Diploderma brevicaudum (Manthey, Denzer, Hou, Wang, 2012)

Wang, Kai, Gao, Wei, Wu, Jiawei, Dong, Wenjie, Feng, Xiaogang, Shen, Wenjing, Jin, Jieqiong, Shi, Xiudong, Qi, Yin, Siler, Cameron D. & Che, Jing, 2021, Two New Species of Diploderma Hallowell, 1861 (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) from the Hengduan Mountain Region in China and Rediscovery of D. brevicaudum (Manthey, Wolfgang, Hou, Wang, 2012), Zootaxa 4941 (1), pp. 1-32 : 10-13

Diploderma brevicaudum (Manthey, Denzer, Hou, Wang, 2012)

( Figure 3–5 ; Table 2)

Holotype: AMNH 19879, adult male. Collected by R. C. Andrews and Edmund Heller from Snow Mt. Village (27.083º N, 100.183º E; the precision is as reported originally by Manthey et al. 2012), 19km north of Lijiang, Yunnan, China in November 1916.

Paratypes: ZMB 28932, adult female, collected by Camillo Schneider from area near Lijiang , Yunnan, China (26.883º N, 100.183º E) in October 1914 ; AMNH 19878, adult female, collected by R. C. Andrew and Edmund Heller on a mountain overlooking Lijiang on 11 October 1916; NMW 20853, juvenile, collected by Heinrich Freiher von Handel-Mazzetti from Lijiang in June 1915 .

Newly collected specimens: KIZ 044497, adult male, from the Developing District of Lijiang , 20km northwest from Lijiang City, Yunnan, China (27.035º N, 100.064º E, WGS 84, elevation 1854m) ; KIZ 044305, adult female, KIZ 044306, adult male, both from the mountain overseeing Lijiang City , Yunnan, China (26.949º N, 100.199º E, WGS 84, elevation 2692m) ; all collected by Kai Wang, Zhuoyu Lu, Man Fu, and Xiankun Huang on 10 June 2019. KIZ 028338, adult female from Shangjiang Village , Shangrila County, Yunnan, China (27.372º N, 99.665º E, elevation 2152m) , collected by Kai Wang and Jinlong Ren on 10 June , 2016 .

Expanded diagnosis: Diploderma brevicaudum can be differentiated from congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) small to medium size, SVL 48.0– 57.2mm in males, 60.0– 65.2mm in females; (2) tail length moderate in males (TAL 140–184.1% SVL), short in females (125.0–159.1%); (3) head moderate in shape, HW 68.5–74.8% HL, HD 70.2–74.4% HW; (4) limbs length moderate, FLL 33–48.7% SVL, HLL 60–80.7%; (5) tympanum concealed; (6) transverse gular fold present, distinct; (7) T4S 16–23; (8) MD 34–43; (9) black radial stripes limited to superior and posterior portion of eyes; (10) dorsolateral stripes present in all males, moderately jagged, Pale Sulphur Yellow [Color 92], sometimes in females, same color as in males but much paler; (11) gular spot present in males only, Pale Sulphur Yellow [Color 92]; and (12) inner lips Sulphur Yellow [Color 80], tongue Light Orange Yellow [Color 77], remaining oral cavity mostly Light Flesh Color [Color 250] ( Table 3).

Expanded comparisons against morphologically similar congeners: Diploderma brevicaudum is similar morphologically and most closely related to D. qilin , in which both species have similar brownish dorsal body coloration and similar gular spot coloration in males (Light Sulphur Yellow [Color 93]). Additionally, both species are distributed along the upper Jinsha River close to each other. However, D. brevicaudum can be differentiated from D. qilin by having a shorter tail, particularly in females (TAL 140–184.1% SVL in males, 125.0–159.1% in females vs. 201.0–218.2% in males, 174.3–199.7% in females), a distinct inner lip and tongue coloration (inner lips Sulphur Yellow [Color 80], tongue Light Orange Yellow [Color 77] vs. both inner lips and tongue Light Flesh Color [Color 250]), and by the absence of gular spots in females (vs. presence).

Diploderma brevicaudum is also morphologically similar to D. drukdaypo and D. flavilabre , in which all three species have relatively short tails, and both D. brevicaudum and D. flavilabre have yellowish colored inner lips. However, D. brevicaudum can be differentiated from the two congeners by having Light Sulphur Yellow [Color 93] gular spots in males only (vs. absence in both sexes of D. drukdaypo, Pale Emerald Green [Color 141] to Light Turquoise Green [Color 146] in both sexes of D. flavilabre ). Furthermore, D. brevicaudum differs from D. drukdaypo by having distinctively keeled ventral body and head scales (vs. feebly keeled or smooth) and a distinct inner lip and tongue coloration (inner lips Sulphur Yellow [Color 80], tongue Light Orange Yellow [Color 77] vs. both inner lips and tongue Light Flesh Color [Color 250]); and from D. flavilabre by having distinctively keeled ventral head scales (vs. feebly keeled) and by a distinct tongue coloration (Light Orange Yellow [Color 77] vs. Light Flesh Color [Color 250]).

