A new species of short-fingered geckos Stenodactylus (Squamata, Geckonidae) from South Iran with taxonomic notes on validity of the genus Trigonodactylus Hass, 1957

Abstract

In the present study we provide evidence for the validity of the genus Trigonodactylus Hass, 1957, improve the diagnosis for this genus and describe a new species that belongs to it—Trigonodactylus persicus sp. nov., from the sand dunes in Khuzestan Province, southwestern Iran. The new species is closely related to Trigonodactylus [Stenodactylus] arabicus sensu Hass, and can be distinguished by the following morphological characteristics: small size, maximum SVL 34 mm; SVL/TailL—approximately 1:1; ventral scales roundish, weakly keeled, 54–61 longitudinal rows at midbody and 190–25 along midbody. No enlarged postmentals. Fingers and toes slightly flattened dorso-ventrally. Lateral edge of digits fringed by series of projecting triangular scales. No web between digits. No preanal and femoral pores. Dorsal color pattern formed by thin, dark, irregular vermicular patches and spots. Sometimes these dark dorsal patterns blend with each other and form transverse bands. There is a narrow, dark, longitudinal line between forelimbs and hindlimbs on lateral sides. Dark, well developed ʌ-shaped marking on snout, which continues behind orbit on tympanum region, approaches the upper ear opening and ends on the pectoral arch. Labial scales white, in some cases with grey-brown dots. Dorsal surfaces of limbs and digits with irregular dark bands. Dorsal surface of tail with 8–10 wide, dark brown bands with irregular margins, same size as alternating light bands. Ventral surface of body and limbs white, tail with dark spots that become more distinct posteriorly.

Diversity patterns and evolutionary history of Arabian squamates

“…For example, many new species have been described or documented for the first time in the Arabian Peninsula (e.g. Carranza & Arnold, 2012;Machado et al, 2019;Sindaco et al, 2018;Šmíd, Moravec, et al, 2017;Šmíd et al, 2015;Tamar, Mitsi, et al, 2019), subspecies have been raised to the species level (Šmíd et al, 2021), generic reassignments have been made (Nazarov et al, 2018;de Pous et al, 2016), candidate species have been delimited (Garcia-Porta et al, 2017;Simó-Riudalbas et al, 2019), results of regional surveys have been published (e.g. Alshammari et al, 2017;Alshammari & Ibrahim, 2015), previously unexplored areas have been surveyed (Metallinou et al, 2014;Šmíd, 2010), and detailed atlases have been compiled (Sindaco & Jeremčenko, 2008;Gardner, 2013;Sindaco et al, 2013 see Appendix S1 for a complete list of references).…”