Cnemaspis lokugei KARUNARATHNA, DE SILVA, GABADAGE, BOTEJUE, MADAWALA & UKUWELA, 2021
Find more photos by Google images search:
Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Lokuge’s day gecko Sinhala: Lokugege diva-seri hoona |
Synonym | Cnemaspis lokugei KARUNARATHNA, DE SILVA, GABADAGE, BOTEJUE, MADAWALA & UKUWELA 2021 Cnemaspis sp. 5 — AGARWAL et al. 2017 Cnemaspis sp. 4 — KARUNARATHNA et al. 2019 |
Distribution | Sri Lanka (Uva) Type locality: granite cave bordering a stream, Haputale, Badulla District, Uva Province, Sri Lanka (6.7753°N; 80.9667°E, WGS1984; elevation 1510 m |
Reproduction | |
Types | Holotype. NMSL.2021.01.01, adult male, 32.9 mm SVL, collected around 10:00 hrs) on 18 December 2019 by Suranjan Karunarathna. Paratypes. NMSL.2021.01.02, adult female, 30.8 mm SVL and NMSL.2021.01.03, adult female, 30.2 mm SVL, collected from a granite cave bordering a stream, Idalgashinna, Badulla District, Uva Province, Sri Lanka (6.7791°N; 80.8967°E, WGS1984; elevation 1565 m; around 09:00 hrs) on 19 December 2019 by Suranjan Karunarathna. |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Cnemaspis lokugei sp. nov., can be readily distinguished from its Sri Lankan congeners by a combination of the following morphological and meristic characteristics: maximum SVL 32.9 mm; dorsum scalation heterogeneous, mixed with smooth and keeled large granular scales; 1/1 supranasals, 1 internasal, 1/1 postnasal; 3 enlarged postmentals; postmentals bounded by 5 enlarged chin scales; chin, gular, pectoral and abdominal scales smooth, subimbricate; 15–17 belly scales across mid-body; 5 or 6 feebly-developed tubercles on posterior flank; 122–132 paravertebral granules linearly arranged; 3 precloacal pores, 4 or 5 femoral pores in males, separated by 8 or 9 proximal femoral scales lacking pores, 7 or 8 distal femoral scales lacking pores; 143–159 ventral scales; 95–103 mid-body scales; smooth subcaudals, median row comprising an irregular series of diamond shaped, small scales; 7 or 8 supralabials; 7 or 8 infralabials; 15 or 16 total lamellae on fourth digit of manus and 17 or 18 total lamellae on fourth digit of pes. Additional details (2773 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
Comment | Conservation status. Application of the IUCN Red List Criteria indicates that C. lokugei sp. nov. is Critically Endangered (CR) due to its having an area of occupancy (AOO) < 10 km2 (3.84 km2 in total assuming a 100 m radius around the seven georeferenced locations), severely frag- mented habitat and a projected decline in the area, extent and the quality of habitat [Applicable criteria B2ab (iii)]. |
Etymology | The specific epithet is an eponym Latinised (lokugei) in the masculine genitive singular, honouring Mr. Ajith Nethkelum Lokuge, a pioneer ecologist, analogue forestry specialist and a senior member of Young Zoologist’s Association of Sri Lanka, for his significant contribution towards environmental conservation and research in Sri Lanka. |
References |
|
External links |