Hemiphyllodactylus titiwangsaensis ZUG, 2010
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Hemiphyllodactylus titiwangsaensis
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| Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Titiwangsa slender gecko |
| Synonym | Hemiphyllodactylus titiwangsaensis ZUG 2010: 48 Hemiphyllodactylus titiwangsaensis — GRISMER 2011 Hemiphyllodactylus titwangsaensis — GRISMER & QUAH 2019 (in error) |
| Distribution | W Malaysia (Pahang Province) Type locality: Malaysia, Pahang Province, Cameron Highlands, Gunong Brinchang (= Berincang) summit area. |
| Reproduction | oviparous (not imputed, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
| Types | Holotype: ZRC 2.4782, adult male, collected by H. H. Tan and others, 25 June 2000. Paratypes: ZFMK, ZRC |
| Diagnosis | Description. Bisexual taxon of geckos (Gekkoninae) with robust habitus, slightly compressed trunk and moderately large head (see Figures 3, 11, 24), tail round to elliptical in cross section and somewhat shorter than SVL. Adults not dimorphic: 36.5–62.1 mm (mean ± SD, 49.2 mm ± 6.34; n = 15) SVL; 18.1–32.5 mm (23.3 mm ± 3.69) TrunkL; 8.9–13.8 mm (12.0 mm ± 1.18) HeadL; 6.1–10.2 mm (8.2 mm ± 0.98) HeadW; 3.4–5.8 mm (4.9 mm ± 0.60) SnEye; 2.6–4.4 mm (3.6 mm ± 0.42) NarEye; 2.4–3.6 mm (3.0 mm ± 0.31) EyeD; 1.4–2.6 mm (2.0 mm ± 0.32) SnW. Adult proportions: 42–50% TrunkL/SVL (mean ± SD, 46.4% ± 3.4), 23–27% HeadL/ SVL (24.6% ± 1.4), 16–19% HeadW/SVL (16.9% ± 1.0), 64–73% HeadW/HeadL (68.5% ± 3.5), 37–43% SnEye/ HeadL (40.7% ± 2.1), 26–32% NarEye/HeadL (29.4% ± 2.1), 21–30% EyeD/HeadL (25.6% ± 2.5), 14–21% SnW/ HeadL (16.5% ± 2.5), 68–94% EyeD/NarEye (85.4% ± 9.6), 21–31% SnW/HeadW (23.8% ± 3.2%). (Zug 2010) Scalation is predominantly granular from head onto tail, both dorsally and ventrally; ventral trunk scales slightly larger than dorsal caudal scales, 14–19 Dorsal (median ± SD, 16 ± 1.9) and 7–9 Ventral (7 ± 1.0); similarly, subcaudal scales slightly larger than dorsal ones but not plate-like. Cloacal spurs present, modest sized, 1–4 CloacS (3 ± 1.0). Larger scales on lips and snout, rostral largest, rectangular to pentagonal, often slightly concave on dorsomedial edge with slight cleft; 3 CircNa (3 ± 0.0), 1–3 SnS (3 ± 0.8); labial scales enlarged from rostral to below eye, becoming progressively smaller in subocular rictus, 9–11 Suplab (10 ± 0.7), 8–10 Inflab (9 ± 0.7); 8–9 Chin (9 ± 0.5), those behind mental distinctly enlarged; ear opening distinct with no bordering enlarged scales. Each digit with expanded pad, terminal two phalanges free, arising from within pad on second to fifth digits of foreand hindfoot and each clawed; pads of these digits each with large triangular apical lamella bordered proximally by lyre-shaped lamellae (scansors); modal digital formulae 3-4-4-4 (forefoot) and 4-5-5-5 (hindfoot) for scansors; first digit of fore- and hindfeet compressed, usually 5 or 7 rectangular lamellae (4–6 fore, 5–8 hind) ventrally, terminal phalanx not free with or without minute claw. Adult females never with precloacal pores; males always with continuous precloacal–femoral pore series 17–39 TotPore (median ± SD, 21 ± 7.95). (Zug 2010) Coloration in life, dorsal and lateral ground color ranges from light grayish tan to medium brown, head to tail occasionally distinctly lighter