Amalosia saxicola HOSKIN & COUPER, 2023
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Amalosia saxicola
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| Higher Taxa | Diplodactylidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Rock Zigzag Gecko |
| Synonym | Amalosia saxicola HOSKIN & COUPER 2023: 318 |
| Distribution | Australia (Queensland) Type locality: Mt Zero, Taravale (19° 05’ 34” S, 146° 08’ 33” E) |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype. QM J91337, Male (Fig. 13), field collection code: conx5062, C. J. Hoskin, 8/9/2011. Paratypes. (all localities in north-east and mid-east Queensland) QMJ97585, Kirrama Range (18°10’58” S, 145°44’ 26” E); J76048, Hinchinbrook Is. (18° 21’ 38” S, 146° 14’ 37” E); QM J76045, Hinchinbrook Is. (18° 25’ 34” S, 146° 17’ 23” E); J76919, Bishops Peak (18° 28’ 48” S, 146° 07’ 46” E); J97581–84, Palm Is. (18° 44’ 38” S, 146° 34’ 37” E); J91356, Mt Zero, Taravale (19° 05’ 34” S, 146° 08’ 33” E); J91119, J91122, Magnetic Is. (19° 07’ 41” S, 146° 52’ 04” E); J91170, The Forts, near, Magnetic Is. (19° 07’ 41” S, 146° 52’ 04” E); J79803, West Point, Magnetic Is. (19° 08’ S, 146° 47’ E); J90964, Gustav Ck, Magnetic Is. (19° 08’ 50” S, 146° 48’ 53” E); J91355, Cape Cleveland (19° 17’ 29” S, 147° 01’ 22” E); J91379, The Pinnacles, SW of Townsville (19° 23’ 50” S, 146° 38’ 35” E); J64872, Cape Upstart, base (19° 42’ S, 147° 45’ E); J65150, J65151, Cape Upstart, on top (19° 44’ S, 147° 49’ E); J32775, J32776, Brandy Ck, Site 13 (20° 21’ S, 148° 43’ E); J64871, Pine Mtn (20° 28’ S, 147° 55’ E); J97593, Massey Ck, Eungella (21° 00’ 06” S, 148° 30’ 34” E); J64851, Blue Mtn (21° 31’ S, 148° 59’ E); J92795, Sandy Creek Gorge, Redcliffe Tableland, N of Nebo (21° 02’ 27” S, 148° 04’ 24” E); J82653, Sydney Head (21° 24’ 45” S, 148° 34’ 49” E). |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A large (max. SVL ~ 65 mm), relatively short-bodied (AG/SVL 0.39–0.48) and short-tailed (oTL/ SVL 0.80–0.92) member of the A. rhombifer group. Dorsal pattern a dark zigzag dorsolateral zone abutting a paler vertebral zone; a pale dot is typically present at the outer corner of each zigzag, such that the dark edging looks broken at each pale triangle apex; the vertebral zone is rarely broken by narrow, transverse lines and there is almost never a transverse band on the nape. Typically, minimal webbing between third and fourth toes. Males with 3–6 large, pointed postcloacal spurs (small and rounded in females) and 0–7 precloacal pores. The first and second supralabials are usually subequal in height, with the second supralabial being wider than the first. Usually, six scales contacting margin of nostril. Measurements and scale counts of holotype: SVL 60.5 mm, oTL 51.6 mm, oTW 5.6 mm, oTD 4.7 mm, HL 13.1 mm, HW 10.4 mm, HD 5.1 mm, S 5.8 mm, AG 25.2 mm, L1 15.6 mm, FL 6.6 mm, LHL 8.5 mm, BW 11.9 mm, rostral crease 25%, scales contacting dorsal margin of the rostral 3, scales bordering nasal opening 6, scales contacting posterior margin of mental shield 4, supralabials 11, 1st and 2nd supralabials subequal in height but 2nd wider than 1st, infralabials 9, postcloacal spurs 5, precloacal pores 6, pore gap 4, subdigital lamellae 4th finger 7; subdigital lamellae 4th toe 7, moderate webbing between 3rd and 4th toes. Description of type series. Measurements (Table 2). SVL (mm): 52.4–64.6 (n = 23, mean = 58.2). Proportions as % SVL: oTL = 80–92 (n = 12, mean = 85); HL = 21–25 (n = 23, mean = 23); HW = 16–19 (n = 23, mean = 18); HD = 6.9–10.5 (n = 23, mean = 8.2); S = 9.5–11.0 (n = 23, mean = 10.2); AG = 39–48 (n = 22, mean = 44); L1 = 26–31 (n = 22, mean = 28); L2 = 33–42 (n = 17, mean = 38); FL = 11–13 (n = 23, mean = 12); LHL = 14–16 (n = 23, mean = 15); BW = 15–23 (n = 23, mean = 18). Head. Narrow, elongate, distinct from neck; head width 70–87% head length (n = 23, mean = 77); head depth 40–61% head width (n = 23, mean = 47); snout length 40%–47% head length (n = 23, mean = 44); covered in small granules with slightly larger granules on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the