Cnemaspis godagedarai Silva & Bauer & Botejue & Karunarathna 2019, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Silva, Anslem de
name: Bauer, Aaron M.
name: Botejue, Madhava
name: Karunarathna, Suranjan
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Gekkonidae
Cnemaspis
Cnemaspis godagedarai

description: Cnemaspis godagedarai sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 36C54FD1-01F8-4BC0-9283-991C75804899
Godagedaras’ Day Gecko (English)
Godagedarage Diva-seri Hoona (Sinhala)
Godagedaravin Pahalpalli (Tamil)
Figs. 2–3; Table 1.
Holotype: NMSL 2019.09.01, adult male, 35.5 mm SVL (Fig. 2), collected from agranite wall in Ensalwatte, Deniyaya, Matara District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka (6.388767°N, 80.599781°E, WGS1984; elevation 858 m) on 6 October 2018 by Suranjan Karunarathna and Anslem de Silva.
Paratypes: ADS 232, adult female, 34.2 mm SVL, and ADS 233, adult female, 34.7 mm SVL, collected from agranite wall in Ensalwatte, Deniyaya, Matara District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka (6.389128°N, 80.605767°E, WGS1984; elevation 831 m) on 6 October 2018 by Suranjan Karunarathna and Anslem de Silva.
Diagnosis: Cnemaspis godagedarai sp. nov., can be readily distinguished from its Sri Lankan congeners by the following combination of morphological and meristic characteristics and color pattern: maximum SVL 35.5 mm; dorsum with homogeneous, smooth, granular scales; 2/2 supranasals; one internasal and 1/1 postnasal present; 26– 28 interorbital scales present; 14–15 supraciliaries, 11–12 canthal scales, 24–26 eye to tympanum scales; three enlarged postmentals; postmentals bounded by 5–6 chin scales; chin and gular scales smooth, juxtaposed granules; pectoral and abdominal scales smooth, subimbricate; 21– 23 belly scales across venter; 5–6 weakly developed tubercles on posterior flank; 101–106 paravertebral granules linearly arranged; precloacal pores absant in males, 12–13 femoral pores in males and 8–9 unpored interfemoral scales in males; 133–137 ventral scales; 98–102 midbody scales; subcaudals smooth, large subhexagonal, subequal in width, in a regular series forming a median row; 7–8 supralabials; 7–8 infralabials; 17–18 subdigital lamellae on digit IV of manus, and 20–21 subdigital lamellae on digit IV of pes.
Comparisons with other species: The new species is a member of the C. podihuna clade sensu Agarwal et al. (2017) based on the presence of large subhexagonal subcaudals scales. However, it differs from the all the other members of the clade as follows: from C. kandambyi Batuwita and Udugampala, 2017, C. molligodai Wickramasinghe and Munindradasa, 2007 and C. podihuna Deraniyagala, 1944 by the absence (versus presence) of precloacal pores; from C. alwisi Wickramasinghe and Munindradasa, 2007, C. nilgala Karunarathna et al., 2019, C. punctata Manamendra-Arachchi et al., 2007 and C. rajakarunai Wickramasinghe et al., 2016 by presence of more midbody scales (98–102 versus 71–78, 71–78, 71–78 and 69–74), respectively and by fewer femoroprecloacal scales (eight versus 18–19, 14–15, 25–27 and 20–22), respectively; from C. gemunu Bauer et al., 2007 and C. phillipsi Manamendra-Arachchi et al., 2007 by presence of more midbody scales (98–102 versus 74–87 and 76–91), respectively and more paravertebral granules (101–106 versus 79–93 and 86–93), respectively; from C. rammalensis Vidanapathirana et al., 2014 by fewer ventral scales (133–137 versus 186–207) and by fewer femoroprecloacal scales (eight versus 19–24); from C. scalpensis (Ferguson, 1877) by more belly scales (21–23 versus 17–19), by more midbody scales (98–102 versus 81–89) and by fewer flank spines (5–6 versus 9–11).
Among species of the C. kandiana clade sensu Agarwal et al. (2017) C. godagedarai sp. nov. differs in the presense (versus absence) of clearly enlarged, hexagonal or subhexagonal subcaudal scales, and absence of precloacal pores (versus presence) from the following species: C. amith Manamendra-Arachchi et al., 2007, C. ingerorum Batuwita et al., 2019, C. kallima Manamendra-Arachchi et al., 2007, C. kandiana (Kelaart, 1852), C. kumarasinghei Wickramasinghe and Munindradasa, 2007, C. latha Manamendra-Arachchi et al., 2007, C. menikay Manamendra-Arachchi et al., 2007, C. pava Manamendra-Arachchi et al., 2007, C. pulchra Manamendra-Arachchi et al., 2007, C. retigalensis Wickramasinghe and Munindradasa, 2007, C. samanalensis Wickramasinghe and Munindradasa, 2007, C. silvula Manamendra-Arachchi et al., 2007, C. tropidogaster (Boulenger, 1885), and C. upendrai Manamendra-Arachchi et al., 2007.
