; NRC- AA-8407 ( AK-R 1994 ), adult female, from near Iyerpadi (10.3671°N, 76.9952°E; ca. 1400 m asl.); same collection data as holotype .

Etymology. The specific epithet is a toponym for the Valparai Plateau in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu, which includes the type and only known locality for this species.

Suggested common name. Valparai dwarf gecko.

Diagnosis. A large-sized Cnemaspis , snout to vent length up to 53 mm (n = 7). Dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous; weakly keeled granular scales intermixed with regularly arranged rows of enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles; 18–20 rows of dorsal tubercles at midbody, 26–31 tubercles in paravertebral rows; ventral scales subequal from chest to vent, smooth, oval to subcircular and subimbricate with rounded to weakly pointed end; 22–25 scales across belly at midbody, 128–148 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca; subdigital scansors smooth, unnotched, mostly entire; 12–15 lamellae under digit I of manus and 12–16 under digit I of pes, 17–20 lamellae under digit IV of manus and 18–21 lamellae under digit IV of pes; males with continuous series of six or seven precloacal pores (n = 3/7); scales on non-regenerated tail dorsum heterogeneous; composed of weakly keeled, granular scales that are similar in size and shape to granular scales on midbody dorsum, gradually becoming larger, flattened, smooth and imbricate posteriorly, intermixed with enlarged, strongly keeled, distinctly pointed, weakly conical tubercles, becoming weakly keeled to smooth posteriorly; enlarged tubercles on the tail forming whorls only on anterior one third potion of the tail; median row of subcaudals smooth and slightly enlarged with condition of two slightly enlarged scales alternating with a divided scale. Dorsum in males yellow-brown with two cross-bars at forelimb insertions, flanks strongly marked with yellow, tail with alternating black and white bands; females similar in overall colouration but much darker than males, juveniles brown without a black and white banded tail.

