Phylogenetic taxonomy of Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with descriptions of three new species from Myanmar. Issue 13 (30th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grismer, L. Lee; Wood Jr, Perry L.; Kyaw Thura, Myint; Zin, Thaw; Quah, Evan S. H.; Murdoch, Matthew L.; Grismer, Marta S.; Li, Aung; Kyaw, Htet; Lwin, Ngwe
• Is Part Of: Journal of natural history. Volume 52:Issue 13/16(2018)
• Page Start: 881
• Page End: 915
• Publication Date: 2018-03-30
• Subjects: Phylogenetic taxonomy -- new species -- Myanmar -- karst -- Hemiphyllodactylus -- Gekkonidae; Natural history -- Periodicals; 508
• DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2017.1367045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2933

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A phylogenetic taxonomy of the gekkonid genus Hemiphyllodactylus based on molecular, morphological, and ecological data recovered 28 species, including three new species from the upland regions of the Shan Plateau in eastern Myanmar. Hemiphyllodactylus linnwayensis sp. nov. is a forest-adapted species that may also be a human commensal and H. montawaensis sp. nov. and H. tonywhitteni sp. nov. are karst forest-adapted species. The discovery of three new species from montane regions in eastern Myanmar extends the distribution of a larger monophyletic group of Hemiphyllodactylus westward to the eastern edge of the Ayeyrawady Basin through a series of semi-contiguous, parallel mountain ranges originating in western China and northern Thailand. The discovery of the karst forest-adapted H. montawaensis sp. nov. and H. tonywhitteni sp. nov. further emphasizes the unrealized herpetological diversity endemic to karst ecosystems and the need for increased field work throughout such habitats in South-East Asia. www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E42FA075-E8E0-4005-98AB-12E8D5F23A07