Cyrtodactylus jaegeri Luu, Calame, Bonkowski, Nguyen & Ziegler, 2014, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Luu, Vinh Quang
name: Calame, Thomas
name: Bonkowski, Michael
name: Nguyen, Truong Quang
name: Ziegler, Thomas
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Gekkonidae
Cyrtodactylus
Cyrtodactylus jaegeri

description: Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov.
(Figs. 1–3)
Holotype. IEBR A.2013.55, adult male, collected on 29 April 2012 by Thomas Calame and Peter Jäger on a karst wall of a karstic massif, ca. 1.5 m above the forest floor, in a mixed secondary forest of hardwoods and shrubs near Thakhek Town (17o27.44’N, 104o55.44’E), Khammouane Province, Laos, at an elevation of 170 m a.s.l.
Paratype. NUOL R–2013.1, adult female, the same collection data as the holotype.
Diagnosis. A moderately sized Cyrtodactylus with a maximum SVL reaching 68.5 mm, distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: 1) dorsal pattern consisting of a dark nuchal loop and four narrow brown body bands between limb insertions; 3) dorsal tubercles in 15–17 irregular rows; 4) ventrals in 31– 32 longitudinal rows at midbody; 5) lateral skin folds present with interspersed tubercles; 6) precloacal–femoral pores 44 in the male, in a continuous series; 7) enlarged femoral scales and precloacal scales present; 8) postcloacal tubercles 3–6; and 9) subcaudals transversely enlarged.
Description of the holotype. Adult male, SVL 60 mm, body slender (TrunkL/SVL 0.41); head elongate (HL/ SVL 0.31), relatively narrow (HW/HL 0.61), depressed (HH/HL 0.4), distinguished from neck; loreal region inflated, frontonasal and posterior nasal regions concave; snout long (SE/HL 0.39), pointed, longer than diameter of orbit (OD/SE 0.65); snout scales small, rounded, homogeneous, granular, larger than those on frontal and parietal regions; eye large (OD/HL 0.26) with dark blue colour, pupils vertical; eyelid fringe with tiny spines posteriorly; ear in oval shape, small (EarL/HL 0.1); rostral wider than high (RW 2.9 mm, RH 1.3 mm, RW/RH 2.23) with a median suture; supranasals separated by a hexagonal internasal; rostral bordered by first supralabial and nostril on each side; nares oval, surrounded by supranasal, rostral, first supralabial, and two enlarged postnasals; mental triangular, slightly wider than rostral; postmentals in one pair, enlarged, longer than wide, in broad contact posteriorly, bordered by mental anteriorly, first two infralabials laterally, and one pair of distinctly enlarged gular scales posteriorly, which separated from each other by three small gular scales; supralabials 10/10; infralabials 9/9.
Dorsal scales granular to flattened; dorsal tubercles round, conical, present on occipital region, back and tail base, surrounded by 9–10 granular scales, in 15 irregular longitudinal rows at midbody; ventral scales smooth, medial scales 2–3 times larger than dorsal scales, round, subimbricate, largest posteriorly, in 31 longitudinal rows at midbody; ventrolateral folds present with interspersed tubercles; gular region with homogeneous smooth scales; precloacal groove absent; a series of distinctly enlarged femoral scales present; femoral and precloacal pores 44, in a continuous series.
Fore and hind limbs moderately slender (ForeL/SVL 0.17, CrusL/SVL 0.21); dorsal forelimbs with slightly developed tubercles; dorsal hindlimb covered by distinctly developed tubercles; fingers and toes without distinct webbing; lamellae under fourth finger 18/17, under fourth toe 19/19.
Tail longer than snout–vent length (TaL 82.4 mm, TaL/SVL 1.37); postcloacal tubercles 5/6; dorsal tail bearing distinct tubercles at base; subcaudals distinctly transversely enlarged, flat, smooth.
Coloration in ethanol. Ground coloration of dorsal head and back light brown; nuchal loop distinct, in U– shape, from posterior corner of eye, running partly above tympanum to the neck, dark brown, edged in white posteriorly; body bands between limb insertions four and another one at the tail base, all thin, dark brown, edged in white posteriorly; dorsal tail brown with four dark brown bands in the anterior part, edged in white posteriorly, the bands indistinct in the posterior part; chin, throat, and belly cream; ventral tail dark brown; upper and lower lips with dark brown bars. For coloration in life see Fig. 2.
Sexual dimorphism. The female paratype differs from the male holotype in having a larger size (SVL 68.5 mm vs. 60.0 mm), 21 femoral and precloacal-pitted scales in a continuous series, and the absence of an internasal scale as well as hemipenial swellings at the tail base (see Table 1).
Comparisons. We compare the new species with its congeners from Laos and neighbouring countries in the mainland Indochina region, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand based on examination of specimens (see Appendix) and data obtained from the literature (Table 2).
Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. has enlarged subcaudals, which are absent in C. bidoupimontis Nazarov, Poyarkov, Orlov, Phung, Nguyen, Hoang & Ziegler, 2012, C. buchardi David, Teynié & Ohler, 2004, C. bugiamapensis Nazarov, Poyarkov, Orlov, Phung, Nguyen, Hoang & Ziegler, 2012, C. cattienensis Geissler, Nazarov, Orlov, Böhme, Phung, Nguyen & Ziegler, 2009, C. cryptus Heidrich, Rösler, Vu, Böhme & Ziegler, 2007, C. huynhi Ngo & Bauer, 2008, C. irregularis (Smith, 1921), C. phuocbinhensis Nguyen, Le, Tran, Orlov, Lathrop, Macculloch, Le, Jin, Nguyen, Nguyen, Hoang, Che, Murphy & Zhang, 2013, C. pseudoquadrivirgatus Rösler, Vu, Nguyen, Ngo & Ziegler, 2008, C. quadrivirgatus Taylor, 1962, C. taynguyenensis Nguyen, Le, Tran, Orlov, Lathrop, Macculloch, Le, Jin, Nguyen, Nguyen, Hoang, Che, Murphy & Zhang, 2013, and C. ziegleri Nazarov, Orlov, Nguyen & Ho, 2008. Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. angularis (Smith, 1921) by having fewer ventral scale rows (31–32 versus 40–45 in C. angularis), the presence of femoral pores (absent in C. angularis), more femoral and precloacal pores in the male (44 vs. 3 in C. angularis). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. has 44 femoral and precloacal pores in the male and thus differs from Cyrtodactylus astrum Grismer, Wood, Quah, Anuar, Muin, Sumontha, Ahmad, Bauer, Wangkulangkul, Grismer & Pauwels, 2012 that has only 31–38 femoral and precloacal pores. Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. auribalteatus Sumontha, Panitvong & Deein, 2010 by having more enlarged femoral scales (18–19 vs. 5–7 in C. auribalteatus) and more femoral and precloacal pores in the male (44 vs. 10–11 in C. auribalteatus). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. can be distinguished from C. badenensis Nguyen, Orlov & Darevsky, 2006 by having enlarged femoral scales, the presence of femoral and precloacal pores (absent in C. badenensis), and more ventral scale rows (31–32 vs. 25–29 in C. badenensis). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. bichnganae Ngo & Grismer, 2010 by having more enlarged femoral scales (18–19 vs. 11–13 in C. bichnganae) and more femoral and precloacal pores (44 vs. 28 in C. bichnganae) in males. Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. has 44 femoral and precloacal pores in a continuous series and thus differs from C. brevipalmatus (Smith, 1923) and C. dumnuii Bauer, Kunya, Sumontha, Niyomwan, Pauwels, Chanhome & Kunya, 2010, which are separated by poreless scales (6+9+ 7 in C. brevipalmatus and 6+5–6+ 6–7 in C. dumnuii). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. caovansungi Orlov, Nguyen, Nazarov, Ananjeva & Nguyen, 2007 by its smaller size (60.0– 68.5 mm vs. 90.4–94.0 mm in C. caovansungi), fewer ventral scale rows (31–32 vs. 38–44 in C. caovansungi), and more femoral and precloacal pores in the male (44 vs. 15). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. chanhomeae Bauer, Sumontha & Pauwels, 2003 in having fewer ventral scale rows (31–32 vs. 36– 38) and more femoral and precloacal pores in the male (44 vs. 32). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. chauquangensis Hoang, Orlov, Ananjeva, Johns, Hoang & Dau, 2007 by its smaller size (SVL 60.0– 68.5 mm vs. 90.9–99.3 mm), the presence of enlarged femoral scales and femoral pores (absent in C. chauquangensis). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. cucphuongensis Ngo & Chan, 2011 by its smaller size (SVL 60–68.5 mm vs. 96 mm), fewer ventral scale rows (31–32 vs. 42), and the precence of femoral and precloacal pores (absent in C. cucphuongensis). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. has femoral and precloacal pores in males, which are absent in C. eisenmanae Ngo, 2008 and C. grismeri Ngo, 2008. Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. erythrops Bauer, Kunya, Sumontha, Niyomwan, Panitvong, Pauwels, Chanhome & Kunya, 2009 by having more ventral scale rows (31–32 vs. 28), 44 femoral and precloacal pores in a continuous series which are separated by poreless scales in C. erythrops (10+9+9). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. huongsonensis Luu, Nguyen, Do & Ziegler, 2011 by having fewer ventral scale rows (31–32 vs. 41–48) and more femoral and precloacal pores in males (44 vs. 21–23). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. interdigitalis Ulber, 1993 by having fewer ventral scale rows (31–32 vs. 37–42), more femoral and precloacal pores in males (44 vs. 30–32), and the presence of precloacal pitted scales in the female (absent in C. interdigitalis). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. intermedius (Smith, 1917) by having fewer ventral scale rows (31–32 vs. 40–50) and more enlarged femoral scales (18–19 vs. 6–10). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. jarujini Ulber, 1993 by its smaller size (60.0–68.5 vs. 85.0–90.0 in C. jarujini), fewer femoral and precloacal pores in males (44 vs. 52–54 in C. jarujini). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. kingsadai Ziegler, Phung, Le & Nguyen, 2013 by its smaller size (60.0–68.5 vs. 83.0–94.0), fewer ventral scales (31–32 vs. 39–46), and more femoral and precloacal pores in males (44 vs. 0–16). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. lekaguli Grismer, Wood, Quah, Anuar, Muin, Sumontha, Ahmad, Bauer, Wangkulangkul, Grismer & Pauwels, 2012 and C. lomyenensis Ngo & Pauwels, 2010 in having more femoral and precloacal pores in males (44 vs. 31–44 in C. lekaguli and 39–40 in C. lomyenensis), and fewer pitted scales in females (21 vs. 33–43 in C. lekaguli and 32 in C. lomyenensis). The new species differs from C. martini Ngo, 2011 by having fewer ventral scale rows (31–32 vs. 39–43 in C. martini) and the presence of femoral pores (absent in C. martini). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. nigriocularis Nguyen, Orlov & Darevsky, 2006 in having smaller size (SVL 60–68.5 mm vs. 82.7–107.5 mm in C. nigriocularis), fewer ventral scale rows (31–32 vs. 42–49 in C. nigriocularis), and the presence of enlarged femoral scales and femoral pores (absent in C. nigriocularis). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. oldhami (Theobald, 1876) by having more femoral and precloacal pores (44 vs. 1–4 in C. oldhami) and the dorsal color pattern (banded vs. striped and spotted body in C. oldhami). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. pageli Schneider, Nguyen, Schmitz, Kingsada, Auer & Ziegler, 2011 and C. paradoxus (Darevsky & Szczerbak, 1997) by the presence of enlarged femoral scales and femoral pores (absent in C. pageli and C. paradoxus). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. phongnhakebangensis Ziegler, Rösler, Herrmann & Vu, 2002 by its smaller size (SVL 60–68.5 mm vs. 85– 96.3 mm in C. phongnhakebangensis) and a higher number of femoral and precloacal pores in males (44 vs. 32–42 in C. phongnhakebangensis). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. has 44 femoral and precloacal pores in the male and thus differs from C. roesleri Ziegler, Nazarov, Orlov, Nguyen, Vu, Dang, Dinh & Schmitz, 2010 (20–28). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. sanook Pauwels, Sumontha, Latinne & Grismer, 2013 and C. sumonthai Bauer, Pauwels & Chanhome, 2002 by the presence of femoral pores (absent in C. sanook and C. sumonthai). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. takouensis Ngo & Bauer, 2008 by its smaller size (SVL 60–68.5 mm vs. 74.7–81.1 mm in C. takouensis), fewer number of ventral scale rows (31–32 vs. 39–40), and more femoral and precloacal pores in males (44 vs. 3–6 in C. takouensis). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. teyniei David, Nguyen, Schneider & Ziegler, 2011 by its smaller size (SVL 60–68.5 mm vs. 89.9 in C. teyniei), fewer number of ventral scale rows (31–32 vs. 38 in C. teyniei), and the presence of femoral pores (absent in C. teyniei). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. has femoral and precloacal pores which are lack in C. thirakhupti Pauwels, Bauer, Sumontha & Chanhome 2004. Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. has 44 femoral and precloacal pores in a contiuous series and thus differs from C. tigroides Bauer, Sumontha & Pauwels, 2003 which are separated by poreless scales (6+8+ 7 in males and 5+9+ 7 in females). Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. has enlarged femoral scales and femoral pores which are absent in C. wayakonei Nguyen, Kingsada, Rösler, Auer & Ziegler, 2010. Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. differs from C. yangbayensis Ngo & Chan, 2010 by its smaller size (SVL 60–68.5 mm vs. 78.5–92.3 mm in C. yangbayensis) and more femoral and precloacal pores in males (44 vs. 4–14 in C. yangbayensis).
Distribution. Cyrtodactylus jaegeri sp. nov. is currently known only from the type locality in Khammouane Province, Laos (Fig. 4).
Etymology. The new species is named in honour of our colleague Dr. Peter Jäger, arachnologist from the Research Institute Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, who collected the holotype.
Ecological notes. The type specimens were found at night, on karst cliffs ca. 1.5 m above the ground in a small belt of the secondary vegetation in front of a limestone cliff, at an elevation of 170 m a.s.l.
description: Published as part of Luu, Vinh Quang, Calame, Thomas, Bonkowski, Michael, Nguyen, Truong Quang & Ziegler, Thomas, 2014, A new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Khammouane Province, Laos in Zootaxa 3760 (1), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3760.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/229973