Cyrtodactylus epiroticus Kraus, 2008, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Kraus, Fred
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2008
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Gekkonidae
Cyrtodactylus
Cyrtodactylus epiroticus

description: Cyrtodactylus epiroticus sp. nov.
Fig. 1 D
Holotype. BPBM 18653 (field tag FK 8294), mature male, collected by F. Kraus 9.7 km NW summit Mt. Shungol, 6.79065ºS, 146.66535ºE, 320 m, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, 15 October 2003.
Paratypes. Papua New Guinea: Milne Bay Province: Sinaeada, 10.325ºS, 150.338ºE (BPBM 2292); SE slope Mt. Pekopekowana, 10.2806306ºS, 150.1721461ºE, 550 m (BPBM 15434); Biniguni, Gwariu River, 145–190 m (AMNH 73995, 73997, 74001, 74112); Peria Creek crossing, Kwagira River, 50 m (AMNH 74261, 74334); N slope Mt. Dayman, 700 m (AMNH 74197, 74343); Morobe Province: 9.7 km NW summit Mt. Shungol, 6.79065ºS, 146.66535ºE, 320 m (BPBM 18654); Lae (AMNH 66702); near Lae (AMNH 95174, 95652, 103240–41); Oomsis Creek (AMNH 92338–40); Masba Creek (AMNH 95648–51); Garaina (AMNH 104870); Boana (MCZ 98926); Gusiko (MCZ 49611, USNM 119230–31); Finschhafen (USNM 159912–14); Lambeang, Mongi River (MCZ 54244–45); Oro Province: Mt. Lamington (AMS 9967, 9969); Sangara (MCZ 140983).
Referred specimens. Milne Bay Province: Normanby Island, SE Sewa Bay, 10.0416666ºS, 150.9817351ºE, 170 m (BPBM 16866); Waikaiuna (AMNH 76725).
Diagnosis. A moderately large (88–134 mm) species of Cyrtodactylus having a single row of enlarged subcaudal scales; enlarged dorsal tubercles raised, keeled, ~3–4 times size of adjacent granules (Fig. 2 A), in 26–35 rows; lateral tubercles distinct or not, ~2–3 times size of adjacent granules and same size as scales of lateral skin fold, which contain small tubercles; 31–45 midbelly scale rows; precloacal/femoral pores 60–82, in single continuous series; lamellae under fourth toe 23–29; head rather narrow (HW/HL = 0.62–0.69, mean 0.66); four or five dark dorsal bands between head and hindlimb insertion, of more-or-less even width, margined in black, with 6–9 tubercles sagitally through 3rd dark band; dark spots absent from light dorsal ground color; mouth and cloacal linings pink; ventral scales minutely stippled with black; posterior supralabials dirty white; and iris reddish brown.
Comparisons with other species. Cyrtodactylus epiroticus sp. nov. is distinguished from all other Papuan members of the genus except C. aaroni, C. mimikanus, C. murua, C. tuberculatus, C. salomonensis, C. louisiadensis, C. klugei sp. nov., C. robustus sp. nov., and C. tripartitus sp. nov. by its single row of enlarged subcaudals. From C. aaroni and C. mimikanus it is distinguished by its larger size (SV = 88–134 mm vs. 70– 86.5 mm in C. aaroni), in having a large number of precloacal/femoral pores (60–82 vs. 17–27 in C. aaroni and <40 in C. mimikanus) in a single series (vs. three discrete patches), and in having fewer dark dorsal bands between the head and hindlimbs (4–5 vs. 8–11 in C. aaroni and C. mimikanus). From C. murua it is distinguished by having a greater number of dorsal tubercles (26–35 rows vs. 20–22 in C. murua), dorsal bands of approximately equal width to intervening ground color (vs. wider in C. murua) and of even width across dorsum (vs. broadening medially in C. murua), and lacking (vs. having) dark spots in the light dorsal ground color. From C. tuberculatus it is distinguished by its larger size (SV = 88–134 mm vs. 80–89 mm in C. tuberculatus), greater number of precloacal/femoral pores (60–82 vs. 36–46 in C. tuberculatus), in having (vs. lacking in C. tuberculatus) lateral tubercles arrayed along the lateral skin fold, and by having fewer dark dorsal bands (4–5 vs. 6–7 in C. tuberculatus). From C. salomonensis it is distinguished by having a narrower head (HW/HL = 0.62–0.69, mean 0.66 vs. 0.72–0.77, mean 0.75 in C. salomonensis), smaller dorsal tubercles (~3– 4 times size of adjacent granules vs. ~5–6 times in C. salomonensis), fewer dark dorsal bands (4–5 vs. 6–7 in C. salomonensis) of even width across the dorsum (vs. of irregular, and frequently divided, shape in C. salomonensis), and reddish brown iris (vs. greenish yellow in C. salomonensis). From C. louisiadensis it differs in having conical, keeled dorsal tubercles (vs. flat and unkeeled in C. louisiadensis) of larger size (~3–4 times size of adjacent granules vs. ~2–3 times in C. louisiadensis); usually five (vs. four) dark dorsal bands; ventral scales minutely stippled with black (vs. clouded with brown); and posterior supralabials dirty white (vs. brown in C. louisiadensis). From C. klugei it differs in having more rows of dorsal tubercles (26–35 rows vs. 20–23 in C. klugei), fewer midbelly scale rows (31–45, mean 37.4 rows vs. 43–49, mean 46.3 rows in C. klugei), the lateral tubercles approximately the same size as (vs. larger than) the scales of the lateral skin fold, and with 6–9 tubercles sagitally through 3rd dark band (vs. 5–6 in C. klugei). From C. robustus it differs in its smaller adult size (88–134 mm vs. 127–161 mm in C. robustus), smaller dorsal tubercles (~3–4 times size of adjacent granules vs. ~5–7 times in C. robustus), smaller lateral tubercles (~2–3 times size of adjacent granules vs. ~4–7 times in C. robustus), the lateral tubercles approximately the same size as (vs. larger than) the scales of the lateral skin fold, narrower head (HW/HL = 0.62–0.69, mean 0.66 vs. 0.69–0.84, mean 0.77 in C.
robustus), and in lacking (vs. having) dark spots in the light dorsal ground color. From C. tripartitus it differs in having smaller lateral tubercles (~2–3 times size of adjacent granules vs. ~4 times in C. tripartitus), the lateral tubercles approximately the same size as (vs. larger than) the scales of the lateral skin fold, the precloacal/ femoral pores arrayed in a single continuous series (vs. in three discrete patches in C. tripartitus), fewer midbelly scale rows (31–45, mean 37.4 vs. 47–55, mean 51.8 in C. tripartitus), and narrower head (HW/HL = 0.62–0.69, mean 0.66 vs. 0.68–0.75, mean 0.71 in C. tripartitus).
Description of holotype: A mature male, with lateral incision and digestive tract removed. Animal large (SV = 110 mm, TrL = 48.9 mm); tail folded back on itself and unamenable to accurate measurement, a little shorter than SV. Head relatively long (HL/SV = 0.28) and wide (HW/HL = 0.69), not depressed (HH/HL = 0.39), distinct from neck. Loreal region slightly inflated; canthus rostralis poorly defined. Interorbital region and top of snout concave. Snout relatively long (SN/HL = 0.41), much longer than eye diameter (SN/EY = 2.0). Eye relatively large (EY/HL = 0.20); pupil vertical, with weakly crenellated margins; supraciliaries large, frill-like, well-differentiated from adjacent granules. Ear opening small (Ear/HL = 0.068), somewhat depressed; distance between ear and eye larger than eye diameter. Rostral wider (5.0 mm) than high (2.7 mm), highest just medial to nares, lower between these points; length 2.0 mm; dorsal half divided by weak medial groove. Two enlarged supranasals separated by two internasals. Rostral in contact with first supralabials, two supranasals, and one internasal. External nares circular; each bordered by rostral, supranasal, first supralabial, and nasal. Nasal bordered posteriorly by four small granular scales. Circa five rows of small scales separate orbit from supralabials at narrowest point. Mental shallowly triangular, wider (4.3 mm) than long (2.5 mm). Mental bordered posteriorly by two elongated postmentals. Infralabials bordered by enlarged, elongate scales that gradually decrease in size posteriorly. Supralabials to mid-orbital position ten on right side, nine on left; to angle of jaw 14 on each side. Infralabials ten on right, 11 on left.
Body moderately robust (TrL/SV = 0.44), with well-developed lateral skin folds consisting of scales that are slightly larger than adjacent ventral scales and dorsal granules; enlarged tubercles in lateral skin fold. Dorsal scales on head, body, and limbs tiny, juxtaposed granules, each with small raised asperities. Conical tubercles present on head, body, and limbs; best developed posteriorly; 2–4 times size of adjacent granules; distinct from granules in profile. Dorsal tubercles with one weak keel, better developed posteriorly; those on head, limbs, and sides of body unkeeled. Tubercles arranged in approximately 32 rows between the lateral folds. Ventral scales flat and smooth; those on chin and throat smaller and juxtaposed; those on abdomen larger and subimbricate, arrayed in 36 rows across mid-venter.
