A new species of gecko of the Pachydactylus weberi complex is described from the NamibRand Reserve in southern Namibia. It is morphologically well differentiated from all other members of this group, in lacking thigh tubercles, and can further be distinguished by its small size (< 45 mm snout–vent length), participation of the first supralabial in the nostril rim, snout scales much larger than interorbital scales, and three body bands in juveniles and adults. It has a distinctive, bold, contrasting hatchling coloration that superficially resembles that of P. mclachlani, from which it is distinguished both morphologically and genetically. DNA sequence data from two nuclear genes (RAG-1, PDC) and the ND2 mitochondrial gene plus its five flanking tRNAs (2,975 bp) reveal that this new species is most closely related, among the taxa sampled, to P. monicae from the lower Orange River valley.
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Breviora
Vol. 524 • No. 1
June 2011
Vol. 524 • No. 1
June 2011
Gekkonidae
Namibia
new species
ontogenetic color change
Pachydactylus