Comparisons with members of beddomei clade. Cnemaspis valparaiensis sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from all described members of the beddomei clade as well as from C. boiei by a combination of the following differing or non-overlapping characters: A large-sized Cnemaspis , snout to vent length> 50 mm (versus small-sized Cnemaspis , snout to vent length <40 mm in C. aaronbaueri , C. azhagu , C. boiei , C. galaxia , C. nigriventris , C. regalis , C. sathuragiriensis , C. sundara and C. vangoghi ; medium-sized Cnemaspis , snout to vent length 40–50 mm in C. agamalaiensis sp. nov., C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., C. anuradhae sp. nov., C. nairi , C. nimbus , C. ornata , C. rashidi , C. rubraoculus , C. wallaceii ); 18–20 rows of dorsal tubercles at midbody (versus only a few enlarged scattered tubercles at midbody dorsum in C. anamudiensis , 12–14 rows of dorsal tubercles at midbody in C. agamalaiensis sp. nov., 10–13 in C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., 13–15 in C. anuradhae sp. nov., two or three in C. azhagu , 9–12 in C. beddomei , eight in C. galaxia , 13 or 14 in C. nigriventris , 12–14 in C. nimbus , 12–14 in C. ornata , 7–9 in C. regalis , 8–12 in C. rubraoculus , 6–8 in C. sathuragiriensis , six in C. sundara , 10 or 11 in C. rashidi , 10 in C. vangoghi and 14 or 15 in C. wallaceii ); 22–25 scales across belly at midbody (versus 31–33 scales across belly at midbody in C. aaronbaueri , 28–33 in C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., 26–28 in C. anuradhae sp. nov., 34–44 in C. azhagu , 30–34 in C. beddomei , 27–31 in C. galaxia , 32 or 33 in C. nairi , 38–40 in C. nigriventris , 33–37 in C. ornata , 29–32 in C. rashidi , 40–44 in C. regalis , 30–37 in C. rubraoculus , 28–30 in C. sathuragiriensis , 30–36 in C. smaug , 35 or 36 in C. sundara , 29–31 in C. vangoghi and 28 or 29 in C. wallaceii ); 26–31 tubercles in paravertebral rows (versus paravertebral tubercles either absent or irregular in C. anamudiensis , C. azhagu , C. sathuragiriensis and C. sundara , 16–24 tubercles in paravertebral rows in C. agamalaiensis sp. nov., 20–25 in C. anuradhae sp. nov., 18 or 19 in C. beddomei , 14 in C. galaxia , 16 or 17 in C. nimbus , 21–23 in C. ornata , 12 in C. regalis , 7–14 in C. vangoghi and 18–20 in C. wallaceii ); 128–148 (mean 137) longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca (versus 155–168 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca in C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., 151–171 in C. azhagu , 154–161 in C. beddomei , 117 in C. boiei , 153–159 in C. galaxia , 154–159 in C. nigriventris , 157–165 in C. ornata , 170–172 in C. rashidi , 141–155 (mean 148) in C. smaug , 156–160 in C. sundara and 154–156 in C. wallaceii ); enlarged tubercles on midbody dorsum regularly arranged (versus enlarged tubercles on midbody dorsum absent in C. boiei , enlarged tubercles on midbody dorsum irregularly arranged in C. agamalaiensis sp. nov., C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., C. anuradhae sp. nov., C. beddomei , C. nimbus , C. rubraoculus , C. sathuragiriensis and C. sundara ); scales on non-regenerated tail dorsum heterogeneous, with the presence of enlarged tubercles (versus scales on non-regenerated tail dorsum homogeneous, lacking enlarged tubercles in C. agamalaiensis sp. nov., C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., C. anuradhae sp. nov., C. anamudiensis , C. beddomei , C. maculicollis and C. nimbus ); males with continuous series of six or seven precloacal pores (versus males with continuous series of two precloacal pores, but sometime precloacal pores separated by single poreless scale in C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., males with continuous series of two precloacal pores in C. anamudiensis , eight or nine in C. anuradhae sp. nov. and C. sundara , 10 in C. maculicollis , and eight in C. wallaceii ); median row of subcaudals slightly enlarged with condition of two slightly enlarged scales alternating with a divided scale (versus median row of subcaudals slightly enlarged in C. agamalaiensis sp. nov., C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., C. anuradhae sp. nov. and C. rubraoculus ; median row of subcaudals enlarged with irregularly arranged scales in C. maculicollis ); ventral scales smooth (versus ventral scales weakly keeled in C. beddomei and C. rubraoculus ); a distinct white ocelli or streak on shoulder and behind the forearm insertion (versus a distinct white ocelli or streak on shoulder and behind the forearm insertion absent in C. aaronbaueri , C. agamalaiensis sp. nov., C. anamudiensis , C. anuradhae sp. nov., C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov., C. azhagu , C. beddomei , C. galaxia , C. nairi , C. nigriventris , C. nimbus , C. ornata , C. rashidi , C. regalis , C. rubraoculus , C. sathuragiriensis , C. sundara , C. vangoghi and C. wallaceii ); a distinct white ocellus on ventrolateral sides of neck absent in both sexes (versus a distinct white ocellus on ventrolateral sides of neck present in males in C. galaxia , C. nairi , C. nigriventris , C. ornata , C. rashidi , C. sathuragiriensis , C. sundara and C. vangoghi ). Cnemaspis valparaiensis sp. nov. is diagnosed against the other new species as part of its description below.

