Gehyra chimera OLIVER, PRASETYA, TEDESCHI, FENKER, ELLIS, DOUGHTY & MORITZ, 2020
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Gehyra chimera
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| Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Western Kimberley Tree Gehyra |
| Synonym | Gehyra chimera OLIVER, PRASETYA, TEDESCHI, FENKER, ELLIS, DOUGHTY & MORITZ 2020 |
| Distribution | Australia (Western Australia) Type locality: Bell Creek Crossing, Gibb River Road, WA (−17.1686S, 125.3611E) |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype. WAM R177687 (field # CCM3372), adult male, collected by P.M. Oliver, P. Skipwith and G. Armstrong, 9 November 2014. Paratypes (N = 14). Western Australia: WAM R177673 (field # CCM0694), WAM R177674 (field # CCM0714), Doongan Station homestead, WA (−15.37866S, 126.31163E); WAM R177675 (field # CCM0873), Gibb River-Kalumburu Road, 25 km W Theda homestead, WA (−14.834S, 126.3001E); WAM R177682 (field # CCM1239), WAM R177683 (field # CCM1240), Silent Grove Ranger Station, WA (−17.0666S, 125.2501E); WAM R177684 (field # CCM1287), Mt Hart Station, WA (−16.8184S, 124.9209E); WAM R177685 (field # CCM3370), WAM R177686 (field # CCM3371), Bell Creek Crossing, Gibb River Road, WA (−17.1686S, 125.3611E); WAM R177688 (field # CCM3375), WAM R177689 (field # CCM3376), Silent Grove campground, Wilinggin Conservation Park, WA (−17.0669S, 125.2476E); NMV D76976, Silent Grove campground, Wilinggin Conservation Park, WA (−17.0677S, 125.2477E); NMV D77000, King Leopold Ranges, on Gibb River Road, WA (−17.1298S, 125.2428E); NMV D77043–44, Mt Hart Station, WA (−16.8180S, 124.9207E). |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A large Gehyra species (up to 73.7 mm SVL) most similar morphologically to members of the G. australis complex (despite occurring within the G. koira complex), differing from all other Gehyra species outside the G. australis complex (including other members of the G. koira complex) as per the group diagnosis above. Differs from members of the G. australis and G. koira complexes in the combination of: large size compared to G. australis complex members and moderate size within the G. koira complex (adult SVL up to 73.7 mm, mean 62.5 mm); in males 9–11 pre-cloacal pores in shallow chevron; suture between first and second chin shields usually straight; second chin shields usually just over two thirds length of first chin shields (mean ratio 0.75, range 0.68–0.80); usually 3–4 internasal scales, rarely 2; base colouration of dorsum in life usually greyish and either plain and without pattern, or at most with greyish brown vermiculations and scattered spots. Further diagnosed from other members of the G. australis and G. koira complexes genetically by two unique amino acids in the ND2 locus (Table 1). Some specimens, particularly juveniles and females, may only be diagnosable from of parapatric and potentially sympatric G. gemina sp. nov. and G. koira specimens on the basis of locality and/or genetic data. Gehyra chimera sp. nov. is most similar to G. gemina sp. nov.; however, in addition to diagnostic genetic data in the ND2 gene, G. chimera sp. nov. also tends to differ in having: longer second chin shields, usually just over two thirds length of first chin shields (mean ratio 0.75, range 0.68–0.80) vs. usually two thirds or less length (mean ratio 0.67, range 0.56–0.75); higher number of internasals (3–4 (80.6%), rarely 2 (19.4%) vs. usually 2 (61.9), rarely 3 (38.1%)); and a deeper snout (SnoutD/SVL mean ratio 0.84, range 0.81–0.87 vs. mean ratio 0.79, range 0.71–0.85). Gehyra chimera sp. nov. abuts or overlaps with the distribution three other medium to large Gehyra in the western Kimberley (G. koira, G. occidentalis King and G. xenopus Storr), from which it differs as follows: from G. koira by its smaller size (mean and maximum adult SVL, respectively: 62.5 mm and 73.7 mm vs. 72.5 mm and 80.4 mm), lower number of pre-cloacal pores in males (9–11 vs. 13–23), and its relatively plain grey dorsal colouration in life (vs. brownish with at least some transverse barring or banding); from G. occidentalis in having undivided subdigital lamellae (vs. divided); and from G. xenopus in lacking wedge shaped patch that divides the proximate subdigital lamellae and in its greyish dorsal pattern (vs. mid-brown with numerous light and dark ocelli). |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | The species named after Chimera, a monstrous hybrid creature of Greek mythology composed of parts of multiple animals, pertaining to the close morphological similarity to the G. australis complex juxtaposed against clear genetic membership in the G. koira complex. |
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