Lygodactylus hapei VENCES, MULTZSCH, GIPPNER, MIRALLES, CROTTINI, GEHRING, RAKOTOARISON, RATSOAVINA, GLAW & SCHERZ, 2022
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Lygodactylus hapei
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| Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Lygodactylus hapei VENCES, MULTZSCH, GIPPNER, MIRALLES, CROTTINI, GEHRING, RAKOTOARISON, RATSOAVINA, GLAW & SCHERZ 2022 |
| Distribution | Madagascar (Djangoa) Type locality: Djangoa (Djohahely) in the Sambirano Region in north-western Madagascar, approximately at geographical coordinates S13.7993, E48.3361, 20 m a.s.l. |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype. ZSM 298/2018, female, collected by unspecified local collectors. No paratypes. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: “Within Domerguella, the new species is only known from one locality in the Sambirano region in northern Madagascar, and differs from the other nominal species of Domerguella by the presence of a longitudinally striped pattern on the throat, and additionally from the species occurring in northern Madagascar as follows: from L. expectatus by non-enlarged dorsolateral scales (longitudinal count of dorsal scales >185 vs. <170), and by a pattern of dorsolateral stripes (vs. unstriped in the only known specimen (vs. scapular semi-ocellus usually present, and striped pattern unknown); from L. rarus by lack of regular crossbands on tail (vs. presence) and different body shape without elongated limbs (relative hindlimb length 0.43 vs. >0.55); from L. madagascariensis, L. petteri, L. salvi, and L. tantsaha by smaller longitudinal dorsal scale count (179 vs. >188) and smaller longitudinal ventral scale count (87 vs. >96). The new species appears to be very similar to L. roellae, a species from subclade A3, in scale counts and color pattern, but it may differ by smaller body size (SVL 26.3 vs. 35.9–36.0). In addition it appears to be characterized by the absence of a spine at the tail base.” |
| Comment | Natural history: The only known specimen was photographed millimeters from the posterior end of a planthopper larva and was presumably consuming honeydew excreted by the insect, as is known from other gecko species |
| Etymology | Dedicated to Hans-Peter “HaPe” Berghof, in recognition of his contributions to the knowledge of Madagascar geckos. |
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