ABSTRACT
A new species of Cyrtodactylus is described from Vairengte town, situated in the Kolasib District of Mizoram State, north-eastern India. The new species is found to be a member of Indo-Burman Cyrtodactylus khasiensis clade based on ND2 gene sequences and morphological parameters, such as number of precloacal pores, mid-ventral scale rows, paravertebral tubercles on the trunk, dorsal tubercle rows, subdigital lamellae on pes and subcaudal scalation, making it the sixth endemic Cyrtodactylus from Mizoram and twenty second from north-east India. Moreover, phylogenetic evidence suggests the new species to be sister to the recently described C. aaronbaueri, and morphological analyses also reveal marginal separation between the two species based on the PCA of infralabials, lamellae on fingers and toes, paravertebral tubercles on the trunk, and dorsal tubercle rows.
Subject(s)
Ecosystem , Lizards , Animals , Phylogeny , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histologyABSTRACT
Herein we describe a new species of Cyrtodactylus from Lunglei District in the state of Mizoram, India. Based on morphology and ND2 gene sequences, the species was found to be a member of the Cyrtodactylus khasiensis group. The species can be identified by its moderate size (adult SVL 64.975.1 mm) with rounded, bluntly conical and feebly keeled dorsal tubercles in 2428 longitudinal rows; 3240 paravertebral tubercles between the level of the axilla and the level of the groin; 3743 mid-ventral scale rows; 35 precloacal pores in males and 57 pitted precloacal scales in females; 1618 subdigital lamellae under IV toe; no single row of transversely enlarged subcaudal scales; dorsal markings are dark brown, irregular and distinct; tail with alternating dark and light bands.
