Between sand, rocks and branches: an integrative taxonomic revision of Angolan Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820, with description of four new species

Abstract

The taxonomy of Angolan Hemidactylus has recently been revised. However, the lack of fresh material for some groups and regions, has led to the misidentification of some taxa and an underestimation of actual diversity in others. To shed light on the evolutionary history and systematics of Angolan Hemidactylus, we generated a new phylogenetic hypothesis for the group, and updated the taxonomy following an integrative approach. This resulted in the description of four new species (H. pfindaensissp. nov., H. faustussp. nov., H. carivoensissp. nov. and H. cinganjisp. nov.), the reevaluation of two recently described species (H. vernayi and H. paivae) and the synonymization of a recently described species (H. hannahsabinnae). We estimate divergence times for these lineages, providing a preliminary interpretation of their speciation process. Moreover, we suggest and outline 13 Angolan Main Biogeographic Units (AMBUs) in the area, defining a new biogeographic context for future works on Angolan herpetofauna. We now recognize eleven Hemidactylus species in Angola, and we provide here a new morphological key for Angolan Hemidactylus to help with identifications and species assignments in this group.

A new species of feather-tailed leaf-toed gecko, Kolekanos Heinicke, Daza, Greenbaum, Jackman, Bauer, 2014 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from the poorly explored savannah of western Angola

“…However, this difference could be associated with sexual dimorphism, since the only two specimens of K. plumicaudus represent one of each sex. Thus, this work underlines the importance of using larger series of material to fully infer diagnostic characters between species ( Lobón-Rovira et al 2021 ) and these being even more important to infer osteological variability ( Bochaton et al 2018 ), including sexual dimorphism. While we consider that the external diagnostic characters are sufficient to identify these species, we suggest caution while using the osteological differences to distinguish these two taxa due to the small sampling size available.…”

“…Using molecular and morphological evidence, we herein described a new leaf-toed gecko, from southern Benguela Province, Angola, Kolekanos spinicaudus sp. nov., thereby adding another species to the growing list of gekkonids described in the last decade from this poorly-known African country ( Ceríaco et al 2020a , b ; Marques et al 2020 ; Branch et al 2021 ; Lobón-Rovira et al 2021 ; Conradie et al 2022b ). The recognition of K. spinicaudus sp.…”

“…While K. plumicaudus presented a more slender head and body and seems more strongly associated with the more arid environments of the Angolan Kaokoveld Desert in Namibe Province, the sister species, K. spinicaudus sp. nov. presented a more robust head, body and limbs and is apparently only found in the semi-arid savannahs of Benguela Province ( Lobón-Rovira et al 2021 ). The two species are quite agile and often found foraging in bushes.…”

“…Access to newly-collected material from these regions has brought new opportunities to understand the evolutionary patterns of African herpetofauna, especially African gekkonids. This is particularly noteworthy in terms of the remarkable increase in knowledge of Angolan herpetofauna, with the description of 34 new species ( Conradie et al 2012a , b , 2013 , 2020a , 2022a ; Stanley et al 2016 ; Ceríaco et al 2018a , 2020a , b , c , 2021 ; Branch et al 2019a , 2021 ; Marques et al 2019a , b , 2020 , 2022a , b ; Hallermann et al 2020 ; Nielsen et al 2020 ; Baptista et al 2021 ; Lobón-Rovira et al 2021 ; Parrinha et al 2021 ; Wagner et al 2021 ) and several new country records ( Branch and Conradie 2013 ; Conradie and Bourquin 2013 ; Ernst et al 2014 , 2015 ; Branch et al 2019b ; Conradie et al 2020b , 2021 ; Lobón-Rovira et al 2022c ) in the last decade. This increase has been especially evident within gekkonids, where the number of taxa has risen to over 45 recognised species for the country ( Marques et al 2020 ; Ceríaco et al 2020a , b ; Branch et al 2021 ; Lobón-Rovira et al 2021 , 2022c ; Conradie et al 2022b ) including two endemic leaf-toed gecko genera, Kolekanos (Heinicke et al 2004) and Bauerius ( Lobón-Rovira et al 2022a ).…”

Taxonomical review of Prosymna angolensis Boulenger, 1915 (Elapoidea, Prosymnidae) with the description of two new species

“…In the last decade a renewed interest in the Angolan herpetofauna has led to numerous expeditions to remote areas. Consequently, the number of species recorded from the country, has increased considerably ( Conradie et al 2012a , 2012b , 2013 , 2020 ; Stanley et al 2016 ; Ceríaco et al 2018 , 2020a , 2020b , 2020c , 2021b ; Branch et al 2019, 2021 ; Marques et al 2019a , 2019b , 2020 , 2022a , 2022b ; Hallermann et al 2020 ; Nielsen et al 2020 ; Baptista et al 2021 ; Lobón-Rovira et al 2021 ; Parrinha et al 2021 ; Wagner et al 2021 ). Among these are four new species of snakes ( Conradie et al 2020 ; Hallermann et al 2020 ).…”