A NEW DISTRIBUTION RECORD OF Cyrtodactylus soni Le, Nguyen, Le & Ziegler, 2016 (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) FROM HOA BINH PROVINCE AND THREATS TO THE POPULATION

Abstract

A new population of the Son’s Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus soni), an endemic species of Vietnam is reported for the first time from Hoa Binh Province based on three male adult specimens collected in June 2018 within a karst cave of Dong Tam commune, Lac Thuy District. The population of this species in Hoa Binh Province is threatened by habitat loss through converting forest to agriculture and quarrying of limestone. Assessment of population status and threats to the population in the study area is urgently needed to provide scientific data for conservation measures.