Gehyra variegata variegata montium Moritz, 1986 : p. 48 Taxonomic revision of the Australian arid zone lizards Gehyra variegata and G. montium (Squamata, Gekkonidae) with description of three new species Hutchinson, Mark N. Sistrom, Mark J. Donnellan, Stephen C. Hutchinson, Rhonda G. Zootaxa 2014 2014-06-09 3814 2 221 241 Hutchinson & Sistrom & Donnellan & Hutchinson, 2014 Hutchinson & Sistrom & Donnellan & Hutchinson 2014 [151,366,1339,1365] Reptilia Gekkonidae Gehyra Animalia Squamata 8 229 Chordata species versicolor sp. nov.   Figs 2C–D, 3, 6, 7.     Gehyra2n=40a "  variegata”, 38a "  variegata- montium",  Moritz, 1986: p. 48.     Holotype: SAMA R51968 K, from 1.9 km SW of Reedy Hole Springs, Flinders Ranges, South Australia( 30° 15’ 55ˮ S, 138° 49’ 30ˮ E), collected by J. Bice, on 19 November, 1998 ( Fig. 7A).    Paratypes(n=28; all genotyped as ‘ Clade5’): SAMA: R26185, Birdsville, Qld( 25° 54’S, 139° 21’E),  R 28201, 1 km S Mt Dutton, SA ( 27° 49’S, 135° 43’E),  R 34249, 7 km E Mount Isa, Qld( 20° 43’S, 139° 43’E),  R38930, Yudnamatana, SA ( 30° 10’S, 139° 17’E), R38942, R38945, Lancoona  HS, NSW( 32° 22’S, 145° 53’E),  R 50277, 7 km SSE Mt Deception, Beltana Station, SA ( 30° 46’S, 138° 17’E),  R51609 K, 26.1 km ENE of Mimili, SA ( 26° 54’ 43” S, 132° 56’ 55” E),  R51637 K, 30.3 km WNW Indulkana, SA ( 26° 52’ 09” S, 133° 01’ 29” E),  R51760 K, 1.75 km W Yudnamutana Bore, SA ( 30° 10’S, 139° 16’E),  R51782 K, 10.4 km SW Yudnamutana Bore, SA ( 30° 14’S, 139° 11’E),  R51912, 0.5 km NW Nudlamutana Well, SA ( 30° 22’S, 139° 21’E),  R51962 K, 2.8 km W Moosha Bore, SA ( 30° 19’S, 138° 47’E),  R52366, 4.7km W Parachilna Hill, SA ( 31° 08’S, 138° 33’E),  R54530, 4.5km N Station Creekcrossing, Prairie–Muttaburraroad, Qld( 22° 02’S, 144° 37’E),  R54546–  47, 14 kmNW Longreach on Landsborough Highway, Qld( 23° 21’S, 143° 12’E),  R55133, 2.7km E Gluepot  HS, SA ( 33° 45’S, 140° 09’E),  R55268, Phosphate Hillmine, ‘ Snappy Site’, Qld( 21° 53’S, 139° 59’E),  R55695–96, 13.4km NNE Hughenden on Kennedy Developmental Road, Qld( 20° 47’S, 144° 19’E),  R  55905, 9 km N New South Wales/ Queenslandborder on Mitchell Highway, Qld( 28° 58’S, 145° 44’E),  R57970, 30.1km SSW Memory Bore, SA ( 28° 53’S, 132° 44’E),  R63576, Mutawintja  NP, NSW( 31° 17’S, 142° 18’E),  R64097, Terrapinna Springs, SA ( 29° 55’S, 139° 40’E),  R64443, Mt Fitton  HS, SA ( 28° 59’S, 139° 33’E),  R 64447, 17 km E Mt Fitton  HS, SA ( 29° 54’S, 139° 25’E),  R64549, 1.3km WNW Nantawarrinna, SA ( 30° 49’S, 138° 58’E),  R64863, 6.9km WNW Arkaroola  HS( 30° 18’S, 139° 19’E).   Diagnosis.Morphologically shares the external features of  G. variegata(see above) but distinguished from that species by karyotype (2n=40a or 2n=38a) ( Fig. 2C–D). As with  G. variegata, G. versicoloris most similar  G. montiumbut distinguished by grey to brown rather than more rufous dorsal colouring, with white markings that form a posterior highlight or margin on the trailing edge of the dark dorsal lines, rather than forming discrete circular dots that are not coordinated with the dark markings. This diagnosis applies to populations of  Gehyragenetically assignable to “Clade 5” of Sistrom et al. (2013).   Description.Adult snout-vent length 37–54 mm(mean = 46.7 mm, n = 29). Length of original tail 40–58 mm(mean = 110% SVL, n = 6). Nostril bordered by rostral, first supralabial, supranasal and two subequal postnasals. Usually a single internasal scale (occasionally 2 or none) separates the supranasals above the rostral. Supralabials 8–11 (mode 9). Infralabials 7–10 (mode 9). Usually (f = 0.6) two pairs of chin shields; if a third pair is visible it is markedly smaller than the second or asymmetric, anterior pair in contact with only the first infralabial. Chin shields separated from the third and succeeding infralabials by the interpolation of a series of enlarged scales (parinfralabials) that margin the ventral edge of the infralabials. Second infralabial notched where this parinfralabial scale row starts. Scansors under pad of fourth toe divided, 7–8 (mode 8). Precloacal pores in males 10–14 (mean = 11.9, n = 15). Most populations uniformly have the 2n=40a karyotype first reported by King (1979), but within central Australia, geographically interspersed with 2n=40a individuals, are