Cnemaspis enneaporus Rujirawan, Aksornneam & Aowphol 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Rujirawan, Attapol
name: Aksornneam, Akrachai
name: Yodthong, Siriporn
name: Pawangkhanant, Parinya
name: Stuart, Bryan L.
name: Aowphol, Anchalee
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Squamata
Gekkonidae
Cnemaspis
Cnemaspis enneaporus

description: Cnemaspis enneaporus Rujirawan, Aksornneam & Aowphol sp. nov.
Figs 4, 5, 6, 7
Type material.
Holotype (Figs 4 – 6). ZMKU R 01100, adult male from Thailand, Kanchanaburi Province, Sai Yok District, Wang Khrachae Subdistrict, (14.20247 ° N, 99.02222 ° E; 404 m elevation), collected on 18 November 2022 by Akrachai Aksornneam and Parinya Pawangkhanant. Paratype (Fig. 7). ZMKU R 01101, adult female, same collection data as the holotype.
Diagnosis.
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species in the C. siamensis group by having the unique combination of the following characters: SVL 42.2 mm in adult males (n = 1), 43.7 mm in adult females (n = 1); eight supralabials; seven or eight infralabials; ventral scales smooth; nine continuous precloacal pores in single male specimen; 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles linearly arranged; tubercles on lower flanks present; lateral caudal furrows present; no caudal tubercles in the lateral furrows; ventrolateral caudal tubercles present on original portion of tail; caudal tubercles not encircling tail; subcaudals smooth; no enlarged median subcaudal row; two postcloacal tubercles on each side of tail; no shield-like subtibial scales; subtibial scales smooth; no enlarged submetatarsal scales; 26–28 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; sexually dimorphic for dorsal and ventral colour pattern; prescapular marking absent; gular marking absent; and yellow colouration in life on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in adult male.
Description of holotype.
Adult male; SVL 42.2 mm; head oblong in dorsal profile, moderate in size (HL / SVL 0.29), somewhat narrow (HW / SVL 0.18), flat (HD / HL 0.38), distinct from neck; snout moderate (ES / HL 0.43), snout slightly concave in lateral profile; postnasal region concave medially; scales of rostrum round, smooth, raised, larger than similarly-shaped scales on occiput; weak supraorbital ridges; weak frontorostral sulcus; canthus rostralis smoothly rounded; eye large (ED / HL 0.21); extra-brillar fringe scales small in general, but larger anteriorly; pupil round; ear opening oval, taller than wide; rostral concave dorsally, dorsal 50 % divided by longitudinal groove; rostral bordered posteriorly by supranasals, one large azygous internasal and nostrils; bordered laterally by first supralabials; 8 R / 8 L (right / left) raised supralabials of similar size, but smallest posteriorly; 7 R / 8 L infralabials, decreasing gradually in size posteriorly; nostrils small, elliptical, orientated dorsoposteriorly; bordered posteriorly by two flat postnasal scales; mental large, triangular, flat, extending to level of second infralabials, bordered posteriorly by two postmentals; mental slightly concave; gular scales smooth, flat, round or oval, juxtaposed; throat scales round, smooth, raised, juxtaposed to subimbricate.
Body slender, elongate (AG / SVL 0.44); small, raised, weakly keeled, dorsal scales generally equal in size throughout body, intermixed with numerous, large, multi-keeled, linearly arranged tubercles; enlarged, multi-keeled, conical tubercles on flanks; tubercles extend from the occiput to base of the tail and continue on tail in whorls; body tubercles slightly smaller anteriorly; 18 paravertebral tubercles; pectoral and abdominal scales smooth, flat, imbricate; abdominal scales larger than pectoral and dorsal scales; nine contiguous, pore-bearing, precloacal scales; precloacal pores round to elongate.