Diploderma brevicaudum is distributed closely with D. yulongense , but it can be differentiated from D. yulongense by having a relatively shorter tail (TAL 140–184.1% SVL in males, 125.0–159.1% in females vs. 193.7– 244.3% in males, 182.2–211.3% in females), a distinct gular coloration (present in males only, Light Sulphur Yellow [Color 93] vs. present in both sexes, Opaline Green [Color 106]), and a distinct inner lip and tongue coloration (inner lips Sulphur Yellow [Color 80], tongue Light Orange Yellow [Color 77] vs. both inner lips and tongue Light Flesh Color [Color 250]).

Coloration in life based on newly collected specimens ( Figs. 3 and 4 ). In males, the dorsal surface of head is Cinnamon-Drab [Color 50] to pale Drab [Color 19]. Two Clay Color [Color 18] to Brunt Umber [Color 48], narrow transverse streaks are present between orbits on the dorsal surface of head. Sometimes the two transverse streaks are connected via a narrow lateral streak, which is the same color as the transverse ones. The two transverse streaks on the dorsal surface of the head enter the orbit laterally on each side, forming the superior parts of the dark radial stripes around eyes. An additional Brunt Umber [Color 48], thicker streak is present from the postero-inferior corner of eye to the corner of mouth on each side. No additional radial stripes are present inferior to the eyes, and a Light Buff [Color 2] to Cream Color [12] lip-stripe is present inferior to the eyes from the nasal scale to the axis of jaw on each side.

The dorsal body is Amber [Color 51] in background. Two Light Yellow Ocher [Color 13] to pale Sulphur Yellow [Color 80], jagged dorsolateral stripes are present from the neck to the pelvis on each side of the body. Five to Six Brunt Umber [Color 48], triangular patches are evenly distributed along the vertebral line between the dorsolateral stripes from the neck to the base of the tail, all of which pointing posteriorly. The dorsal color of Amber [Color 51] transitions sharply into Drab [Color 19] on ventrolateral sides. Dorsal surfaces of the limbs are pale Drab [Color 19] with numerous somewhat faint Army Brown [Color 46] transverse bands. Faint Army Brown [Color 46] transverse bands are also present on the tail, which are slightly more distinct toward the posterior portion.

The background coloration of the ventral surface of the head is pale Drab [Color 19]. White to Light Buff [Color 2] streaks and patches are scattered on the ventral surface of the head, embellishing the background drab color into a reticulated pattern. A triangular, Light Sulphur Yellow [Color 93] gular spot is present on the posterior central part. The ventral surface of the body is uniform Pale Pinkish Buff [Color 3] to Flesh Color [Color 249]. Ventral surfaces of the limbs are tail are uniform Light Buff [Color 2]. The inner lips are Sulphur Yellow [Color 80], whereas the tongue is Light Orange Yellow [Color 77]. Remaining parts of the oral cavity are mostly Light Flesh Color [Color 250].

In females, the coloration and ornamentation differ from the males. Specifically, the dorsal and lateral background coloration is Drab [Color 19]; the dorsolateral stripes on the body are more narrower and less distinct; the ventral surface of the head is uniform white to Light Buff [Color 2] without dark reticulated patterns or gular spot; and the ventral surface of the body is uniform white or Light Buff [Color 2].

Natural history and conservation. Diploderma brevicaudum inhabits mixed forests at mid-elevation (1854– 2740m). Currently, the species is known only from Lijiang and nearby Shangrila County in Yunnan Province, China, and the estimated area of occurrence is about 4000km 2. Although living in forest habitat, the species is terrestrial for the most part, basking on rock piles at the base of tree trunks in open areas during the day, and sleeping on twigs of bushes at night. Unlike all remaining species in the HMR, both males and females of D. brevicaudum are very aggressive when captured, hissing and displaying their yellow oral cavities as threat signals. Several other reptile species were observed to occur in sympatry at the site of observation, including Ptyas nigromarginata , Gloydius monticola , Protobothrops jerdoni , Scincella monticola , and Gekko scabridus .

Based on our surveys and interviews with local communities, the population density of D. brevicaudum is much lower than other congeners in the nearby regions of the HMR (i.e. D. yulongense and D. qilin ). Habitat destruction is the main threat to the species based on our surveys, resulting from illegal mining, tourism-related infrastructure development, and the continued growth of Lijiang City. According to IUCN criteria B1 a and b (iii and v), D. brevicaudum meets the classification status of Endangered (EN), and should be added to the list of Class II species protected in the Endangered Species List in China.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Comparisons of gular coloration in life between (1) males and (2) females of (A) Diploderma bowoense sp. nov., (B) D. formosgulae sp. nov., (C) D. aorun, (D) D. batangense, (E) D. vela, (F) D. angustelinea, (G) D. qilin, and (H) D. brevicaudum. The smaller inset photos in A1 represent gular coloration of the representation of juvenile male of D. formosgulae sp. nov. Photos by Kai Wang.

FIGURE 4. Dorsolateral view (1) and closeup of oral characteristics (2) of the male KIZ 044497 (A) and female KIZ 044305 (B) of Diploderma brevicaudum in life. Photos by Kai Wang.

FIGURE 5. Micro- and macro-habitat for Diploderma brevicaudum at the type locality in the mountains overseeing Lijiang City (near Wenhai), Yunnan, China. Photos by Zhuoyu Lu.