Lepidodactylus kwasnickae, Kraus, 2019

Kraus, Fred, 2019, New species of Lepidodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from New Guinea and adjacent islands, Zootaxa 4651 (2), pp. 305-329 : 316-321

Lepidodactylus kwasnickae sp. nov.

Fig. 3B, E , 4B, C, D

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Holotype. BPBM 39880 (field tag FK 15809), mature male, collected by F. Kraus and local villagers at Gisabwai, 9.0760°S, 152.7748°E, 110 m, Woodlark Island , Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, 12 October 2011.

Paratypes (n=9). Same data as holotype ( BPBM 39879 , 39881–82 ) except collected 17 October 2011 ( BPBM 39883–84 ) ; Upper Muniai River , 9.1216°S, 152.7486°E, 67 m, 17 October 2010 ( BPBM 39149 ) ; Gisabwai , 9.0745°S, 152.77265°E, 105 m, 19 October 2010 ( BPBM 39150–51 ) ; Piak Track , 9.1153°S, 152.7484°E, 60 m, 22 October 2010 ( BPBM 39152 ) .

Diagnosis. A medium-sized species (adult SVL 41.5–49.5 mm) species of Lepidodactylus having a subcylindrical tail without a lateral fringe of enlarged scales; 2–3 divided subterminal scansors on T4; 12–15 enlarged scales of pore-bearing series limited to precloacal region, 12–14 precloacal pores in males; 12–20 T4 lamellae, 8–12 T1 lamellae; lamellae occupying most of the length of the toes (T4lamellaeL/T4L = 0.67–0.93); toes relatively long (T4L/SVL = 0.11–0.13) and of moderate width (T4W/T4L = 0.26–0.34); toes approximately one-quarter webbed (T3T4webL/T4L = 0.18–0.26); numerous (9–10) small precloacal scales between apex of pore-bearing series and the cloaca in adults; no row of tiny scales between the precloacal series and either side of the pubic patch; row of dorsolateral white spots, lacking dark spots in this region; and many posteroventral and plantar scales uniformly brown.

Comparisons with other species. The subcylindrical tail without a lateral fringe of enlarged scales and the 2–3 divided subterminal scansors under the toes place Lepidodactylus kwasnickae sp. nov. in Brown and Parker’s (1977) Group II. Lepidodactylus kwasnickae sp. nov. differs from other Melanesian members of this group as follows: from L. guppyi , L. pulcher , and L. shebae in having fewer enlarged precloacal scales (12–15 versus 39–52, 18–20, and 34, respectively) and fewer precloacal pores (12–14 versus 39–52, 16, and 32, respectively); and further differs from L. pulcher in having the lamellae occupy less area on the fourth toe (T4lamellaeL/T4L = 0.67–0.93 versus 1.0 in L. pulcher ) and from L. shebae in its larger adult size (SVL 41.5–49.5 mm versus ~ 36 mm in L. shebae ). It differs from L. novaeguineae in having more T4 lamellae (12–20 versus 9–15 in L. novaeguineae , Fig. 3E versus 3F), a longer fourth toe (T4L/SVL = 0.11–0.13 versus 0.10 in L. novaeguineae ), dorsum and sides usually rufescent and with dorsolateral series of white spots (versus dorsal pattern with longitudinal dark-brown streaks or dorsolateral series of bold dark-brown spots in L. novaeguineae ), and many posteroventral and plantar scales uni- formly brown (versus only with minute black punctations in L. novaeguineae , Fig. 3E versus 3F)). It differs from L. mitchelli sp. nov. in its larger adult size (SVL = mean 45.7 mm, range 41.5–49.5 mm versus mean 40.3, range = 35–45.5 mm in L. mitchelli sp. nov., mass = mean 2.36 g, range 1.85–2.95 g versus mean 1.63 g, range 1.15–2.15 g in L. mitchelli sp. nov.); longer fourth toe (T4L/SVL = 0.11–0.13 versus 0.089–0.11 in L. mitchelli sp. nov.); more and smaller scales between the enlarged precloacal series and the opening of the cloaca in adults (9–10 vs 6–8 in L. mitchelli sp. nov.); tiny scales between the precloacal series and either side of the pubic patch absent (present in L. mitchelli sp. nov.); and dorsum and sides more boldly patterned, usually rufescent, and with row of dorsolateral white spots (versus dorsal pattern obscure, brown, and without dorsolateral white spots in L. mitchelli sp. nov., Fig. 4A versus 4B, C, D).

