Hiding on jagged karst pinnacles: A new microendemic genus and species of a limestone-dwelling agamid lizard (Squamata: Agamidae: Draconinae) from Khammouan Province, Laos

Abstract

We describe a unique new species and genus of agamid lizard from the karstic massifs of Khammouan Province, central Laos. Laodracon carsticola Gen. et sp. nov. is an elusive medium-sized lizard (maximum snout-vent length 101 mm) specifically adapted to life on limestone rocks and pinnacles. To assess the phylogenetic position of the new genus amongst other agamids, we generated DNA sequences from two mitochondrial gene fragments (16S rRNA and ND 2) and three nuclear loci ( BDNF , RAG1 and c-mos ), with a final alignment comprising 7 418 base pairs for 64 agamid species. Phylogenetic analyses unambiguously place the new genus in the mainland Asia subfamily Draconinae, where it forms a clade sister to the genus Diploderma from East Asia and the northern part of Southeast Asia. Morphologically, the new genus is distinguished from all other genera in Draconinae by possessing a notably swollen tail base with enlarged scales on its dorsal and ventral surfaces. Our work provides further evidence that limestone regions of Indochina represent unique “arks of biodiversity” and harbor numerous relict lineages. To date, Laodracon carsticola Gen. et sp. nov. is known from only two adult male specimens and its distribution seems to be restricted to a narrow limestone massif on the border of Khammouan and Bolikhamxai provinces of Laos. Additional studies are required to understand its life history, distribution, and conservation status.

Impact of letters to the editor and publications in 2023

“…Lyu et al ( 2023 ) proposed a new 10-genus classification for the Asian horned toad subfamily Megophryinae based on phylogenetic relationships and morphological differences and further reviewed the taxonomic history of Asian horned toad species in China. Sitthivong et al ( 2023 ) described a new microendemic genus and species of a limestone-dwelling agamid lizard (Squamata: Agamidae: Draconinae) from Laos, which was read more than 16 000 times within three weeks of its online publication, representing the most viewed ZR paper published in 2023. Qiu et al ( 2023 ) identified and described eight subspecies of mainland Apis cerana , providing insights into their evolutionary history and subspecies boundaries to enable customized conservation strategies for both widespread and endemic honeybee populations, thereby informing colony introduction and breeding strategies.…”