How to translate text using browser tools
1 March 2010 New Forest Gecko (Squamata; Gekkonidae; Genus Luperosaurus) from Mt. Mantalingajan, Southern Palawan Island, Philippines
Rafe M. Brown, Arvin C. Diesmos, Melizar V. Duya, Harvey J. D. Garcia, Edmund Leo B. Rico
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

We describe a new species of Luperosaurus from Mt. Mantalingajan, southern Palawan Island, Philippines. The new species is distinguished from all other species of Luperosaurus by the combination of its large body size (81.3 mm for the single male specimen), near complete absence of interdigital webbing, absence of cutaneous expansions on limbs except for a minute flap on the posterior margins of the hind limbs, the presence of differentiated, moderately enlarged chin shields, 40 precloacofemoral pore-bearing scales, the limitation of scattered flattened dorsal tubercles to only the posterior portions of the torso, absence of spinose or recurved ornamental tubercles on the head and nuchal region, and convex to posteriorly raised tubercles clustered at the posterior margins of caudal tail annuli. Because the new species shares features with species in both species of Luperosaurus and Gekko, we compare the new species to (and distinguish it from) both genera. The new species is distinguished from all Southeast Asian Gekko by the combination of its smaller body size, relatively short, stout limbs, presence of only moderately enlarged, slightly imbricate ventral body scales, differentiated postmentals not highly elongate, dorsal body tubercles limited to posterior trunk and not arranged in rows, absence of enlarged, spinose tubercles on the limbs and tail, and tail encircled by small scales (enlarged subcaudals absent). The new species further emphasizes the biogeographic distinctiveness (from Sundaland fauna) and level of vertebrate endemism of Palawan Island and underscores the degree to which the biodiversity of the Philippines is not fully understood.

Rafe M. Brown, Arvin C. Diesmos, Melizar V. Duya, Harvey J. D. Garcia, and Edmund Leo B. Rico "New Forest Gecko (Squamata; Gekkonidae; Genus Luperosaurus) from Mt. Mantalingajan, Southern Palawan Island, Philippines," Journal of Herpetology 44(1), 37-48, (1 March 2010). https://doi.org/10.1670/08-316.1
Accepted: 1 March 2009; Published: 1 March 2010
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top