Description of holotype. A mature male of medium size (SVL = 41.5 mm, TrL = 19.3 mm). Head relatively long (HL/SVL = 0.23) and wide (HW/HL = 0.88), distinct from neck. Loreal region slightly inflated; no distinct canthus rostralis. Top of snout, area between nares, and area posterior to nares concave. Snout tapered and rounded at tip, relatively long (SN/HL = 0.42), longer than eye diameter (SN/EY = 1.6). Eye relatively large (EY/HL = 0.26, EY/EN = 0.71); pupil vertical, constricted into series of four lobes; supraciliaries same size as adjacent granules. Ear opening small (Ear/HL = 0.083), compressed, oriented diagonally from posterodorsal to anteroventral on right, semicircular on left; distance between ear and eye larger than eye diameter (EE/EY = 1.4). Rostral wider (1.9 mm) than high (0.85 mm), highest just medial to nares, lower between these points; length (0.2 mm); barely visible from above. Supranasals separated by three internasals. Rostral in contact with first supralabials, two supranasals, and three internasals. External nares circular; each bordered by rostral, two supranasals, first supralabial, and one postnasal. Mental shallowly triangular, wider (0.90 mm) than long (0.75 mm). Mental bordered posteriorly by two enlarged postmentals, these bordered posteriorly by three rows of enlarged gulars that are followed by smaller, granular chin scales. First three infralabials bordered below by somewhat enlarged scales; remaining scales below infralabials of approximately twice size of central throat scales. Supralabials to mid-orbital position ten on each side; to angle of jaw 12 on each side. Infralabials 12 on right, 13 on left.

Body of modest habitus (TrL/SVL = 0.47), slightly depressed. Dorsal scales on head, body, limbs, and throat tiny, juxtaposed granules, larger on sides and snout; tubercles absent. Ventral scales flatter but somewhat beaded, smooth, subimbricate, gradually decreasing in size laterally to become granular.

Enlarged precloacal scales in single series of 14, each bearing a pore; no enlarged scales on thighs. Enlarged scales form a pubic patch between the precloacal series and vent; no tiny scales between the precloacal series and either side of the pubic patch; ten scales in a row between apex of enlarged precloacal series and vent. Scales on palms and soles rounded, smooth.

Fore- and hindlimbs relatively small but well-developed (FA/SVL = 0.11, CS/SVL = 0.14). Digits well-developed, fairly narrowly dilated throughout their length (T4W/T4L = 0.30), all but first fingers and toes with recurved claws; clawed phalanges laterally compressed, free above and extending slightly beyond terminal scansors. Subdigital lamellae narrow and smooth, all digits with 2–3 divided subterminal scansors; lamellae extend for most of length of each toe (T4 scansor L/T4L = 0.74). Lamellae of manus 7–10–12–14 –10 on right, 8–11–13–13 –11 on left; of pes 11–14–16–15 –9 on right, 9–9–16–14 –9 on left. Relative lengths of digits on manus and pes I <II <V <III <IV. Webbing present between all digits; toes only one-fifth webbed (T3T4webL/T4L = 0.21).

Tail regenerated behind cloacal sacs, subcylindrical, not as long as body (TL/SVL = 0.95), relatively wide (TW/SVL = 0.11); lateral margins without skin flanges or spines. Scales of tail small, flat, smooth, subimbricate, slightly larger ventrally than dorsally. Cloacal sacs swollen, with small external orifices situated near lateral margins of vent; one small, blunt postcloacal spur on each side of tailbase; midventral scales of sac slightly larger than those ventrolaterally.

