Lygodactylus schwitzeri VENCES, MULTZSCH, ZEBE, GIPPNER, ANDREONE, CROTTINI, GLAW, KÖHLER, RAKOTOMANGA, RASAMISON & RASELIMANANA, 2024
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Lygodactylus schwitzeri
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| Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Lygodactylus schwitzeri VENCES, MULTZSCH, ZEBE, GIPPNER, ANDREONE, CROTTINI, GLAW, KÖHLER, RAKOTOMANGA, RASAMISON & RASELIMANANA 2024: 437 |
| Distribution | Madagascar (Sahamalaza Peninsula) Type locality: Berara Forest (Ambonihazo; 14.310°S, 47.915°E, 170 m a.s.l.), Sahamalaza Peninsula, Madagascar |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype. ZSM 419/2000 (FGMV 2000.155), female (Fig. 9–10), collected by F. Andreone, J.E. Randrinirina, and M. Vences on 18 February 2000. Paratypes. Eight specimens: MRSN R1913–1918 and 1921–1922, five males and three females (see Table 2), with same collection data as holotype. These specimens were not genotyped but are included in the paratype series because (1) they agree with the holotype in morphological features, (2) were collected at the same site, and (3) only one lineage of the L. tolampyae complex was found at Sahamalaza. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: L. schwitzeri sp. nov. is characterized as a member of the L. tolampyae complex (and thereby distinguishable from all other Malagasy Lygodactylus not belonging to the complex) by combination of a mental scale semi-divided by a suture, broad contact of the posterior projection of the mental scale with the first infralabial scale, and three postmental scales; furthermore, characterized by absence of whorls on the tail, and a typical look of the head with relatively large eyes. The new species differs from L. tolampyae sensu stricto (as defined herein; mitochondrial lineages A+B and possibly G) by higher maximum and mean counts of dorsal scales despite overlap of ranges (mean 254 vs. 229; ranges 240–271 vs. 204–241; U-test, P<0.001), and possibly by a tendency towards broader posterior contact between mental scale and first infralabial scale in a high proportion of specimens. From L. morii and L. herilalai the new species cannot be clearly diagnosed morphologically. From a molecular perspective, the new species is characterized by numerous diagnostic nucleotide positions in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene: MolD identified a robust diagnostic nucleotide combination of a ‘T’ in the site 967, ‘T’ in the site 992, ‘C’ in the site 1001 (positions relative to the full 16S rRNA gene of Phelsuma guimbeaui). (Vences et al. 2024) Additional details (2376 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | Named after Christoph Schwitzer, in recognition for his contribution to lemur research and nature conservation in Madagascar, specifically in the Sahamalaza Peninsula. The species epithet is a noun in the genitive case. |
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