Precloacal and femoral pores 64, in a single continuous series. Scales of precloacal and femoral regions of approximately uniform size and not distinct from those on abdomen; scales on posterior femoral region smaller, one-third to one-half size of precloacal scales. No precloacal groove. Scales on palms and soles rounded, smooth.
Fore- and hindlimbs relatively well-developed (FA/SV = 0.14, CS/SV = 0.16). Digits well-developed, reflected at basal interphalangeal joints; all with robust, recurved claws surrounded by two scales. Subdigital lamellae narrow and smooth, expanded proximally. Lamellae of manus 19–20–24–24–20 on right, 18–21–24– 22–20 on left; of pes 19–23–26–28–22 on right, 18–22–25–27–24 on left. Relative lengths of digits on manus I <V <II <III <IV; on pes I <II <V <III <IV. No interdigital webbing on manus or pes.
Tail regenerated, with rather narrow base (TW/SV = 0.091), tapering to a blunt point, with single row of enlarged subcaudals until regenerated portion. Cloacal sacs slightly swollen, with small external orifices situated near lateral margins of vent; midventral scales of sac not distinctly larger than those ventrolaterally. Scales of tail small, flat, smooth, subimbricate; with approximately 12 rows of enlarged dorsal tubercles just behind cloacal sacs but gradually diminishing and disappearing distally; one (right) or two (left) enlarged postcloacal spurs on sides of tailbase.
Color in preservative: Dorsal ground color light tan; dark tan chevron on nape whose anterior arms enter posterior border of eye; dark line continues on face from eye to rostral; four more dark tan bands to region between hindlimbs; three more on tail, followed by dark brown regenerated portion. Dark dorsal bands of approximately even width across dorsum, each marked by dark brown margins, these in turn bordered externally by light margins. Top of head medium brown, but pale tan anterior to dark nuchal chevron. Tubercles same color as surrounding granules. Labials white posteriorly, brown anteriorly, highly contrasting with face. Venter of dirty white ground color suffused with light brown and densely stippled with minute black punctations. Palms and soles light brown.
Measurements (in mm). SV = 110, TrL = 48.9, TW = 10.0, FA = 15.1, CS = 17.8, HL = 30.8, HW = 21.3, HH = 12.1, Ear = 2.1, EE = 9.1, EY = 6.2, SN = 12.7, EN = 10.1, IN = 4.4, IO = 7.8.
Color in life. – Field notes for BPBM 15434 (Fig. 1 D) note the color in life to be: “Dorsum dark brown with chocolate brown crossbands, each bordered narrowly by light brown. Eye slightly reddish brown. Venter purple-gray.”
Variation. The type series consists of 18 adult males varying from 88–134 mm SV, 15 adult females varying from 94–123 mm, one immature male of 83 mm, one immature female of 65 mm, and four juveniles varying from 49–56 mm. Mensural data for the type series are given in Table 4. Supralabials to center of eye vary from 8–12, to angle of jaw 11–17. Infralabials vary from 9–13, fourth toe lamellae 23–29, mid-belly scale rows 31–45, and number of rows of dorsal tubercles 26–35. Numbers of precloacal/femoral pores vary from 60–82.
Color pattern includes either four (n = 3) or five (n = 35) dark dorsal bands (including the nuchal chevron), all with black edges that are further margined in light tan. These dark bands contrast well with the lighter ground color. The dark bands may sometimes be wider mid-dorsally than on the sides but are usually of fairly constant width. In a few specimens (e.g., AMNH 95649, 95651) the bands develop somewhat sinuous margins. The labials are generally white and contrast well with the sides of the face; however, in a few specimens they are somewhat suffused with brown and appear duller.
Etymology. The trivial epithet is a Greek masculine adjective meaning “continental” or “from the mainland” in reference to its distribution on the main island of New Guinea.
Range. Ranging throughout the eastern margin of New Guinea from the Sarawaget Mts. of Morobe Province south through the Owen Stanley Mts. of the Papuan Peninsula to Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea (Fig. 3, circles). Specimens for which I have data appear in lowland forest, ranging from near sea level up to at least 750 m. Specimens from the D’Entrecasteaux Islands (Ferguson, Normanby) also appear to belong to this species, but there are insufficient numbers to rigorously assess whether they might prove to be an endemic form instead.
Ecology. I have found animals at night on the trunks of large trees and on saplings in primary or advanced secondary forest. Specimens have come from near sea level to an elevation of at least 750 m elevation. I have found them syntopic with the geckos Cyrtodactylus novaeguineae (Schlegel), Gekko vittatus, at least one undetermined species of Nactus, and N. vankampeni (Brongersma).
description: Published as part of Kraus, Fred, 2008, Taxonomic partitioning of Cyrtodactylus louisiadensis (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea, pp. 1-27 in Zootaxa 1883 on pages 19-23, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.184270