Color in preservative: Dorsal ground color medium brown, heavily mottled laterally and dorsolaterally with darker brown arrayed into five or six approximate bands divided mid-dorsally; top of head and snout uniformly dark brown. Body with dorsolateral and lateral rows of obscure white dots, each comprising only 1–2 granules. A short, poorly demarcated, pale postocular stripe present. Tail same color as body but with dark markings arrayed into narrow diagonal lines. Venter white with few scattered brown scales, these denser on chin, under limbs, and on palmar and plantar surfaces; under tail brown. Iris copper colored and heavily veined with dark copper; pupil light gray.

Measurements (in mm). SVL = 41.5, TrL = 19.3, TL = 39.5, TW = 4.5, FA = 4.5, CS = 5.8, HL = 9.6, HW = 8.4, Ear = 0.8, EE = 3.4, EY = 2.5, SN = 4.0, EN = 3.5, IN = 2.0, T4L = 4.7, T4W = 1.4, T4 scansor L = 3.5, T3T4webL = 1.0, mass (g) = 1.85.

Variation. The enlarged precloacal scales vary from 12–15, and the number of precloacal pores from 12–14. Number of T4 lamellae range from 12–20, with individuals varying considerably in the extent to which the proximal scales under the digits are subdivided. Based on the small sample available, females appear to have more lamellae than males ( Table 2 ). Number of divided subterminal scansors varies from 2–3 and is most often two; divided subterminal scansors are lacking on the first digit of the manus in only BPBM 39151 (both sides) and BPBM 39881 (left side). Lamellae occupy most of the length of each digit (T4 scansor L/T4L = 0.67–0.93, mean = 0.83). The modal number of supralabials to under the pupil is nine, but two specimens have eight and three have ten. Toes are relatively narrow (T4W/T4L = 0.26–0.34, mean = 0.31) and have relatively little webbing (T3T4webL/T4L = 0.18–0.26, mean = 0.22). Otherwise, mensural features show relatively little variation except that females seem to have smaller ears, and the juvenile (BPBM 39150) has a relatively shorter trunk, wider head, wider snout, larger eye, and larger ear than do adults ( Table 2 ).

With one important exception, dorsal color pattern in the adult paratypes is much like that seen in the holotype except that BPBM 39883 has the crossbands better developed and BPBM 38881 is paler overall. However, BPBM 39151 differs considerably from all other adult specimens, having a wide orange-brown mid-dorsal stripe below which the sides are evenly dark brown ( Fig. 4D ). Lateral and dorsolateral rows of pale spots are present in all speci- mens but vary in their distinctiveness. The venters are white with a few brown scales (as seen in the holotype) in BPBM 39149 and BPBM 39879 but are more spotted with brown in the other specimens, and are heavily spotted with brown scales in BPBM 39152 and BPBM 39882. All specimens have the pale postocular stripe and copper iris heavily veined with dark copper as seen in the holotype. The juvenile is brown with a wide mid-dorsal stripe of pale brown narrowly margined posteriorly with dark brown; venter heavily peppered with brown.

