Gekko pradapdao MEESOOK, SUMONTHA, DONBUNDIT & PAUWELS, 2021
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Gekko pradapdao?
Gekko pradapdao
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| Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Starry Tokay Gecko F: Gecko tokay étoilé Thai: ตุ๊กแกประดับดาว (Took-kay pradap dao) |
| Synonym | Gekko pradapdao MEESOOK, SUMONTHA, DONBUNDIT & PAUWELS 2021 |
| Distribution | C Thailand (Lopburi Province) Type locality: Tham (= Cave) Khao Chan (14°58’35.2”N, 101°18’11.2”E), Tha Luang District, Lopburi Province. |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype. CUMZ-R 2590 (field nr. MS 733), adult male caught on 20 October 2020 by W. Meesook, M. Sumontha and N. Donbundit. Paratypes (3). AUP-02009 and PSUZC-R 738 (field nr. MS 735 and MS 736, respectively), adult males, and CUMZ-R 2591 (field nr. MS 734), adult female. Same locality, collecting date and collector as holotype. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Gekko pradapdao sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other congeneric species by the combination of its maximal known SVL of 127.1 mm, lack of contact between nostrils and rostral, 24–28 interorbital scales between supraciliaries, 89–91 scale rows around midbody, 16–18 dorsal tubercle rows at midbody, 30–34 ventral scale rows at midbody, 11–13 precloacal pores in males, a single postcloacal tubercle on each side of the base of the tail, 13–16 subdigital lamellae on 1st toe and 17–19 on 4th toe, no Y-shaped mark on head, non-banded dorsal pattern on a dark chocolate brown to black background, and a dark brown iris (Meesook et al. 2021). |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | The specific epithet is a name in apposition, invariable, based on the combination of the Thai words “pradap” (decorated) and “dao” (star). The starry effect is due to the fact that, unlike in other members of the Gecko subgenus such as G. (G.) siamensis or G. (G.) smithii, the white dorsal tubercles are not aligned in transverse rows, but irregularly distributed. It is reinforced by the contrast between the white tubercles and the unusually dark background color of the new species. |
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