New Species Discovered

[Ngala]

A new rupicolous species of gecko of the genus Hemidactylus Oken, 1817 from the Satpura Hills, Central India 
Hemidactylus chipkali Mirza & Raju, 2017

*This image is copyright of its original author

Credits to David Raju.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Abstract:
"We here describe a new species of rupicolous gecko from the Satpura Hills of central India. The new species is a member of the Hemidactylus brookii complex, and can be distinguished based on the following suite of characters: moderate sized species (SVL 54.3–74.2 mm); anterior postmental width equal to first infralabial; posterior postmental width equal to second infralabial, posterior postmental not in contact with first infralabial; enlarged, keeled, tubercles, fairly regularly arranged in 15–16 longitudinal rows on dorsum; two angular series of seven precloacal femoral pores separated by diastema of eight non-pored scales; non-pored scales equal to size of pored scales; scales bordering anterior edge of pored scales half the size of pored scales; five lamellae on digit I and seven on digit IV of manus as well as pes; lamellae on digit IV and V of pes absent on basal 25% of the digit; legs long and slender; ventral aspect of tail with broad caudal scales covering ~80% of tail; two subconical post cloacal spurs, anterior spur slightly larger than posterior spur." Reply