individuals with 2n=38 karyotypes. These specimens all belong to the same clade on the basis ofsequence data. Moritz (1986)reported two variants of the 2n=38 karyotype that differ only in that the 2n=38a karyotype had pair 8 acrocentric while the 2n=38b karyotype had this pair symmetrically metacentric. Our karyotype ( Fig. 2B) from Native Gap (a population scored as 2n=38a by Moritz 1986) has a pair 8 that is submetacentric, neither obviously acrocentric nor symmetrically metacentric, and in fact King (1979)described and illustrated his 2n=38 karyotype (later termed the “a” variant by Moritz) as having submetacentric pairs 7 and 8, as ours does. The discrepancy may be artifactual, given the variation in condensation and clarity that is typical across karyotypic preparations. In case further cryptic species are demonstrated among these populations, we have confined our typeseries for  G. versicolorto animals from 2n=40a populations only. In life, dorsally light to medium grey or grey-brown, generally with a complex pattern based on one or two pairs of more or less continuous dark longitudinal irregular dorsal stripes with numerous cross links and reticulations, the dark markings all coordinated with white highlights that can form irregular spots but are consistently in contact with the darker markings as in  G. variegata. In general, specimens of  G. versicolor, even when strongly patterned, tend to have less distinct and contrasting patterns ( Fig. 7) than do well marked  G. variegata. Common variant patterns include one where some of the dark dorsal markings form back-swept angular or crescentic bars, each with a whitish spot contained in the angle of the bar, and another where the body is densely stippled with low contrast darker grey bars and blotches with only weakly apparent paler edges. None of these variations is unvarying and the colour patterns show continuous variation both within and between populations.   Distribution.Widespread from the Murray Valley of northern Victorianorth and east through New South Waleswest of the Great Dividing Range and similar areas of Queenslandnorth to about the latitude of Hughenden. Extends west into most of South Australia, with the exception of the southern and western Eyre Peninsula and the Great VictoriaDesert, and north-west into southern and central Northern Territory. Not currently known to occur in Western Australia. Found in both rocky and arboreal situations, as well as on buildings.   Comments.This species is the only one where we find two karyotypic groups appearing to belong to a single taxon. Moritz (1986)reported both 2n=40a and 2n=38 (a and b) from the MacDonnell Ranges and adjacent central Northern Territory, and at present our data suggests all belong to a single species,  G. versicolor. As with the variable populations of  G. moritzi, further detailed study combining the same multiple approaches used here are desirable to clarify the gene flow among these chromosomally different populations. Similar detailed studies are needed in central and western Queenslandto better understand the distribution and variation of  G. versicolorand Clade 4 where they co-occur ( Sistrom et al.2013), and the potential contact or overlap between  G. variegataand  G. versicolorin central western South Australia. However, it is clear that over the great majority of its distribution this is a single species, consistently different from other  Gehyra. Most of the literature pertaining to the biology of “  Gehyra variegata” (e.g., Bustard 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969; Henle 1990) actually applies to this species, as does recent population genetic work by Duckett and Stow (2010, 2013). Swan et al. (2004)report the maximum SVL for this species (as  G. variegata) as 57 mm.   Etymology.The specific name chosen here is from the Latin meaning ‘variable in colour’, appropriate for a species that shows considerable individual and geographic variation. Given the very wide distribution of the species it is somewhat surprising that no older name appears to be available for it in the synonymy of  G. variegata. Cogger et al. (1983)listed several synonyms of  Gehyra variegata. Subsequently, these have proven to be based on specimens attributable to other Australian  Gehyraspeciesgroups, especially eastern species related to  G. australis( Bauer & Henle 1994; Shea 1995). Other possible synonyms were discussed by Sistrom et al.