Gehyra gemina OLIVER, PRASETYA, TEDESCHI, FENKER, ELLIS, DOUGHTY & MORITZ, 2020
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Gehyra gemina
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| Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Plain Tree Gehyra |
| Synonym | Gehyra gemina OLIVER, PRASETYA, TEDESCHI, FENKER, ELLIS, DOUGHTY & MORITZ 2020: 27 |
| Distribution | Australia (Western Australia) Type locality: Saw Tooth Gorge, WA (−18.4252S, 127.8197E) |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype. WAM R179349 (field # CCM3042), adult male, collected collected by A.C. Alfonso Silva, M. Pepper and S. Potter, 11 July 2014. Paratypes (N = 20). Western Australia: WAM R177723 (field # CCM3221), Muluk rest area, 39 km SSW Warmun, WA (−17.3389S, 128.0525E); WAM R177725 (field # CCM3224), WAM R177726 (field # CCM3225), Purnululu NP access road, WA (−17.4203S, 128.0922E); WAM R177728 (field # CCM3298), Gogo Station, WA (−18.4731S, 125.8171); WAM R177732 (Field # CCM3374), Gibb River Road, Wilinggin Conservation Park, WA (−17.15351S, 125.42159E); WAM R177734 (field # CCM7280), WAM R17735 (field # CCM7281), Lissadell Station, WA (−16.6635S, 128.5265E); WAM R177737 (field # CCM7303), Mt. Nyulasy, WA (−16.7655S, 128.2730E). Northern Territory: NTM R38152 (field # CCM0367), Calvert Hills Station, NT (−17.1979S, 137.4343E); NTM R38153 (field # CCM0404), McArthur River Station, NT (−16.6383S, 135.8462E); NTM R38154 (field # CCM0406), McArthur River Station, NT (−16.6505S, 135.8493E); NTM R38155 (field # CCM0554), Gregory NP, NT (−15.6109S, 131.1160E); NTM R38157 (field # CCM2218), NTM R38158 (field # CCM2219), NTM R38159 (field # CCM2220), Munbililla (Tomato Island) Limmen NP, NT (−14.7794S, 134.6667E); NTM R38160 (field # CCM2479), Butterfly Springs, Limmen NP, NT (−15.62723S, 135.4623E); NTM R38161 (field # CCM2612), Southern Lost City, Limmen NP, NT (−15.6272S; 135.4623E); NTM R38162 (field # CCM2618), Fossil Fern, Lorella Springs Station, NT (−15.6795S, 135.6247E); NTM R38163 (field # CCM3044), Limbunya Station, NT (−17.5189S, 129.8759E); NTM R38164 (field # CCM6376), Mallapunya Station, NT (−16.9732S, 135.8030E). |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A large Gehyra species (up to 68.9 mm SVL), differing from all other Gehyra species outside of the G. australis complex as per the diagnosis above. Differs from other members of the G. australis complex in the combination of: moderate size within complex (adult SVL up to 68.9 mm, mean 62.9 mm); pre-cloacal pores in males not numerous (10–16), generally equal in size, not extending onto limbs and not distinctly tapering in size distally from largest median pore, distal most pores ∼equal to no smaller than one-half the size of median pore; outer edge of first chin shield concave where it contacts the second chin shield, rarely straight; second chin shields approximately two-thirds length of first chin shields (mean ratio 0.64, range 0.56–0.75); and base colouration of adults smoky grey to brown, often with faint but extensive pattern of indistinct darker grey or brown vermiculations across the head, body and tail. If transverse lines present on dorsum, lines are irregular and without strait edges. Further diagnosed from other species within the G. australis complex genetically by two unique amino acids in the ND2 locus (Table 1). The geographic range of G. gemina sp. nov. overlaps or contacts the distribution of all three other species in the G. australis complex; it differs from G. lauta sp. nov. in its smaller size (mean and maximum adult SVL respectively: 62.1 mm and 68.9 mm vs. 71.4 mm and 83.1 mm), second chin shields usually less than three-quarters length of first chin shields (mean and range ratios 0.69 (0.56–0.75) vs. 0.77 (0.70–0.88)), and fewer pre-cloacal pores (10–16 vs. 22–32), not extending onto limbs and of relatively similar size; from G. arnhemica sp. nov. by fewer pre-cloacal pores in males (10–16 vs. 21–26) not extending onto limbs and outer edge of first pair of chin shields in contact with second pair usually convex, rarely strait (vs. usually strait); and from G. australis by posterior edge of first infralabial generally ∼60% or less the length of second supralabial (vs. generally 50% or greater) and outer edge of first pair of chin shields in contact with second pair usually convex, rarely strait (vs. usually strait). Gehyra gemina sp. nov. is morphologically most similar to G. arnhemica sp. nov. (particularly juveniles and females), G. australis (both sexes) and G. chimera sp. nov. (both sexes) of the G. koira complex, and genetic data may be necessary to identify individuals with certainty, particularly in areas of sympatry or parapatry. |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | The species epithet is from the Latin word gemina (twin, same), in reference to the species’ morphological similarities shared with other members of the G. australis complex, G. australis in particular. |
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