Forelimbs moderately long, slender; dorsal scales raised, keeled, juxtaposed to subimbricate; ventral scales of brachia smooth, raised, juxtaposed to subimbricate; scales beneath forearm smooth, raised, subimbricate; digits long with an inflected joint; claws recurved; subdigital lamellae unnotched; subdigital lamellae wide throughout length of digits, bearing a larger scale at digital inflections; interdigital webbing absent; fingers increase in length from first to fifth, with fourth and fifth nearly equal in length; relative length of fingers I <II <III <V ≤ IV; total subdigital lamellae on fingers I – V: 14–19 – 25 – 27 – 26 (right), 14–20 – 24 – 26 – broken (left). Hind-limbs slightly longer and thicker than forelimbs; dorsal scales keeled, raised, juxtaposed; ventral scales of thigh and subtibial scales smooth, flat, imbricate; plantar scales smooth, slightly raised, subimbricate; enlarged submetatarsal scales beneath first toes absent; digits elongate with an inflected joint; claws recurved; subdigital lamellae unnotched; lamellae wide throughout length of digits; enlarged scales at digital inflections; interdigital webbing absent; toes increase in length from first to fourth and fifth nearly equal in length; relative length of toes I <II <III <V ≤ IV; total subdigital lamellae on toes I – V: 13–18 – 23 – 28 – 25 (right), 13–18 – 26 – 28 – 26 (left).
Tail regenerated, long, slender, 42.1 mm in length (TL / SVL 1.00), tapering, becoming slender toward the tip; dorsal scales of the original portion of tail slightly keeled, raised, juxtaposed, arranged in segmented whorls; mid-dorsal and lateral, caudal furrows present; subcaudals smooth, flat, imbricate; median row of enlarged subcaudal scales absent; paravertebral, dorsolateral and lateral rows of large, keeled, caudal tubercles extend length of original tail; ventrolateral rows of tubercles extend length of original tail; caudal tubercle rows do not encircle tail; tubercles absent from lateral caudal furrow; scale of the regenerated portion of tail smooth, flat, imbricate; enlarged postcloacal tubercles 2 R / 2 L on lateral surface of hemipenial swellings at base of tail.
Colouration in life
(Figs 4, 5). Dorsal ground colour of head, nape, trunk and limbs grey; dorsal ground colour of original and regenerate tail yellow; rostrum and interorbit regions bearing diffuse, faint, yellowish and brownish marking; top of head bearing small, diffuse, faint, dark, yellowish and light markings; dark postorbital stripes faint extending to occiput; pair of dark, diffuse, blotches on nape; large, light, irregularly-shaped, vertebral blotches extend from nape to base of tail, continuing on to original portion of tail as light yellow caudal bands; small, light, irregularly-shaped blotches in shoulder regions and flanks; limbs mottled with small, diffuse, dark marking; digits grey bearing dark bands. All ventral surfaces of head, body, thigh and original and regenerate portion of tail yellow; ventral surfaces of forelimbs and tibial region light grey with yellow speckling.
Colouration in preservative
(Fig. 6). Dorsal and lateral surfaces of head, body, limbs and tail darker grey than in life, with some fading of markings. Ventral surfaces of head, body, limbs and tail creamy-white, with minute dark speckling on gular region, limbs and tail regions; regenerate portion of tail darker than original tail.
Variation.
Variation in morphometric and meristic data between the holotype and paratype are presented in Table 2. Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. shows significant sexual dimorphism in colour pattern. Yellow colouration on ventral surface of female (ZMKU R 01101) absent. Tail of the paratype is broken (TL = 6.3 mm) without yellow colouration of dorsal and ventral surface. The female paratype lack precloacal pores and has postcloacal tubercles that are relatively smaller than those in the male. Mental scale of the paratype bordered posteriorly by three postmental scales. The paratype has skin swelling on left side of axillary area.
Distribution and natural history.