than neck and trunk (Figure 11). This lightness is emphasized by absence or diffuseness of dark markings on head. Neck and trunk bear numerous transverse dark brown irregularly shaped bars, lighter interspaces typically narrower than dark bars. Bars extend onto sides; dorsolaterally in shoulder area bars are darker, creating an impression of dark dorsolateral stripe. Dark lateral stripe from loreal to neck, occasionally to midneck. Dark stripe bordered above by cream to beige stripe from canthus rostralis to shoulder, often continuing as series of spots or dashes on trunk and at inguina becoming narrow arm of postsacral mark; center dark spot of mark absent to small. Tail usually lighter than trunk and distinctly banded in light and dark, relative size of which very variable. (Coloration from images by H. Ota and Chan-ard et al., 1999.) (Zug 2010) Coloration in alcohol is muted, although dark and light pattern usually persists. Ventrally from chin onto tail, uniform light cream in most individuals, brown in a few. Females seem to be more boldly patterned than males. Major diagnostic features are as follows: bisexual taxon; caecum and gonadal ducts not pigmented; precloacal–femoral pore series continuous in males (TotPore 17–39), absent in females; chin scales bordering mental and first infralabial distinctly enlarged; digital lamellae formulae usually 3-4-4-4 (forefoot) and 4-4-5-5 or 4-5-5-5 (hindfoot); average adult SVL ~49 mm; dorsal and lateral trunk pattern of dark brown irregular transverse bands, muted postsacral bar of narrow white arms onto hips. (Zug 2010) Description of holotype: An adult male (Figure 24), 56.9 mm SVL, 48 mm TailL (regenerated), 24.1 mm TrunkL, 13.2 mm HeadL, 9.6 mm HeadW, 5.4 mm SnEye, 3.9 mm NarEye, 3.0 mm EyeD, and 2.4 mm SnW. Proportions: 42% TrunkL/SVL, 23% HeadL/SVL, 17% HeadW/ SVL, 73% HeadW/HeadL, 41% SnEye/HeadL, 28% NarEye/HeadL, 23% EyeD/HeadL, 18% SnW/HeadL, 81% EyeD/NarEye, 25% SnW/HeadW. Scalation: 3 CircNa, 3 SnS, 10 Suplab, 9 Inflab, 8 Chin (anteromedial ones enlarged), 16 Dorsal, 7 Ventral, 3 CloacS, Subcaud not enlarged, precloacal and pore series continuous, 30 TotPore, digital formulae 4-4-5-4 (forefoot) and 4-5-5-5 (hindfoot). No pigmentation on caecum or oviducts. Specimen brown dorsally and laterally with scattered indistinct dark brown markings, somewhat lighter ventrally. Postsacral mark indistinct, small median dark spot on first tail segment, anterior arms muted. In life, the ventral surface of the tails (type series) were orangish pink. (Zug 2010) |
| Comment | Major diagnostic features: bisexual taxon; caecum and gonadal ducts not pigmented; pre- cloacal–femoral pore series continuous in males (TotPore 17–39), absent in females; chin scales bordering mental and first infralabial distinctly enlarged; digital lamellae formulae usually 3-4-4-4 (forefoot) and 4-4-5-5 or 4-5-5-5 (hindfoot); average adult SVL ~49 mm; dorsal and lateral trunk pattern of dark brown irregular transverse bands, muted postsacral bar of narrow white arms onto hips. Behavior: nocturnal Distribution: see map in Grismer et al. 2015 (Fig. 1C). |
| Etymology | These geckos occur in the south central region of the Banjaran Titiwangsa; hence the taxon is a resident (likely endemic) of Titiwangsa and so named. |
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