Hemidactylus luqueorum, Carranza & Arnold, 2012

Carranza, Salvador & Arnold, Edwin Nicholas, 2012, 3378, Zootaxa 3378, pp. 1-95 : 24-28

Hemidactylus luqueorum sp. nov.

( Figs. 2, 5A, 6, 9–11; Table 1; Appendix I; Appendix IIIA)

MorphoBank M94288 – M94372 M94378 – M94393 M100049–M100093

Hemidactylus persicus Arnold and Gallagher, 1977: 65 ; Arnold, 1977: 102; Arnold, 1986: 419; Leviton, Anderson, Adler and Minton, 1992: 38 (part.); van der Kooij, 2000: 112 (part.); Sindaco and Jeremcenko, 2008: 115 (part.).

Holotype

BMNH2005.1660 , male from Sayq , 1961 m, Jebel Akhdar ( North Oman), 23.07639’ N 57.62861 ’E WGS84, collected in October 2005 by S. Carranza, E.N. Arnold and D. Donaire ( MorphoBank M94288–M94303). Paratypes: BMNH1971.41 , female from Wadi Sayq , 1900 m, Jebel Akhdar (North Oman), collected by M.D. Gallagher (MorphoBank M94304–M94312); BMNH1980.558 , male from Wadi Sayq , 1900 m, Jebel Akhdar (North Oman), collected by M.D. Gallagher (MorphoBank M94313 –M94350); BMNH1975.916 , female from Birkat Sahfan, Jebel Akhdar ( Oman), collected by D.L. Harrison (MorphoBank M94378 –M94384). BMNH2005.1661 , juvenile from Sayq, 1961 m, Jebel Akhdar (North Oman), 23.07639’ N 57.62861 ’E WGS84, collected in October 2005 by S. Carranza, E.N. Arnold and D. Donaire; BMNH2005.1658 , female from Wadi Bani Habib , 2200 m, Jebel Akhdar (North Oman), 23.0711’ N 57.60417 ’E WGS84, collected in October 2005 by S. Carranza, E.N. Arnold and D. Donaire (MorphoBank M94363–M94372); BMNH2005.1659 , female from Wadi Bani Habib , 2200 m, Jebel Akhdar (North Oman), 23.0711’ N 57.60417 ’E WGS84, collected in October 2005 by S. Carranza, E.N. Arnold and D. Donaire (MorphoBank M94363–M94372); IBES8068 , female from Wadi al Khahafa, 492 m, Jebel Akhdar (North Oman), 23.07419’ N 57.12208 ’E WGS84, collected on the 10 th of October 2010 by S. Carranza and F. Amat (MorphoBank M 100056–M100064); IBES7771 , female from 1 km East of Hat, 1124 m, Jebel Akhdar (North Oman), 23.18292’ N 57.41627 ’E WGS84, collected by S. Carranza, E. Gómez-Díaz and F. Amat on the 9 th of May 2011 (MorphoBank M 100065–M100073); IBES6085 , female, same collecting data as IBES7771 (MorphoBank M 100083– M00093 ); ONHM3705 , female from Wadi Bani Habib, 2200 m, Jebel Akhdar (North Oman), 23.0711’ N 57.60417 ’E WGS84, collected in October 2005 by S. Carranza, E.N. Arnold and D. Donaire (MorphoBank M94363–M94372).

Other material examined

Two vouchers listed in Appendix I under H. luqueorum sp. nov. and not mentioned above. Two unvouchered specimens (tissue codes S6080 and S7843) included in the molecular analyses only (Table 1).

Diagnosis

A large-sized Hemidactylus with a maximum recorded SVL of 88 mm; with a mean of 14.2 (13–15) longitudinal rows of enlarged dorsal tubercles at mid-body; adhesive pads broad, in adults maximum width of pad on fourth toe of the pes more than half its length; lamellae under the 1 st toe of pes mean 10.3 (10–11); lamellae under the 4 th toe of pes mean 13.6 (13–14); preanal pores mean 5.3 (5–6); expanded subcaudal scales extending proximally as far as the second whorl after the vent and starting just after the hemipenial bulge in males; dorsum grey–buff with irregular small spots; a dark stripe from the nostril, through the eye, on to cheek above ear and often on to neck; tail with small irregular dark blotches basally and numerous transverse dark bands more distally, the total number being around 17. Underside of tail pale but large subcaudals suffused with grey formed by dark chromatophores that increase in intensity distally; underside of toe pads also grey.

Hemidactylus luqueorum is generally similar to H. persicus in number of its moderately-sized dorsal tubercles across mid-body, and large adhesive pads on toes but differs from it in its much larger size (SVL mean 76.8 mm, max. 88 mm, compared with mean. 56.4 mm, max. 67 mm), reduced number of preanal pores in males (mean 5.3, 5–6, compared with mean 9.2, 8–11), and presence of more lamellae under the first toe of pes (mean 10.3, 10–11, compared with mean 8.8, 8–9). For differences from the second North Oman species of Hemidactylus see below.

Etymology

The species epithet " luqueorum " is a collective genitive plural Latin noun to honour Salvador Carranza’s wife, Maria Teresa Luque, and her family for all their love and support. Without their encouragement and help it would have been impossible to accomplish this work.