The new species is known only from the type locality (Wang Khrachae Subdistrict, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand) at ~ 400 m elevation in a karst formation that is part of the Tenasserim Mountain Range in western Thailand (Figs 1, 8). The holotype and paratype were found on karst boulders (~ 1.2–1.5 m height from ground) at night (00.00–00.30 h). One adult female (not collected; Fig. 8 C) of C. enneaporus sp. nov. was found at the type locality on 31 August 2015 and was observed on a vine on a nearby karst wall (~ 1.5 m height from ground) at night (23.00 h). Other species of reptiles observed in the type locality were Cyrtodactylus saiyok Panitvong, Sumontha, Tunprasert & Pauwels, 2014, Cyrtodactylus tigroides Bauer, Sumontha & Pauwels, 2003, Gehyra mutilata (Wiegmann, 1834), Dixonius hangseesom Bauer, Sumontha, Grossmann, Pauwels & Vogel, 2004, and Trimeresurus kanburiensis Smith, 1943.
Etymology.
The species epithet enneaporus is derived from ennea (G.) for nine and porus (L.) for pore in reference to the male holotype of the new species having nine precloacal pores.
Suggested common name.
Sai Yok Rock Gecko (English), Jing Jok Niew Yao Sai Yok (Thai).
Comparisons.
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. is distinguishable from all other members of the C. siamensis group by a unique combination of morphological and colour pattern characteristics. Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. adangrawi Ampai, Rujirawan, Wood, Stuart & Aowphol, 2019 by having eight supralabials (vs 10); seven or eight infralabials (vs nine); ventral scales smooth (vs keeled); nine precloacal pores in male (vs 6–8 pores); precloacal pores continuous (vs separated); 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles (vs 23–25 tubercles); paravertebral tubercles linearly arranged (vs randomly); tubercles on lower flanks present (vs absent); caudal tubercles in lateral furrow absent (vs present); subcaudal scales smooth (vs keeled); two postcloacal tubercles on each side in male (vs single tubercle); subtibial scales smooth (vs keeled); sexual dimorphism of dorsal colour pattern present (vs absent); light or yellowish prescapular crescent absent (vs present); yellow colouration on original and regenerated tail in male present (vs absent); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in male (vs yellowish colouration only on gular region, abdominal region and caudal region).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. auriventralis by having a larger maximum SVL of 43.7 mm (vs 38.6 mm); nine precloacal pores in male (vs 6 or 7 pores); and median row of subcaudal scales not enlarged (vs enlarged).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. chanardi Grismer, Sumontha, Cota, Grismer, Wood, Pauwels & Kunya, 2010 by having a larger maximum SVL of 43.7 mm (vs 40.1 mm); ventral scales smooth (vs keeled); nine precloacal pores in male (vs 6–8 pores); precloacal pores continuous (vs separated); 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles (vs 22–25 tubercles); paravertebral tubercles linearly arranged (vs randomly); median row of subcaudal scales not enlarged (vs enlarged); subcaudal scales smooth (vs keeled); two postcloacal tubercles on each side in male (vs single tubercle); subtibial scales smooth (vs keeled); sexual dimorphism of dorsal colour pattern present (vs absent); light or yellowish prescapular crescent absent (vs present); yellow colouration on original and regenerated tail in male present (vs absent); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in male (vs yellow colouration only on gular region, belly, underside of hindlimbs and subcaudal region).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. huaseesom by having nine precloacal pores in male (vs 5–8 pores); caudal tubercles in lateral furrow absent (vs present); yellow colouration on dorsal surface of head and forelimbs in males absent (vs present); yellow colouration on regenerated tail in male present (vs absent); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in male (vs yellow colouration only on gular region, throat, pectoral region, underside of forelimbs and subcaudal region).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. kamolnorranathi Grismer, Sumontha, Cota, Grismer, Wood, Pauwels & Kunya, 2010 by having a larger maximum SVL of 43.7 mm (vs 37.8 mm); nine precloacal pores in male (vs seven pores); 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles (vs 19–24 tubercles); caudal tubercles in lateral furrow absent (vs present); subcaudal scales smooth (vs keeled); sexual dimorphism of dorsal colour pattern present (vs absent); yellow colouration on original and regenerated tail in male present (vs absent); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in male (vs lacking yellow colouration on ventral surfaces).