Gehyra koira HORNER, 2005
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Gehyra koira
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| Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: King’s Rock Gehyra |
| Synonym | Gehyra koira HORNER 2005 Gehyra koira koira — OLIVER et al. 2010 Gehyra koira koira — WILSON & SWAN 2013: 122 Gehyra koira — COGGER 2014: 359 Gehyra koira koira — ELLIS et al. 2018 Gehyra koira — OLIVER et la. 2020: 37 |
| Distribution | Australia (North-Western Australia, Northern Territory) Type locality: Nganlang Art Site, Keep River National Park, Northern Territory, 15°48’26”S 129°06’23”E |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: NTM R22406, adult female; paratypes (45): NTM |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A large Gehyra species (up to 80.4 mm SVL), differing from all other Gehyra species outside of the G. koira complex as per the diagnosis above. Differs from other members of G. koira complex in the combination of: large size (adult SVL up to 80.4 mm, mean 72.5 mm); pre-cloacal pores in males numerous (12–23); second chin shields almost always more than two thirds length of first chin shields (mean ratio 0.72, range 0.64–0.79); first chin shield pair not bordered posteriorly by a single enlarged medial gular scale, or if present, median scale is not the largest in first row of gulars; adults in base colouration with tan to brown dorsum and tails, usually with some distinct transverse light and/or dark barring and a distinct to indistinct brown postorbital stripe. Further diagnosed from other species within the G. koira complex genetically by one unique amino acid in the ND2 locus (Table 1). Gehyra koira occurs in sympatry or in close geographic proximity to six other species of moderate to large-sized Gehyra. Two of these are distantly related and can be easily distinguished: G. koira differs from G. occidentalis in having undivided lamellae (vs. divided); and from G. xenopus in lacking a wedge-shaped patch of granules that divide the proximal subdigital lamellae and dorsal pattern of barring or banding (vs. numerous light and dark ocelli). Gehyra koira can be distinguished from the four remaining sympatric taxa (all members of the australis group) as follows: from G. ipsa by its smaller size (mean and maximum adult SVL, respectively: 72.5 mm and 80.4 mm vs. 84.9 mm and 94.9 mm) and absence of an enlarged medial gular scale behind the first pair of chin shields, or when present, median scale not the largest in first row of gular scales (vs present and always the largest in first gular row); from G. calcitectus sp. nov. (see below) in having a dorsal pattern generally lacking light-coloured ocelli (vs. usually present); from G. gemina sp. nov. in its larger size (mean and maximum adult SVL, respectively: 72.5 mm and 80.4 mm vs. 62.9 mm and 68.9 mm) and higher number of pores (13–23 vs 10–16); and from G. lapistola sp. nov. (see below) by its brown dorsum with light transverse bars and or spots (vs. generally plainer and almost unpatterned) and generally higher number of pores (13–23 vs. 9–13) (Oliver et al. 2020: 38). |
| Comment | Similar species: Due to the morphological overlap and potential occurrence of sympatry of G. koira and G. ipsa, in addition to G. calcitectus sp. nov., there remains some uncertainty as to which species some specimens apply. |
| Etymology | Named after the Greek noun koira, meaning king, ruler or commander, in reference to Max King, in recognition of his landmark work on the cytology and taxonomy of Gehyra. The name is intended as a noun in apposition. The subspecifi c epithet is from the Latin word ipsa, meaning to make prominent one of two or more subjects, in reference to the morphological divergence of the Purnululu population from conspecifi c populations. The name is here intended as a noun in apposition. |
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