Color in life. This species shows considerable variation in color pattern. Field notes for BPBM 39149 stated “Dorsum tan with six irregular dark-brown crossbands, each partially or entirely divided by ground color vertebrally. Four more brown bands on tail, each margined posteriorly in dark brown and then white. Lips and face with faint yellowish cast. Venter white, heavily speckled with brown, but with faint yellow wash on throat (but not on chin). Iris tan reticulated with dark brown. Brown dorsal bands almost speckled in appearance because of interspersed tan scales.” BPBM 39879 was brown with irregular darker-brown bands; sides darker than mid-dorsum; bands on the tail dark brown on a tan ground; with a light-brown postocular stripe ( Fig. 4C ); venter white with brown punctations, yellower around vent. The holotype (BPBM 39880) was similar but with a row of white spots on each side ( Fig. 4B ); BPBM 39881 was the same but with tan spots on sides. An alternate color pattern was found in the juvenile BPBM 39150: “Dark-orange vertebral stripe bordered by charcoal-gray stripes, below which everything is dark gray. Mid-venter with pink cast.” BPBM 39151 had a similar striped pattern but the colors differed: “Light orange vertebral stripe and light orange on top of head. Vertebral stripe bordered by black stripe on each side, below which is tan with dark-brown spots, some of these elongated and arrayed in a broken lateral stripe. Venter white, heavily speckled with brown scales. Iris tan reticulated with dark brown. Tongue pink.” BPBM 39152 was dark brown above with an orange-brown vertebral zigzag and scattered tan dots laterally.

Etymology. The name is a genitive honorific for my friend Gretta Kwasnicka who has long provided gracious hospitality and support for my fieldwork in Milne Bay Province.

Range. Known from central Woodlark Island, but it no doubt ranges across the entire extent of this low (maximum elevation 240 m) island ( Fig. 2 ).

Ecology. We collected this species from Pandanus axils in densely shaded second-growth forest ( Fig. 5B ). In nearby areas that had been largely cleared of trees, L. lugubris occupied the remaining Pandanus trees. Hence, this species appears to be an obligate forest dweller. Much of Woodlark Island is currently covered by recovering secondary rainforest, so habitat for this apparently obligate forest dweller is presently adequate.

BPBM 39883 had a few mites between the lamellae of one toe.

Remarks. This species was found to be the sister taxon to L. mitchelli sp. nov. in the phylogenetic study of Oliver et al. (2018a), and these two species were estimated by them to have been separated for approximately 4 MY, which accords well with the timing of the opening of the Woodlark Rift, which has moved Woodlark Island away from the other islands of Milne Bay Province since that time ( Taylor et al. 1999).

I have earlier ( Kraus 2017) discussed conservation threats to the forests of Woodlark, which have included exploratory gold mining and proposals to convert much of the island to oil palm. Should outside pressures for resource exploitation continue, much of this species’ habitat could be lost, as would be true for the many other forest-dwelling endemic species on Woodlark.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Map of New Guinea and surrounding islands showing type localities for Lepidodactylus aignanus sp. nov. (diamond), L. dialeukos sp. nov. (triangle), L. kwasnickae sp. nov. (square), L. mitchelli sp. nov. (circle), and L. zweifeli sp. nov. (star).

FIGURE 3. Ventral views of (A) holotype of L. mitchelli sp. nov. (UMMZ 244058), (B) paratype of L. kwasnickae sp. nov. (BPBM 39884), and (C) paratype of L. novaeguineae (AMNH 100210) showing ventral pigmentation differences among these species; scale bars = 5 mm. Ventral views of (D) left foot of holotype of L. mitchelli sp. nov. (UMMZ 244058), (E) left foot of paratype of L. kwasnickae sp. nov. (BPBM 39884), and (F) right foot of paratype of L. novaeguineae (AMNH 100210) showing toe-width and pigmentation differences among these species; scale bars = 2 mm.

FIGURE 4. Portraits of new Lepidodactylus species in life. (A) holotype of L. mitchelli sp. nov. (UMMZ 244058), (B) holo- type of L. kwasnickae sp. nov. (BPBM 39880), (C) paratype of L. kwasnickae sp. nov. (BPBM 39879), and (D) paratype of L. kwasnickae sp. nov. (BPBM 39151).

FIGURE 5. (A) Boiaboiawaga Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, habitat of Lepidodactylus mitchelli sp. nov., photo by D. Mitchell; and (B) interior forest on Woodlark Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, habitat of L. kwas- nickae sp. nov., photo by D. Polhemus.