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. lineatubercularis Ampai, Wood, Stuart & Aowphol, 2020 by having ventral scales smooth (vs keeled); 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles (vs 19–21); subcaudal scales smooth (vs keeled); two postcloacal tubercles on each side in male (vs single tubercle); subtibial scales smooth (vs keeled); sexual dimorphism of dorsal colour pattern present (vs absent); light or yellowish prescapular crescent absent (vs present); yellow colouration on original and regenerated tail in male present (vs absent); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in male (vs yellowish colouration only on anterior gular, abdominal and subcaudal regions).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. omari Grismer, Wood, Anuar, Riyanto, Ahmad, Muin, Sumontha, Grismer, Chan, Quah & Pauwels, 2014 by having ventral scales smooth (vs keeled); nine precloacal pores in male (vs 4 pores); precloacal pores continuous (vs separated); 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles (vs 22–29 tubercles); caudal tubercles not encircling the tail (vs encircling); two postcloacal tubercles on each side in male (vs single tubercle); subtibial scales smooth (vs keeled); sexual dimorphism of dorsal colour pattern present (vs absent); light or yellowish prescapular crescent absent (vs present); yellow colouration on original and regenerated tail in male present (vs absent); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in male (vs yellow colouration only on gular region, belly, underside of hind-limbs, and subcaudal region).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. phangngaensis Wood, Grismer, Aowphol, Aguilar, Cota, Grismer, Murdoch & Sites, 2017 by having eight supralabials (vs 10); seven or eight infralabials (vs 10); ventral scales smooth (vs keeled); nine precloacal pores in male (vs 4 pores); 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles (vs 22 tubercles); tubercles on lower flanks present (vs absent); subcaudal scales smooth (vs keeled); subtibial scales smooth (vs keeled); 26–28 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe (vs 29 lamellae); light or yellowish prescapular crescent absent (vs present); yellow colouration on original and regenerated tail in male present (vs absent); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in male (vs yellow colouration only on anterior gular region, abdomen and subcaudal region).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. punctatonuchalis Grismer, Sumontha, Cota, Grismer, Wood, Pauwels & Kunya, 2010 by having a smaller maximum SVL of 43.7 mm (vs 49.6 mm); nine precloacal pores in male (vs absent); 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles (vs 24–27); median row of subcaudal scales not enlarged (vs enlarged); 26–28 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe (vs 29–31 lamellae); ocelli on brachium and side of neck in male absent (vs present); yellow colouration on original tail in male present (vs absent); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of body and tail in male (vs orange colouration on throat and subcaudal region).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. roticanai Grismer & Chan, 2010 by having a smaller maximum SVL of 43.7 mm (vs 47.0 mm); ventral scales smooth (vs keeled); nine precloacal pores in male (vs 3–6 pores); 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles (vs 25–27 tubercles); paravertebral tubercles linearly arranged (vs randomly); median row of subcaudal scales not enlarged (vs enlarged); subcaudal scales smooth (vs keeled); subtibial scales smooth (vs keeled); light or yellowish prescapular crescent absent (vs present); and yellow colouration on original tail in male present (vs absent).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. samui Ampai, Rujirawan, Yodthong, Termprayoon, Stuart, Wood & Aowphol, 2022 by having ventral scales smooth (vs keeled); nine precloacal pores in male (vs 5–8 pores); precloacal pores continuous (vs separated); 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles (vs 25–27 tubercles); paravertebral tubercles linearly arranged (vs randomly); median row of subcaudal scales not enlarged (vs enlarged); subcaudal scales smooth (vs keeled); subtibial scales smooth (vs keeled); 26–28 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe (vs 22–25 lamellae); sexual dimorphism of dorsal colour pattern present (vs absent); light or yellowish prescapular crescent absent (vs present); yellow colouration on original and regenerated tail in male present (vs absent); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in male (vs yellowish colouration only on gular region, abdomen, limbs and subcaudal region).