Cyrtodactylus rukhadeva GRISMER, SUWANNAPOOM, PAWANGKHANANT, NAZAROV, YUSHCHENKO, NAIDUANGCHAN, LE, LUU & POYARKOV, 2021
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Cyrtodactylus rukhadeva?
Cyrtodactylus rukhadeva
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| Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: tree spirit bent-toed gecko |
| Synonym | Cyrtodactylus rukhadeva GRISMER, SUWANNAPOOM, PAWANGKHANANT, NAZAROV, YUSHCHENKO, NAIDUANGCHAN, LE, LUU & POYARKOV 2021 |
| Distribution | Thailand (Ratchaburi) Type locality: Thailand, Ratchaburi Province, Suan Phueng District, Khao Laem Mountain (13.53846N, 99.20071E, elevation 994 m a.s.l.). |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype. ZMMU R-16851, Adult male (field tag NAP- 09743, tissue sample ID HLM0372), collected by Platon V. Yushchenko and Kawin Jia- ranaisakul on 19 June 2019. Paratype. Adult female ZMMU R-16852 (field tag NAP-09744) from Thailand, Ratchaburi Province, Suan Phueng District, Hoop Phai Tong (3.56210N, 99.20670E, elevation 593 m a.s.l.), collected by Platon Yushchenko on 11 July 2019. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Cyrtodactylus rukhadeva sp. nov. can be separated from all other species of the brevipalmatus group by having 9–11 supralabials, 10 or 11 infralabials, 27–30 paravertebral tubercles, 19 or 20 rows of longitudinally arranged tubercles, 34–43 transverse rows of ventrals, 152–154 longitudinal rows of ventrals, nine expanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 11 unexpanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 18–20 total subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, eight or nine expanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger, nine or 10 unexpanded subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger, 17–19 total subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger, 16–17 enlarged femorals, 20 femoral pores in the male; 17 precloacal pores in the male; 13–17 enlarged precloacals; 16 post-precloacals; enlarged femorals and enlarged precloacals not continuous; proximal femorals not less than one-half the size of the distal femorals; small tubercles on forelimbs and flanks; small dorsolateral caudal tubercles and ventrolateral caudal fringe; paired enlarged subcaudals; and maximum SVL 79.4 mm (Tables 1, 4). |
| Comment | Response to our inquiry about this species: “I am grateful for your interest in our recent publications including the description of Cyrtodactylus rukhadeva and other new species. However, I am sorry to inform you that in the scope of the current political situation - I refer to the unjust war and invasion of Russia to Ukraine, and the resulting whirlpool of numerous humanitarian, economic and social problems both in Russia and Ukraine, as well as in Europe and other parts of the world, I think it would be unwise to feature our publication in the Reptile Database. As I and some of the coauthors represent Moscow State University (the largest and the most famous university in Russia) I believe it would be quite inconsistent to feature our work at least until the fighting and occupation continues in Ukraine. Therefore I would ask you to temporarily refrain from updating your database with our recent publications.” (Nick Poyarkov, pers. comm., 27 Jun 2022). |
| Etymology | Named after the spirits or gods residing in trees in Thai mythology, known as Rukha Deva (literally “Tree Nymphs”). According to Thai folklore, these sylvan spirits live on tree branches and on large older trees wearing traditional Thai attire, usually in reddish or brownish colours, and are believed to protect the forest. The new arboreal species of Cyrtodactylus resides in one of the remaining fragments of the north Tenasserim montane forests. We want to underscore the need for the immediate assessment of herpetofaunal diversity surveys and implementation of adequate conservation measures for these relic forests. The specific epithet “rukhadeva” is given as a noun in apposition. |
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