Description of holotype: An adult male, 35.5 mm SVL. Body slender, relatively short (TRL 36.0% of SVL). Head relatively small (HL 27.3% of SVL, HL 75.8% of TRL), narrow (HW 15.4% of SVL, HW 56.4% of HL), depressed (HD 8.0% of SVL, HD 29.3% of HL) and distinct from neck. Snout relatively long (ES 72.1% of HW, ES 40.6% of HL), slightly less than twice eye diameter (ED 51.9% of ES), more than half length of jaw (ES 61.0% of JL), snout slightly concave in lateral view; eye relatively small (ED 21.1% of HL), larger than ear (EL 39.7% of ED), pupil rounded; orbit length more than eye to ear distance (OD 114.3% of EE) and greater than length of IV digit of manus (OD 109.8% of DLM IV); supraocular ridges not prominent; ear opening very small (EL 8.4% of HL), deep, taller than wide, larger than nostrils, smaller than eyes; one row of scales separate orbit from supralabials; interorbital distance is broad (IO 96.4% of ES), smaller than snout to nostril length (IO 39.2% of HL); eye to nostril distance subequal to eye to ear distance (EN 99.0% of EE).
Dorsal surface of trunk with smooth, small homogeneous granules; 105 paravertebral granules; 134 smooth midventral scales; 102 midbody scales; 6/5 weakly developed tubercles on flanks; ventrolateral scales not enlarged; granules on snout smooth and fairly raised, larger than those on interorbital and occipital regions; canthus rostralis nearly absent, 11/11 smoothly round scales from eye to nostril; scales of interorbital region oval and smooth; tubercles absent on sides of neck and around ear; ear opening vertically oval, slanting from anterodorsal to posteroventral, 26/24 scales between anterior margin of ear opening and posterior margin of the eye. Supralabials 8/8, infralabials 7/8, becoming smaller towards gape. Rostral scale wider than long, partially divided (75%) by median groove, in contact with first supralabial. Nostrils separated by 2/2 enlarged supranasals with one internasal; no enlarged scales behind supranasals. Nostrils oval, dorsolaterally orientated, not in contact with first supralabials; 1/1 postnasal, smooth, equal to nostrils in size, partially in contact with first supralabial.
Mental sub-triangular, as wide as long, posteriorly in contact with four enlarged postmentals (smaller than mental, and lager than posterior postmentals); postmentals in contact and bordered posteriorly with six smooth, posterior postmental scales (smaller than nostrils), in contact with the 1 st infralabials; ventral scales slightly smaller than posterior postmentals. Smooth, rounded, juxtaposed scales present on chin and gular region; pectoral and abdominal scales smooth, subimbricate towards precloacal region, abdominal scales larger than dorsals; 21 belly scales across venter; scales around vent and base of tail smooth, subimbricate; precloacal pores absent in males, 12/13 femoral pores in males; original tail of holotype slightly longer than snout-vent length (TAL 109.6% of SVL); tail base greatly swollen (TBW 3.2 mm), homogeneous round scales on dorsal aspect of the tail, no spine-like tubercles at base of tail; tail with 4–5 enlarged, round and flattened obtuse scales forming whorls; no post-cloacal spur on tail base; subcaudals enlarged, hexagonal, smooth, arranged median series.
Forelimbs moderately short, slender (LAL 16.0% of SVL, UAL 16.8% of SVL); hind limbs long, tibia quite a bit shorter than femur (TBL 16.3% of SVL, FEL 17.0% of SVL). Dorsal, anterior, ventral and posterior surfaces of upper arm and lower arm with smooth scales. Scales on dorsal surface of femur smooth, granular, less imbricate scales on anterior, posterior and ventral surfaces, scales on the anterior surface twice the size of those on other surfaces. Dorsal, anterior, posterior and ventral surfaces of tibia with smooth scales, both anterior and posterior surfaces of tibia with smooth granules, scales of ventral surface twice as large as those of other parts. Dorsum and venter of manus and pes smooth, granular; dorsal surfaces of digits also with granular scales. Digits elongate and slender with inflected joints, all bearing slightly recurved claws. Subdigital lamellae entire (except divided at first interphalangial joint), unnotched; subdigital lamellae on manus (left/right): digit I, 10/10, digit II, 14/15, digit III, 16/16, digit IV, 18/18, digit V, 13/12; subdigital lamellae on pes (left/right): digit I, 11/10, digit II, 14/14, digit III, 16/16, digit IV, 20/21, digit V, 16/16; interdigital webbing absent; length of digits of manus (left): I (1.6 mm), II (1.8 mm), III (2.4 mm), V (2.5 mm), IV (3.1 mm); length of digits of pes (left): I (1.6 mm), II (3.2 mm), III (3.7 mm), V (3.9 mm), IV (4.4 mm).