snout; rostral approximately twice as wide as deep, partially divided vertically by a medial groove extending 25–60% rostral height; 2–4 scales contacting dorsal margin of the rostral, lying between the nostrils (n = 27, mode = 3, mean = 3.0); 5–7 scales bordering nasal opening (n = 27, mode = 6, mean = 6.0); supralabials 10–14 (n = 27, mode = 11, mean = 11.4), 2nd supralabial wider than 1st supralabial; 2nd supralabial taller than or subequal to 1st supralabial; infralabials 9–14 (n = 27, mode = 11, mean = 10.9); 3–6 scales contacting posterior margin of mental shield, between 1st infralabials (n = 27, mode = 5, mean = 4.7). Neck. Broad. Body. Slender, slightly depressed, covered in small granules; granules on ventral surface noticeably larger than those on dorsum; a row of enlarged postcloacal spurs (3–6, n = 27, mode = 4, mean = 4.7) behind the lower posterior margin of the thigh in both sexes (significantly larger in males and usually with a rounded margin). 0–7 (n = 15, mode = 6, mean = 3.9) precloacal pores present in mature males (and some females), not extending to underside of thigh, and divided medially by 0–6 granular scales without pores (n = 12, mode = 4, mean 3.9). Limbs. Moderate length; digits dorsoventrally compressed and expanded distally; an enlarged pair of apical lamellae followed by a transverse series, divided distally, single proximally; forelimb with 5–9 enlarged lamellae on 4th finger (n = 27, mode = 6, mean = 6.5), 3–5 split or deeply grooved; hindlimb with 5–8 enlarged lamellae on 4th toe (n = 27, mode = 6, mean = 6.4), 4–5 split or deeply grooved; basal webbing usually absent or minimal between 3rd and 4th. Original tail. Moderate length (80–92% SVL), narrow (oTW/oTL = 9–14%), tapered, and slightly to moderately flattened (oTW/oTD = 103–143%) (Table 2); scales arranged in concentric rings, larger on ventral surface. Pattern in spirit. Dorsal view. Head and body fawn to mid-brown with a pale vertebral zone and a darker, zigzag, dorsolateral pattern (mid-east Queensland specimens are darker than those from Townsville). A dark patch is present on the crown but breaks posteriorly into one, or several, smaller blotches that extend along the vertebral zone. Specimens from mid-east Queensland have some indication of a central stripe on the dorsal surface of the snout but this is usually absent from Townsville specimens. A dark facial stripe, beginning on snout and continuing behind eye, joins the dark zigzag dorsolateral zone, which has a narrow, dark upper edge and extends to the tip of the tail (original). No dark band is present on the nape. The zigzag pattern consists of dark points extending into the pale vertebral zone (seven to nine between, and including, the pectoral and pelvic girdles). These may be either aligned or misaligned, so that the tip of each point aligns with the pale, point interspace on the opposite side. The zigzag points rarely connect across the pale vertebral zone and a pale dot is often present at the base of each zigzag, at its junction with the vertebral zone (specimen QM J64872 has obscure pale bands extending across dorsum, connecting the zigzag interspaces). Flanks. Dark marbling or a solid dark zone containing pale, obscure spots. Original Tail. Pattern as for dorsum. Limbs. Variegated, or heavily blotched (particularly on mid-eastern Queensland specimens). Ventral surface. Pale, unpatterned, off-white. Colour pattern in life (Fig. 14). As described above but paler markings light grey or white (vs cream coloured in preservative) and darker markings generally shades of grey (vs often more brownish in preservative). White flecks on the lateral and dorsolateral surfaces more obvious in life. Regenerated (and sometimes original) tail often has a yellow wash in life. Iris silver or light copper coloured. (Hoskin & Couper 2023) |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | Named after Latin saxicola sp. nov. = ‘rock-dweller’; reflecting that this species is always found in rocky habitats. |
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