Cyrtodactylus aequalis BAUER, 2003
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Cyrtodactylus aequalis
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| Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Cyrtodactylus aequalis BAUER 2003 Cyrtodactylus aequalis — GRISMER et al. 2017 |
| Distribution | S Myanmar (Burma: Kyaik-Hti-Yo Wildlife Sanctuary in Mon State) Type locality: Kyaik-Hti-Yo Wildlife Sanctuary, Kyaik Hto Township, Mon State, Myanmar (17°26’38.1’’N, 97°05’56.8’’’E) |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: CAS 222185 |
| Diagnosis | DIAGNOSIS. Cyrtodactylus aequalis may be distinguished from all congeners on the basis of its long digits, dorsum with 24 longitudinal rows of relatively large, strongly keeled tubercles (Fig. 19), 24 enlarged ventral scales between distinct ventrolateral folds (Fig. 20), no precloacal groove, 9 minute precloacal pores in female type, 3–4 minute femoral pores separated from precloacal pores by a diastema, subcaudal scales forming transverse plates approximately 2/3 width of tail, dorsal pattern of paired dark markings bordered by thin white lines (one on occiput, one across shoulders, five between limb insertions), and top of head with white vermiform markings. Although the comparison of the precloacal and femoral pore characters of the female type of C. aequalis with those of males has some limitations, it may be assumed that males also possess femoral pores, though the number of such pores may be higher. Pore characters aside, the relatively large number of dorsal tubercle rows and small number of ventral scale rows results in equal counts for these two parameters. This situation is unique in the genus and serves to diagnose the species from all other congeners [from BAUER 2003]. DEFINITION. A moderately sized Cyrtodactylus, snout-vent length of unique holotype 90 mm; body slender, limbs robust, digits long; one pair of enlarged postmental scales in broad contact with one another behind mental; dorsum with 24 longitudinal rows of relatively large, strongly keeled tubercles; 24 enlarged ventral scales between distinct ventrolateral folds; no precloacal groove, 9 minute precloacal pores in female type, 3–4 minute femoral pores separated from precloacal pores by a diastema. Fourteen subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe of pes distal to basal digital inflection, eight broad lamellae proximal to inflection. Subcaudal scales forming transverse plates approximately 2/3 width of tail. Dorsal pattern of paired dark markings bordered by thin white lines (one on occiput, one across shoulders, five between limb insertions). Top of head with white vermiform marks on parietal table and frontonasal region. Tail with alternating light and dark bands. The description of Cyrtodactylus aequalis was based on a single specimen that was purported to be an adult male in the ‘Holotype’ section of the description but in the ‘Description’ section it is referred to as an adult female (Bauer, 2003). Bauer (2003) noted that the femoral and precloacal pores were ‘minute’ which is characteristic of most females of Cyrtodactylus, whereas the 13 femoral and five precloacal pores in the adult male examined here (LSUHC 12895) are large and well-developed (Fig. 4A). |
| Comment | Abundance: only known from the type specimen (Meiri et al. 2017). Grismer et al. (2020) examine the genetic and morphological differentiation in allopatric populations of the granite-dwelling gecko Cyrtodactylus aequalis from Myanmar (Burma). They find discordance between the morphological evidence that could be advanced to advocate splitting C. aequalis into three species, and the genetic data that suggest only one species should be recognized. Grismer et al. (2020) contend that gene flow may be occurring between the putatively allopatric populations, preventing speciation but not preventing adaptations (which manifest in different morphologies) to local conditions. |
| Etymology | Named after the Latin aequalis meaning “same,” in reference to the fact that the number of dorsal tubercle rows equals the number of ventral scale rows across midbody between the ventrolateral folds. This condition is unique among species of Cyrtodactylus. |
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