Variation of the type series: SVL of adult specimens in type series (n = 3) ranges from 34.2–35.5 mm, TAL ranges from 37.5–38.9 mm, and TRL ranges from 12.2–12.8 mm; number of supralabials 7–8, and infralabials 7–8; spines on flank 5–6; interorbital scales 26–28; supraciliaries 14–15; canthal scales 11–12; scales from eye to tympanum 24–26; total lamellae on digits of manus (L/ R): digit I (10–11), digit II (14–15), digit III (15–16), digit IV (17– 18), digit V (12–13); total lamellae on digits of the pes (L/ R): digit I (10–11), digit II (13–14), digit III (15–16), digit IV (20–21), digit V (15–16); ventral scales 133–137; midbody scales 98–102; paravertebral granules 101–106; belly scales 21–23; femoral pores 12–13, unpored interfemoral scales 8–9, and unpored postfemoral scales 3–4 respectively in males.
Color of living specimen: Dorsum of head, body and limbs generally grey brown; three large irregular cinnamon brown blotches along vertebral line; a distinct narrow, short longitudinal black line on occipital area. Tail cinnamon brown dorsally, with 12 faded black cross-bands (Fig. 3); pupil is circular and black with surrounding yellow and light brown margins, supraciliaries being brownish; two postorbital stripes are present on each side, the upper white and the lower black; a light and dark interorbital stripe present; supralabials and infralabaials brown and with dirty white spots; chin and gular scales light yellow, without dark spots; pectoral, abdominal, cloacal and subcaudal scales immaculate cream; long transverse black line on posterior thigh; dorsum of limbs with faded brown patches; manus and pes with black and cream white crossed stripe arrangement.
Color of preserved specimen: Dorsally body is pale grey, colored with dark distinct irregular brown blotches; supralabials and infralabaials are brown, black and white in color; chin and gular scales becoming dirty white; ventral surface uniformly dirty white in color with some scales on thigh, tail base and arms with dark brown margins.
Etymology: The specific epithet is an eponym Latinized (godagedarai) in the masculine genitive singular, honoring Sri Lankan warrior Godagedara Rate Adhikaram for his valiant feats in the Great Rebellion of 1817–1818, which was initiated in Uva-Wellassa.
Habitat and ecology: The Ensalwatte forest area is a Mesua-Doona-dominated tropical evergreen rainforest ~150 ha in size (Gunatileke and Gunatileke 1990), located in the lowland wet zone of southern Sri Lanka (near Deniyaya, Mathara District, Southern Province). The area lies between 6.381864 –6.397750 °N and 80.589167 – 80.617853 °E, with an elevation range of 620–860 m (Fig. 4). The mean annual rainfall is 2,500 –3,500 mm, received mostly during the southwest monsoon (May-September) season. The mean annual temperature is 22–25 ºC. Only six specimens (four females and two males) were found on scattered boulders. The new species was sympatric (at both local habitat and microsite scales) with several other micro-endemic geckos (Cnemaspis pulchra and Cyrtodactylus subsolanus). No eggs were found in the same habitat. These microhabitats were well-shaded (light intensity 0–587 Lux), relatively moist (relative humidity 73–88%) and cool (rock-surface temperature 25.3–27.5 °C).
Conservation status: Application of the IUCN Red List criteria indicates that C. godagedarai sp. nov. is Critically Endangered, due to having an area of occupancy (AOO) <10 km 2 (three locations, 0.8 km 2 in total assuming a 500 m radius around the georeferenced location) and an extent of occurrence (EOO) <100 km 2 (3.9 km 2) in the second peneplain of Southern Province. The applicable criterion is B2-b (iii).
Remarks: Of its insular congeners, Cnemaspis godagedarai sp. nov. most closely resembles C. gemunu, C. phillipsi, and C. scalpensis. The type localities of these species are separated by ~ 60 km (Hakgala in Central highland), ~ 95 km (Kandy in Central highland), and ~ 100 km (Gammaduwa in Knuckles highland) airline distances, respectively, from Ensalwatte in Deniyaya (Fig. 1). See also Comparison with other species above.
description: Published as part of Silva, Anslem de, Bauer, Aaron M., Botejue, Madhava & Karunarathna, Suranjan, 2019, A new species of endemic day gecko (Reptilia: Gekkonidae: Cnemaspis) from a wet zone forest in the second peneplain of Southern Sri Lanka, pp. 198-208 in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 177) (e 177) 13 (1) on pages 200-206, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11246861