Cnemaspis molligodai MENDIS WICKRAMASINGHE & MUNINDRADASA, 2007
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Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | Sinhala: Molligodage diva huna Tamil: Molligodavin pahal palli E: Molligoda’s day gecko |
Synonym | Cnemaspis molligodai MENDIS WICKRAMASINGHE & MUNINDRADASA 2007 Cnemaspis molligodai — MANAMENDRA-ARACHCHI et al. 2007 |
Distribution | Sri Lanka (Kalugala, Kukule ganga, Kanneliya-Nakiyadeniya, Kottawa, Oliyagankele, Gileemale, Hunuwela, Sinharaja-Kudawa and Sinharaja-East) Type locality: Waratalgoda, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka, (N 6° 32’ 19.4” E 80° 18’ 27.4”, elevation 387m ). |
Reproduction | oviparous |
Types | Holotype: NMSL 20061401, Adult male, 26.62 mm SVL,10.04.2000, collected by L . J. Mendis Wickramasinghe. |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A small-sized Cnemaspis (snout to vent length 25–28 mm in an adult males), which can be distinguished from all known congeners by the following combination of characters: postmentals separated by a small scale; nostrils are in contact with first supralabial; 7–8 supralabials to angle of mid-orbit position and end of jaw at 9–11 supralabials; 30–37 interorbitals; throat scales smooth; 78–80 dorsal tubercles; dorsal tubercles granulated; absence of groups of carinated large scales in dorsal body; spine-like tubercles absent on flanks; 20 midventrals; ventral smooth and subimbricate; subcaudals extremely large; 5 preanal pores; 8 femoral pores on each side; 11–13 subdigital lamellae and 4–5 basal lamellae in the 4th finger; 12 subdigital lamellae and 6–7 basal lamellae in the 4th toe; slightly large, smooth and segmented scales intermixed with subconicals in dorsal tail. C. molligodai sp. nov. is congener with C. podihuna from morphological characters. However, C. molligodai can easily be distinguished from C. podihuna by having narsal connected to first supralabial, intraorbital count, preannal pores count, dorsal tubercle count and snout to eye distance, and also from morphometric analysis. |
Comment | Habitat: C. molligodai is found in split bark of large isolated trees up to canopy. |
Etymology | The species is an eponym in the Latin genitive singular honouring Hayasith Molligoda, for his commitment towards conserving the reptile fauna in the country. |
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