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Gehyra lauta OLIVER, PRASETYA, TEDESCHI, FENKER, ELLIS, DOUGHTY & MORITZ, 2020

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Higher TaxaGekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Gulf Tree Gehyra 
SynonymGehyra lauta OLIVER, PRASETYA, TEDESCHI, FENKER, ELLIS, DOUGHTY & MORITZ 2020 
DistributionAustralia (Queensland)

Type locality: Sybella Creek, Dajarra Road, 17.2 km S Mount Isa, Qld (−20.876S, 139.458E)  
Reproduction 
TypesHolotype. QM J90707, adult male, collected by M.N. Hutchinson, P.M. Oliver, M.A. Cowan and D.L. Rabosky, 20 April 2010.
Paratypes (N = 14). Northern Territory: NTM R38184 (field # CCM0438), MacArthur Station, NT (−16.7101S, 136.2042E). Queensland: QM J96621 (field # CCM0244), Gunpowder Ridge, Qld (−19.7503S, 139.3808E); QM J96622 (field # CCM0247),
West Leichardt Station, Qld (−20.6027S, 139.6839E); QM J96623 (field # CCM0322), Bowthorn Station tip, Qld (−18.0938, 138.3017E); QM J96624 (field # CCM0345), Kingfisher Station Qld (−17.8854S, 138.2810E); NTM R21309–12,Musselbrook Reservoir, Qld (−18.592S, 138.124E); QM J47904 Elizabeth Gorge, Bowthorn Station, Qld (18.216S, 138.333E); QM J75291 Lawn Hill NP, Qld (−18.692S, 138.491E); QM J78786, 10 km WNW Kajabbi, Qld (−19.776S, 139.896E); QM J88487, Mount Isa area, Qld (−20.514S, 139.461E); QM J90711, Sybella Creek, Dajarra Road, 17.2 km S Mount Isa, Qld (−20.876S, 139.458E). 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: A large Gehyra species (up to 83.1 mm SVL), differing from all other
Gehyra species outside of the G. australis complex as per the diagnosis above. Differs from other members of the G. australis complex in the combination of: large size within complex (adult SVL up to 83.1 mm, mean 72.2 mm); pre-cloacal pores in males numerous (22–32), often extending onto limbs and reduced in size distally; suture between first and second chin shields usually straight; second chin shields more than two thirds length of first chin shields (mean ratio 0.77, range 0.70–0.88); and adults with a plain grey to purplish brown dorsal colouration across the head and body with no or at most a faint pattern.
Further diagnosed from other species within the G. australis complex genetically by 10 unique amino acids in the ND2 locus (Table 1).
Gehyra lauta sp. nov. overlaps geographically with three other species in the G. australis group: G. dubia, G. gemina sp. nov. and G. robusta. It differs from G. dubia by its larger size (mean and maximum adult SVL, respectively: 72.2 mm and 83.1 mm vs. 56.5 mm and 64.7 mm), higher number of pre-cloacal pores (22–32 vs. 12–20), and its relatively plain grey dorsal colouration in life (vs. at least some darker spotting or mottling, and often also a distinct postorbital stripe); from G. robusta in having little or no dorsal pattern (vs. distinct brown and light grey spots and stripes) and higher number of pores in males (22–32 vs. 12–17); and from G. gemina sp. nov. by its larger size (mean and maximum adult SVL, respectively: 72.2 mm and 83.1 mm vs. 62.1 mm and 68.9 mm), higher number of pores (22–32 vs. 10–16), often extending onto limbs and reduced in size distally, posterior edge of first infralabial generally ∼50% or greater the length of second supralabial (vs. ∼60% or less) and outer edge of first pair of chin shields in contact with second pair usually strait, rarely slightly concave (vs. usually convex) and second pair of chin shields usually more than two-thirds length of first chin shields (mean and range ratios 0.77 (0.70–0.88) vs. 0.64 (0.56–0.75)).
Of the remaining species in the G. australis complex, G. australis and
G. arnhemica sp. nov., the relatively disjunct and allopatric distribution permits identification in most areas where accurate locality data is available. Morphologically, G. lauta sp. nov. differs from G. australis in its larger size (mean and maximum
adult SVL, respectively: 71.4 mm and 83.1 mm vs. 62.7 mm and 68.1 mm), second chin shields usually more than three-quarters length of first chin shields (mean and range ratios 0.77 (0.70–0.88) vs. 0.63 (0.58–0.70)), and more numerous pre-cloacal pores (22–32 vs. 10–16), usually extending onto limbs, with distal pores no greater than one-half the size of median pore (vs. not extending onto limbs, with distal most pores no smaller than one-half size of median pore). From G. arnhemica sp. nov., it differs by its larger size (mean and maximum adult SVL, respectively: 71.4 mm and 83.1 mm vs. 63.0 mm and 68.2 mm).
 
Comment 
EtymologyThe species epithet is from the Latin word lautus (washed, neat, elegant), in reference to the plain or washed out dorsal pattern of the species. 
References
  • Oliver PM, Prasetya AM, Tedeschi LG, Fenker J, Ellis RJ, Doughty P, Moritz C. 2020. Crypsis and convergence: integrative taxonomic revision of the Gehyra australis group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from northern Australia. PeerJ 8:e7971 - get paper here
 
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