Genetic and phylogeographic remarks

Hemidactylus luqueorum is monophyletic in the phylogenetic analyses of Dataset 1 ( Fig. 5A) and Dataset 3 (Appendix IIIA). In both phylogenetic trees it forms a clade together with H. persicus and the second North Oman species of Hemidactylus described below, although the bootstrap support and pp values are very low (see Fig. 5 and Appendix III). According to the results of the dating analysis inferred with Dataset 2, these three species split about 12.6 mya (95% HPD: 7.7–17.9). According to Fig. 5 and Appendix III, Hemidactylus luqueorum is more closely related to the second North Oman species of Hemidacytlus described below ( Fig. 5B, Appendix IIIB), from which it split approximately 9.6 mya (95% HPD: 5.7–13.8). The level of genetic variability within H. luqueorum is 2% in the cytb and 0.2% in the 12S. The uncorrected genetic distances between H. luqueorum and the second North Oman species of Hemidactylus described below are 15.6% in the cytb and 6.9% in the 12S; and between H. luqueorum and H. persicus are 14.6% in the cytb and 9.8% in the 12S. The results of the nuclear networks presented in Fig 6 and a network analysis including all specimens from Dataset 1 (data not shown) indicate that all alleles of H. luqueorum for all three independent loci analyzed (c-mos, mc1r and rag2) are private (not shared with any other species included in the present analyses).

Distribution

Despite intensive surveys across the Hajar Mountain range and especially the Eastern Hajars, H. luqueorum has only been found in the Jebel Akhdar, the largest structural domain of the Western Hajar Mountains in North Oman ( Figs. 1 and 2). It has been recorded from 492 m altitude (Wadi Al Khahafa) up to 2200 m (Wadi Bani Habib).

Habits

The species occurs on rocky sides of wadis and on buildings and occasionally on gravely wadi floors. Mainly nocturnal, several specimens were active during the day in a narrow wadi 1 km East of Hat ( Fig. 11A). According to Arnold and Gallagher (1977), specimens BMNH 1971.41 and BMNH 1975.916 were caught during the day, one on an overhanging rock-face and the other in a shallow cave. It can be locally abundant inside large caves and share habitat with Asaccus platyrhynchus . In Wadi Bani Habib, at 2000 m, it has been found together with Asaccus montanus and at Wadi al Kahafa, at much lower altitude, it shares habitat with both A. platyrhynchus and Ptyodactylus hasselquistii . It moves relatively slowly and is quite confident, sometimes allowing one to approach quite closely to take pictures. It losses the skin very easily when being handled and sometimes specimens have large scars of regenerated skin on the back, probably as a results of fights with conspecifics or attacks from predators ( Fig. 10D).

Description

Head and body markedly depressed; head broad, especially posteriorly and neck well defined. Head length about 24–28% of SVL (mean males 25%, mean females 26%), head width 70–78% of head length (mean males 75%, mean females 74%), and head height 36–51% of head length (mean males 46%, mean females 44%). Adhesive pads broad; in adults maximum width of pad on fourth hind toe more than half its length.

Nostril between rostral, supranasal and two superposed postnasals, with the first supralabial scale usually also entering narrowly into its border. One, occasionally 2 scales separating supranasals on midline. About 14–19 scales in a straight line from postnasal to edge of orbit. Small conical tubercles scattered in orbital area, crown of head and temporal area above the level of ear opening and immediately in front of the upper part of this. Ear opening with its longest axis running upwards and backwards, smooth-edged, usually half or more of eye diameter. Supralabial scales mean 11.8 (10–14), infralabials mean 9.1 (8–10). Mental scale broadly triangular posteriorly bordered by two large postmentals making contact behind it, a second pair of more lateral postmentals also present, all four with a smooth transverse posterior border, the postmentals contacting the first and second supralabials; second and more posterior infralabials bordered by more irregular and smaller enlarged scales. Gulars fine.

Enlarged tubercles present on back, arranged in 14.2 (mean) (13–15) longitudinal rows at mid-body, which also form backwardly directed oblique rows from near midline to flank, 12–16 across mid-body, and 16–18 in a paravertebral row from the level of the axilla to that of the groin, where they are separated by spaces of about their own length. Enlarged tubercles keeled and trihedral but becoming smaller and more pointed on flanks. Ventrals small, but larger than dorsals and more imbricate, about 48–50 in a transverse row at mid body between lateral folds. Males with 5–6 preanal pores (mean 5.3) separated by one or two scales giving a formula of 2+3, 3+2 or 3+3. Scales on upper forelimb small and imbricate, interspersed with enlarged tubercles on distal section. Scales on front of thigh and beneath about same size as belly scales and imbricate, rather larger under tibia, enlarged tubercles present on upper surface of both femur and tibia and also on posterior edge of foot. Lamellae under the toes of pes: 1 st toe mean 10.3 (10–11); 4 th toe mean 13.6 (13–14).

Tail relatively slender, although sometimes thickened proximally; six enlarged, keeled and pointed tubercles on each whorl proximally, dropping to four around whorl 8 or 10. Tubercles about one third the length of basal whorls, becoming smaller and placed more posteriorly on whorls distally. About 10–11 small scales in longitudinal row on fourth whorl after vent, around seven small scales between tubercles on fourth and fifth whorls. Subcaudal scales enlarged and broad, extending proximally as far as the second whorl after the vent and starting just after the hemipenial bulge in males.

In spirit pale grey-buff; a dark stripe from the nostril, through the eye, on to cheek above ear and often on to neck; body with irregular small spots; some tubercles on forebody and vertebral area have opaque white coloring on one side and dark coloring on the other. Belly pale but there may be a slight stipple at the sides, the dark punctate spots being smaller than the scales. Tail with small irregular dark blotches basally and numerous transverse dark bands more distally, initially on every other whorl and then on each one, the total number being around 17. Underside of tail pale but large subcaudals suffused with grey formed by dark chromatophores that increase in intensity distally. Underside of toe pads also grey.

Distinctive features of Holotype

Male, 80.4 mm SVL; tail truncated, 59 mm long. Supralabial scales 13/12; infralabials 9/9; 15 rows of enlarged tubercles at mid-back; 6 (3+3) preanal pores; lamellae under the 1 st toe of pes 10/11, 4 th toe of pes 14/13.