Description of the holotype. Adult male in good state of preservation except tail tip bent towards left, fourth finger on right manus is missing and a 3.8 mm long incision in sternal region for tissue collection ( Fig. 21A–E ). SVL 50.3 mm, head short (HL/SVL 0.26), wide (HW/HL 0.67), not strongly depressed (HD/HL 0.43), distinct from neck. Loreal region marginally inflated, canthus rostralis indistinct. Snout half of head length (ES/HL 0.47), slightly more than two times eye diameter (ES/ED 2.21); scales on snout and canthus rostralis elongate, subequal, keeled, conical, much larger than those on forehead and interorbital region; scales on forehead similar to those on snout and canthus rostralis except slightly smaller; scales on interorbital region even smaller, granular and weakly keeled; scales on occipital, and temporal region heterogeneous, composed of granular scales intermixed with enlarged, weakly keeled, conical tubercles ( Fig. 22A ). Eye small (ED/HL 0.21), with round pupil; supraciliaries short, larger anteriorly; 10 interorbital scale rows across narrowest point of frontal; 35 scale rows between left and right supraciliaries at mid-orbit ( Fig. 22A, C ). Ear-opening deep, oval, small (EL/HL 0.06); eye to ear distance much greater than diameter of eye (EE/ED 1.46) ( Fig. 22C ). Rostral almost two times wider (2.3 mm) than high (1.3 mm), incompletely divided dorsally by a strongly developed rostral groove for more than half of its height; a single enlarged, roughly rectangular supranasal on each side, slightly larger than upper postnasal, in strong contact with each other behind rostral; a pair of slightly enlarged scales on snout behind supranasals, separated from each other by three much smaller, granular scales on snout; rostral in contact with supralabial I, postnasal, nostril and supranasal on either side; nostrils oval, surrounded by two postnasals, supranasal, and rostral on either side; two roughly circular postnasals on either side, the one touching supranasal slightly larger than the other; two single row of scales separate orbit from supralabials ( Fig. 22C ). Mental enlarged, subtriangular, marginally wider (2.7 mm) than high (2.5 mm); two pairs of postmentals, inner pair roughly square, much shorter (1.1 mm) than mental, separated from each other below mental by three enlarged median chin shields; inner pair bordered by mental, supralabial I, outer postmental, median chin shield and three enlarged chin shields on either side; outer postmentals roughly rectangular, slightly smaller (0.8 mm) than inner pair, bordered by inner postmentals, infralabial I and II, and three chin shields on left and four on right side, seven enlarged gular scales (including median chin shield) between left and right outer postmentals; all chin shields bordering postmentals protrudent, subcircular, weakly keeled, and smaller than outermost postmentals; scales on rest of throat, granular, much smaller, weakly keeled, subcircular, and conical ( Fig. 22B ). Infralabials bordered below by a row or two of slightly enlarged, much elongated scales, decreasing in size posteriorly. Eight supralabials up to angle of jaw and six at midorbital position on each side; supralabial I largest, gradually decreasing in size posteriorly; eight infralabials up to angle of jaw and seven at midorbital position on either side; infralabial I largest, gradually decreasing in size posteriorly ( Fig. 22C ).

Body relatively slender (BW/AGL 0.33), trunk marginally less than half of SVL (AGL/SVL 0.48) without spinelike tubercles on flank ( Fig. 23A–C ). Dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous; weakly keeled granular scales intermixed with regularly arranged rows of enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles; granular scales gradually increasing in size towards each flank, largest on mid-flank; granular scales on occiput slightly smaller than paravertebral granules; enlarged tubercles in approximately 18 longitudinal rows at midbody; 29 (left) and 26 (right) tubercles in paravertebral rows ( Fig. 23A ). Ventral scales much larger than granular scales on dorsum, subequal from chest to vent, smooth, oval to subcircular and subimbricate with weakly pointed end; scales on precloacal region distinctly enlarged; midbody scale rows across belly 24; 129 scales from mental to anterior border of cloaca ( Fig. 23B ). A continuous series of seven precloacal pores, femoral pores absent ( Fig. 22D ).

Scales on palm and soles, smooth, oval or rounded, and flattened; scales on dorsal aspects of limbs homogenous; composed of small, weakly keeled, weakly conical and non-imbricate scales; scales on ventral aspect of upper arm smooth, granular, slightly smaller than granular scales on body dorsum, scales on ventral aspect of lower arm with much larger scales than those on upper arm, weakly keeled, subcircular, weakly conical, and non-imbricate scales; ventral aspect of thigh and shank with enlarged, weakly keeled, flattened, subimbricate scales, similar in size to those on body ventrals ( Fig. 21A, B ). Forelimbs and hindlimbs slightly long, slender (LAL/SVL 0.13; CL/SVL 0.18); digits long, with a strong, recurved claw, distinctly inflected, distal portions laterally compressed conspicuously. Digits with mostly unpaired lamellae, separated into a basal and narrower distal series by single enlarged lamella at inflection; basal lamellae series: (4-5-5-*-7 right manus, 6-6-6-5-4 right pes; * = missing), (4-4-5-7-7 left manus, Fig. 22E ; 6-6-6-6-6 left pes, Fig. 22F ); distal lamellae series: (9-10-13-*-11 right manus, 9-11-14-13-12 right pes), (9-10-12-13-12 left manus, Fig. 22E ; 9-11-15-13-13 left pes, Fig. 22F ). Relative length of digits (measurements in mm in parentheses): IV (5.5)> V (4.8)> III (4.4)> II (3.9)> I (3.1) (left manus); IV (6.7)> V (6.2)> III (5.5)> II (5.0)> I (2.7) (left pes).