(2009)in reference to  G. lazelli; none apply to  G. versicolor. 3325457346 R51968 SAMA, R J. Bice & November -30.265278 Flinders Ranges 20 138.825 Reedy Hole Springs 8 229 1 South Australia holotype 3325457385 R26185 [199,1431,1588,1613] SAMA, R Clade -25.9 Qld 1244 139.35 Birdsville 8 229 1 paratype 3325457318 R28201 [151,470,1624,1649] R Mt Dutton 8 229 1 paratype 3325457414 [483,782,1624,1649] SA -27.816668 1235 135.71666 8 229 1 paratype 3325457427 R34249 [796,1431,1624,1649] R -20.716667 Qld 1266 139.71666 Mount Isa 8 229 1 paratype 3325457423 R38930 [151,410,1660,1685] R Yudnamatana 8 229 1 paratype 3325457324 [422,718,1660,1685] SA -30.166666 1223 139.28334 8 229 1 paratype 3325457432 R38942, R38945 [731,1049,1660,1685] Lancoona 8 229 1 paratype 3325457339 [1058,1431,1660,1685] HS, NSW -32.366665 1211 145.88333 8 229 1 paratype 3325457443 R50277 [151,722,1699,1724] R Beltana Station Mt Deception 8 229 1 paratype 3325457362 [734,1029,1699,1724] SA -30.766666 1220 138.28334 8 229 1 paratype 3325457397 R51609 [1042,1432,1695,1724] R Mimili 8 229 1 paratype 3325457363 [151,569,1737,1762] SA -26.911943 20 132.94861 8 229 1 paratype 3325457390 R51637 [583,1000,1734,1762] R Indulkana 8 229 1 paratype 3325457332 [1013,1432,1737,1762] SA -26.869167 20 133.02472 8 229 1 paratype 3325457411 R51760 [151,622,1773,1801] R Yudnamutana Bore 8 229 1 paratype 3325457392 [635,931,1776,1801] SA -30.166666 1223 139.26666 8 229 1 paratype 3325457441 R51782 [945,1432,1773,1801] R Yudnamutana Bore 8 229 1 paratype 3325457309 [151,438,1815,1840] SA -30.233334 1222 139.18333 8 229 1 paratype 3325457384 R51912 [450,902,1815,1840] R Nudlamutana Well 8 229 1 paratype 3325457402 [912,1201,1815,1840] SA -30.366667 1222 139.35 8 229 1 paratype 3325457327 R51962 R Moosha Bore 8 229 1 paratype 3325457348 [318,613,1851,1876] SA -30.316668 1222 138.78334 8 229 1 paratype 3325457343 R52366 [625,1022,1851,1876] R Parachilna Hill 8 229 4.7 1 paratype 3325457313 [1033,1328,1851,1876] SA -31.133333 1218 138.55 8 229 1 paratype 3325457315 R54530 R Station Creek -22.033333 Qld 1261 144.61667 Prairie - Muttaburra 8 229 4.5 1 paratype 3325457311 R54546 R -23.35 Qld 1256 143.2 8 229 1 paratype 3325457400 R55133 [913,1217,1923,1948] R Gluepot 8 229 2.7 1 paratype 3325457325 HS, SA -33.75 1203 140.15 8 229 1 paratype 3325457333 R55268 [292,1117,1959,1984] R Phosphate Hill -21.883333 Qld 1262 139.98334 Snappy Site' 8 229 1 paratype 3325457394 R55695 R -20.783333 Qld 1266 144.31667 Hughenden on Kennedy Developmental Road 8 229 R55695-96, 13.4 1 paratype 3325457408 R55905 R 9 230 -28.966667 Qld 1229 145.73334 Mitchell Highway 8 229 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457430 R57970 [951,1387,151,176] R Memory Bore 9 230 30.1 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457320 SA -28.883333 1230 132.73334 9 230 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457335 R63576 [423,657,188,213] R Mutawintja 9 230 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457386 [668,1046,188,213] NP, NSW -31.283333 1217 142.3 9 230 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457404 R64097 [1061,1386,188,213] R Terrapinna Springs 9 230 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457342 SA -29.916666 1224 139.66667 9 230 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457393 R64443 [411,619,223,248] R Mt Fitton 9 230 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457340 [626,966,223,248] HS, SA -28.983334 1229 139.55 9 230 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457444 R64447 [978,1289,223,248] R Mt Fitton 9 230 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457301 HS, SA -29.9 1224 139.41667 9 230 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457356 R64549 [369,822,260,285] R Nantawarrinna 9 230 1.3 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457352 [838,1146,260,285] SA -30.816668 1219 138.96666 9 230 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457420 R64863 R Arkaroola 9 230 6.9 1 New South Wales paratype 3325457370 [271,563,295,320] HS -30.3 1222 139.31667 9 230 1 New South Wales paratype