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Nactus septentrionalis ZUG, 2020

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Higher TaxaGekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: North Coast Papuan Slender-toed Gecko 
SynonymNactus septentrionalis ZUG 2020: 41 
DistributionN Papua New Guinea (East Sepik Province), Indonesia (Papua)

Type locality: Netherlands New Guinea [=West Papua], Toem, opposite Wakde Island [−2.000° 139.0167°]  
Reproduction 
TypesHolotype. USNM 119240, adult male, collected by William M. Stickel on 15 June 1944 (Figure 15).
Paratypes. MCZ R49264, adult male; MCZ R49265, immature female; MCZ R49266, adult male; MCZ R49267–268, adult females, all from Toem, Netherlands New Guinea, collected by William H. Stickel on 1 July 1944; USNM 119239, with same locality data as holotype. 
DiagnosisDefinition. A bisexual taxon of geckos (Gekkoni- nae) of moderate adults (♀♀ 42–54 mm, ♂♂ 42–57 mm SVL) with keeled subcaudals, variable-sized postmental scales (2–18, usually ≤12), no or slight postmental-infralabial (PmLab) contact, low to moderate number of dorsal tubercle rows (12–17) and moderate number of tubercles (24–39, usually ≥32) in parasagit- tal row (TubRow), no tubercles on dorsal surface of thigh or crus, and moderate number of precloacal pores (8–12) in males (females with or without pores, 0–2). Diagnostic summary in Table 8.

Variation. Females and males display no metric dif- ferences (adult ♀♀ 49.1, 42.2–53.9 mm [mean and range, respec- tively, throughout]; adult ♂♂ 48.7, 41.6–56.6 mm SVL) and also share proportions (total adult sample): TrunkL/SVL 40.8%, 32%–48%; HeadL/SVL 26.8%, 25%–29%; HeadW/SVL 18.1%, 16%–20%; HeadW/HeadL 67.4%, 58%–75%; EyeD/ SVL 6.6%, 6%–8%; EyeD/HeadL 25%, 21%–31%; NarEye/ HeadL 31.1%, 27%–34%; Interorb/HeadL 27.5%, 22%–33%; SnW/HeadL 15.2%, 10%–20%.
Typical head scale pattern of small, granular scales except for those bordering nares and mouth. Snout with large rostral scale bearing middorsal cleft posteriorly; large supralabials (4, 3–4 [median and range, respectively, throughout]) and infral- abials (3, 3–4) in front of anterior edge of orbit, first supra- and infralabial largest of respective series. Chin with large trapezoi- dal mental and small to modest postmentals (Postm = 6, 2–8) and usually no genial scale between postmental and first surpala- bial (0, 0–1 PmLab); dorsally, trunk with 14, 12–17 (DorsTub) enlarged tubercles transversely on dorsum and with 35, 24–40 tubercles (TubRow) longitudinally along trunk; 9, 6–10 tubercle rows transversely between hindlimbs (TubHip). Uniform cover- ing of small tuberculate-like scale on dorsal half of forelimb and hindlimb and no enlarged tubercles (TubHindl = 0). Tail with small uniform scales dorsally and laterally, ventrally with uni- form, small keeled scales (Subcaud = 0). Usually, pair of cloacal spurs (2, 1–2 CloacS) on each side. Ventral scales from chin to vent small, tuberculate, granular, somewhat larger on chest and abdomen. Precloacal pores, males 8–12, females 0–9. Forefoot with narrow digits, their lengths usually 3≈4>2≈5>1; 16, 14–20 lamellae beneath fourth digit (4FingLm), 6, 4–8 scale rows on palm; hindfoot with narrow digits, their lengths 4≈3>2≈5>1; 21, 20–24 lamellae beneath fourth toe (4ToeLm).
Coloration in life not reported. In alcohol, not observed to be strikingly different than for the holotype. 
CommentSympatry: N. allenallisoni.

Distribution: see map in Zug 2020: 39 (Fig. 12). 
EtymologyThe specific name septentrionalis is Latin for “north” or “northerly.” It is proposed to designate the occurrence of this species along the north coast of New Guinea. It is proposed as an adjective. 
References
  • Zug, George R. 2020. Diversity in Pacific Slender-Toed Geckos, Nactus pelagicus Complex (Reptilia: Squamata), of New Guinea and Adjacent Islands. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, (651): x + 92 pages - get paper here
 
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