Tail original (except for tip which is regenerated), subcylindrical, slender, entire, slightly longer than body (TL/ SVL 1.18) ( Fig. 21A–C ). Dorsal pholidosis on non-regenerated tail heterogeneous; composed of weakly keeled, granular scales that are similar in size and shape to granular scales on midbody dorsum, gradually becoming larger, flattened, smooth and imbricate posteriorly, intermixed with enlarged, strongly keeled, distinctly pointed, weakly conical tubercles, becoming weakly keeled to smooth posteriorly; enlarged tubercles on the tail forming whorls only on anterior one third potion of the tail; 10 tubercles on first four whorls, eight in 5–7th whorls, four tubercles on 8–12th whorl, rest of the tail with either only paravertebral tubercles or lacking enlarged tubercles ( Fig. 21C ). Scales on tail venter much larger than those on dorsal aspect, smooth, roughly subcircular, flattened, subimbricate; median series smooth, slightly enlarged than rest with condition of two slightly enlarged scales alternating with a divided scale ( Fig. 21D ). Scales on tail base much smaller, smooth, subimbricate; three subequal and smooth postcloacal tubercle on either side ( Fig. 22D ).

Colouration in life ( Fig. 24A ). Dorsal ground colouration of head, body, and limbs mottled yellow-brown. Indistinct dark brown preorbital streak, prominent dark brown postorbital streak runs till ear opening; head yellowish, with pale blotches on occiput. Centre of back brown and flanks yellow; prominent pale blotch on nape followed by two more that are centred in a white horizontal band and then fading from mid-body onwards. Tail prominently banded with about eight black markings alternating with white on original portion, regenerated portion uniform brown. Limbs with dark reticulations and alternating light and dark markings on digits. Ventral colouration white; throat with a few rows of dark scales bordering infralabials; some yellow scales on edges of throat, under limbs and on belly; subcaudals with alternating bands on original portion; precloacal and femoral regions yellow. Pupil black, iris red.

Variation and additional information from the paratype series ( Figs 24B, C ; 25A, B ). Mensural, meristic and additional character state data for the type series is given in Tables 12–14 respectively. There are two adult males and four adult females ranging in size from 43.4–52.2 mm ( Fig. 25A, B ). All paratypes resemble the holotype except as follows: three postnasals on either side in NRC-AA-8405 and NRC-AA-8407. Inner postmentals bordered by mental, infralabial I and outer postmental in all paratypes, additionally, bordered by an enlarged median chin shield and four more smaller chin shields in NRC-AA-8402, median chin shield and six more smaller chin shields in NRC-AA-8403, NRC-AA-8404, NRC-AA-8405, only by six smaller chin shields in NRC-AA-8406, median chin shield and five smaller chin shields in NRC-AA-8407; inner postmental separated from each other by a single enlarged median chin shield in NRC-AA-8402, NRC-AA-8403, NRC-AA-8404 and NRC-AA-8407, and by an enlarged median chin shield and two more smaller chin shields in NRC-AA-8405. Outer postmentals bordered by inner pair and infralabial I & II in all paratypes, additionally, bordered by three smaller chin shields on either side in NRC-AA-8403, NRC-AA-8404 and NRC-AA-8405, four chin shields on either side in NRC-AA-8406 and NRC-AA-8407; outer postmentals separated from each other by an enlarged median chin shield in all paratypes, additionally, by four smaller chin shields in NRC-AA-8402 and by five smaller chin shields in NRC-AA-8407. Four paratypes —NRC-AA-8403, NRC-AA-8405, NRC-AA-8406 and NRC-AA-8407 with original and complete tail, marginally to slightly longer than body (TL/SVL 1.09, 1.10, 1.28 and 1.16 respectively), NRC-AA-8402 and NRC- AA-8404 with complete but partially regenerated tail, almost equal or slightly shorter than body (TL/SVL 1.03 and 0.83 respectively), a small patch of skin injury on the base of left shoulder in NRC-AA-8404 and on left mid flank in NRC-AA-8402 ( Fig. 25A, B ). Two male paratypes with distinct bands on original tail whereas all the female paratypes are with comparatively lighter bands ( Figs 24B, C ; 25A, B ). Females dark brown and with less prominent yellow colouration compared to the males ( Fig. 24B, C ).