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. selenolagus Grismer, Yushchenko, Pawangkhanant, Nazarov, Naiduangchan, Suwannapoom & Poyarkov, 2020 by having a larger maximum SVL of 43.7 mm (vs 36.2 mm); eight supralabials (vs 10–11); seven or eight infralabials (vs 10); nine precloacal pores in male (vs six or seven pores); paravertebral tubercles linearly arranged (vs randomly); tubercles on lower flanks present (vs absent); lateral caudal furrow present (vs absent); caudal tubercles not encircling the tail (vs encircling); enlarged submetatarsal scales on the first toe absent (vs present); 26–28 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe (vs 22 lamellae); orange-yellow colouration on anterior 1 / 2 of body in male absent (vs present); ocelli on brachium and side of neck in males absent (vs present); light or yellowish prescapular crescent absent (vs present); yellow colouration on dorsal surface of forelimbs in male absent (vs present); yellow colouration on original and regenerated tail in male present (vs absent); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in male (vs yellow colouration only on anterior part of body).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. siamensis (Smith, 1925) by having a larger maximum SVL of 43.7 mm (vs 39.7 mm); ventral scales smooth (vs keeled); nine precloacal pores in male (vs absent); 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles (vs 19–25 tubercles); paravertebral tubercles linearly arranged (vs randomly); median row of subcaudal scales not enlarged (vs enlarged); subcaudal scales smooth (vs keeled); subtibial scales smooth (vs keeled); sexual dimorphism of dorsal colour pattern present (vs absent); yellow colouration on original and regenerated tail in male present (vs absent); lineate gular marking absent (vs present); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in males (vs yellow colouration only on gular region, throat and pectoral region).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. similan Ampai, Rujirawan, Yodthong, Termprayoon, Stuart, Wood & Aowphol, 2022 by having a smaller maximum SVL of 43.7 mm (vs 48.1 mm); ventral scales smooth (vs keeled); nine precloacal pores in male (vs one pore); 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles (vs 24 or 25 tubercles); paravertebral tubercles linearly arranged (vs randomly); subcaudal scales smooth (vs keeled); subtibial scales smooth (vs keeled); 26–28 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe (vs 23 or 24 lamellae); light or yellowish prescapular crescent absent (vs present); yellow colouration on original and regenerated tail in male present (vs absent); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in male (vs pale yellowish blotches or reticulum on gular, neck, limbs and belly).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. thachanaensis Wood, Grismer, Aowphol, Aguilar, Cota, Grismer, Murdoch & Sites, 2017 by having a larger maximum SVL of 43.7 mm (vs 39.0 mm); eight supralabials (vs 10 or 11); seven or eight infralabials (vs nine or 11); ventral scales smooth (vs keeled); nine precloacal pores in male (vs absent); subcaudal scales smooth (vs keeled); two postcloacal tubercles on each side in male (vs absent); subtibial scales smooth (vs keeled); enlarged submetatarsal scales on the first toe absent (vs present); 26–28 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe (vs 23–25 lamellae); yellow colouration on original and regenerated tail in male present (vs absent); lineate gular marking absent (vs present); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in male (vs yellowish-orange colouration only on gular region).
Cnemaspis enneaporus sp. nov. differs from C. vandeventeri Grismer, Sumontha, Cota, Grismer, Wood, Pauwels & Kunya, 2010 by having ventral scales smooth (vs keeled); nine precloacal pores in male (vs four pores); 17 or 18 paravertebral tubercles (vs 25–29 tubercles); paravertebral tubercles linearly arranged (vs randomly); tubercles on lower flanks present (vs absent); median row of subcaudal scales not enlarged (vs enlarged); subcaudal scales smooth (vs keeled); subtibial scales smooth (vs keeled); sexual dimorphism of dorsal colour pattern present (vs absent); light or yellowish prescapular crescent absent (vs present); yellow colouration on original and regenerated tail in male present (vs absent); and yellow colouration on all ventral surfaces of head, body and tail in male (vs orange colouration on gular region, throat, pectoral region, underside of limbs, belly and subcaudal region).
description: Published as part of Rujirawan, Attapol, Aksornneam, Akrachai, Yodthong, Siriporn, Pawangkhanant, Parinya, Stuart, Bryan L. & Aowphol, Anchalee, 2025, Another new karst-dwelling rock gecko in the Cnemaspis siamensis group (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) from Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand, pp. 1-24 in ZooKeys 1226 on pages 1-24, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1226.138464