Diplodactylus klugei APLIN & ADAMS, 1998
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Diplodactylus klugei
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| Higher Taxa | Diplodactylidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Diplodactylus klugei APLIN & ADAMS 1998 Diplodactylus klugei — COGGER 2000: 740 Diplodactylus klugei — WILSON & SWAN 2010 |
| Distribution | Australia (Western Australia) Type locality: 7 km SE of Woodleigh Outstation in 26° 11' 30" S, 114° 3' 34" E |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: WAM R120941 |
| Diagnosis | Description after (APLIN & ADAMS 1998): A slender-bodied, moderately long-limbed terrestrial Diplodactylus. Tail shorter than head + body, round in cross-section, widening slightly from base and tapering gradually to tip. Head relatively long and narrow, with distinctly ‘beaked’ snout. SVL to 58 mm; Tail to 33 mm; HeadL to 11.1 mm; HeadW to 9.0 mm; TibialL to 9.0 mm; BifemoralW to 20.5 mm. Other statistical data are given in Table 1. Males have higher mean values than females for every dimension but none of the contrasts is statistically significant. General head and body scalation finely granular, granules slightly larger on dorsum and forward onto head. No tubercles or spines present on body or tail. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of tail covered in regular rows of small triangular scales (apices directed posteriorly). Ventral surface with smaller, non-aligned rounded scales. Postcloacal sac (housing hemipenes in males) covered in larger rounded scales; sac relatively smaller in females. Cloacal spine cluster of males consists of 6-10 small, conical scales arranged in 2-3 transverse rows; cluster present in females but scales smaller, rounded rather than conical. Preanal region without enlarged scale series or associated pores. Plantar surface of manus and pes finely granular. Digits moderately elongate, narrowing at level of terminal phalanx, terminating in paired, ovate apical plates. Fine claws project well past end of apical plates, visible to naked eye. Undersurface of digits with small, rounded scales in transverse rows, 2-4 per row. Head elongate, narrow and moderately deep. Snout distinctly ‘beaked’, weakly grooved between nostrils. Eye moderately large; supraciliary scales small, triangular except for 2-3 small conical scales at posterior corner of eye. Ear aperture small, horizontally ovate. Rostral scale high, rectangular, forming anterior border of nostril. Well-defined rostral crease extends 1/3 - 2/3 way towards lip. First supralabial high, forming inferior rim of nostril. Enlarged supranasal scale forms upper rim of nostril, opposing scales usually in broad midline contact but occasionally separated by small internasal scale (e.g. R122961). Series of 2-4 small scales complete posterior rim of nostril. Variable number of enlarged scales (0-2) located immediately behind supranasals. Second supralabial about 1/3 height of first. All successive supralabials much smaller, decreasing in size towards oral rictus. Supralabial tally 13-17. First row of loreal scales only slightly smaller than supralabials. Mental elongate, triangular. First infralabial large, in broad contact with mental and succeeded by 12-13 additional infralabials in decreasing series. Dorsal pattern variable. Most specimens with 4-5 large, pale dark-edged blotches on brown to reddishbrown ground colour (80 % of total sample), but occasional specimens with longitudinal anastomoses between adjacent blotches (8 %; e.g. R120925) or with continuous dark-bordered vertebral stripe (12 %; e.g. R120884). Flanks pale brown to reddish-brown with irregular pale spots, occasionally interspersed with dark spots (e.g. R120941). Tail with 4-5 irregular blotches. Regrown tails lack blotches, usually have irregular dark spotting. Limbs with indistinct pale spotting. Lower flanks and venter immaculate. Dorsum of head pale brown to reddish-brown, occasionally with darker central spot (e.g. R120941). Side of head with broad, pale temporal band which passes through eye to terminate at nostril. Posterior to eye, temporal band bordered below by dark brown to black line or diffuse band which terminates below eye. |
| Comment | Similar species: Similar to D. pulcher. |
| Etymology | Named after Arnold Kluge in recognition of his contributions to Diplodactylus systematics. |
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