Distribution and natural history. Cnemaspis valparaiensis sp. nov. is known from only a few closely spaced localities near its type locality (on Pollachi to Valparai road, Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu) ( Fig. 1 ). The new species was recorded in evergreen forest patches at elevations of 1200–1400 m asl. ( Fig. 20A ) active during the daytime (1030–1500 hrs) on rocks <3 m high from the base ( Fig. 20B ). During summer, a large number of sightings (n => 15) were obtained at all the sampled locations indicating high abundance. The only sympatric lizard we recorded at the type locality was Cnemaspis anaimalaiensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 26 ).

except for: M = male, F = female.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Elevation map of the southern Western Ghats, India showing sampled localities for the anamudiensis (triangles) and beddomei (circles) subclades of the beddomei clade.

FIGURE 6. Cnemaspis agamalaiensis sp. nov. in life: (A) adult male (holotype, NRC-AA-8374), (B) adult male (paratype, NRC-AA-8381), and (C) subadult female (paratype, NRC-AA-8376). Photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 9. Cnemaspis anuradhae sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8385): (A) dorsal view of body, (B) ventral view of body, (C) dorsal view of tail, (D) ventral view of tail, (E) lateral view of tail. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 10. Cnemaspis anuradhae sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8385): (A) dorsal view of head, (B) ventral view of head, (C) lateral view of head on right, (D) view of precloacal region showing precloacal pores, (E) ventral view of left manus, (F) ventral view of right pes. Scale bars 5 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 11. Cnemaspis anuradhae sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8385): (A) dorsal view of midbody, (B) ventral view of midbody, (C) lateral view of midbody. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 12. Cnemaspis anuradhae sp. nov. in life: (A) adult male (holotype, NRC-AA-8385), (B) adult female (paratype, NRC-AA-8386), and (C) juvenile (uncollected). Photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 13. Paratype series of Cnemaspis anuradhae sp. nov., from left to right, NRC-AA-8386–8391: (A) dorsal view and (B) ventral view. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 14. Habitat photos of Cnemaspis anuradhae sp. nov.: (A) general view of evergreen forest and (B) microhabitat photo showing the cave located inside the evergreen forest patch from where the new species was collected; both from the type locality, near Mangalamkombu, Palani Hills in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu. Photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 15. Cnemaspis anaimalaiensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8392): (A) dorsal view of body, (B) ventral view of body, (C) lateral view of tail. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 20. Habitat photos of Cnemaspis anaimalaiensis sp. nov. and C. valparaiensis sp. nov.: (A) general view of evergreen forest and (B) microhabitat photo showing the boulders located inside the evergreen forest patch from where the new species were collected; both from the type locality, near Valparai in Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu. Photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 21. Cnemaspis valparaiensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8401): (A) dorsal view of body, (B) ventral view of body, (C) dorsal view of tail, (D) ventral view of tail, (E) lateral view of tail. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 22. Cnemaspis valparaiensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8401): (A) dorsal view of head, (B) ventral view of head, (C) lateral view of head on right, (D) view of precloacal region showing precloacal pores, (E) ventral view of left manus, (F) ventral view of left pes. Scale bars 5 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 23. Cnemaspis valparaiensis sp. nov. (holotype, NRC-AA-8401): (A) dorsal view of midbody, (B) ventral view of midbody, (C) lateral view of midbody. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 24. Cnemaspis valparaiensis sp. nov. in life: (A) adult male (holotype, NRC-AA-8401), (B) adult male (paratype, NRC-AA-8402), and (C) adult female (paratype, NRC-AA-8403). Photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 25. Paratype series of Cnemaspis valparaiensis sp. nov., from left to right, NRC-AA-8402–8407: (A) dorsal view and (B) ventral view. Scale bars 10 mm; photos by Akshay Khandekar.

FIGURE 26. Cnemaspis valparaiensis sp. nov. (top right) and C. anaimalaiensis sp. nov. (bottom left) in sympatry (both uncollected). Photo by Tejas Thackeray.