Invasive species constitute one of the most serious threats to biodiversity and ecosystems, and they potentially cause economic problems and impact human health. The globally invasive New Guinea flatworm, Platydemus manokwari (Platyhelminthes: Geoplanidae), has been identified as a threat to terrestrial biodiversity, particularly soil-dwelling native species (e.g. molluscs, annelids and other land planarians), and is listed among 100 of the world's worst invasive alien species. We report here, for the first time, P. manokwari occurrences in many locations throughout Thailand, using voluntary digital public participation from the social network portals associated with the Thailand Biodiversity Conservation Group and collections of living flatworm specimens. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences confirmed that all collected flatworms were P. manokwari and placed them in the "world haplotype" clade alongside other previously reported specimens from France, Florida (USA), Puerto Rico, Singapore, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and the Solomon Islands. In addition, infective stage larvae (L3) of the nematode Angiostrongylus malaysiensis were found in the flatworm specimens, with a 12.4% infection rate (15/121 specimens examined). Platydemus manokwari occurrence in Thailand and its capacity to carry L3 of Angiostrongylus should be of concern to biodiversity conservation and human health practitioners, because this invasive flatworm species may be involved in the life cycle of angiostrongylid worms in Thailand.
A new cave-dwelling species of the gekkonid lizard genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, C. auribalteatus sp. nov. is described on the basis of animals collected from a cave in Thung Salaeng Luang National Park, Phitsanulok Province, Thailand, bringing the number of species in this genus in Thailand to 18. The new species shares over all appearances with other cave-dwelling Cyrtodactylus spp. in having large eyes, a long snout, reduced tubercles, absence of caudal tubercles, and slender limbs for climbing. The new species is characterized by its moderate size (snout-vent length to at least 98.07 mm), weakly conical tubercles in 22–24 rows at midbody, high number of ventral scale across midbody (38–40), absence of precloacal groove, present of a single series of 6 precloacal pores and 4–5 femoral pores on each thigh separated by a diastema, broad subcaudal plates, and its dorsal pattern of three dark bands between limb insertions. It is the seventh species of cave-dwelling Cyrtodactylus, including the sandstone cave species, C. jarujini, recorded from Thailand.
A new cave-dwelling species of Cyrtodactylus Gray is described from Mae Hong Son Province in northern Thailand. The new species, C. erythrops sp. nov., is characterized by its moderate size (snout-vent length to at least 78 mm), relatively large, closely-spaced, flattened tubercles in 18-20 irregular rows at midbody, low number of ventral scales across midbody (28), absence of precloacal groove, presence of precloacal and femoral pores separated by a diastema, broad subcaudal plates, and dorsal pattern of dark spots and blotches. It is the fifth species of cave-dwelling Cyrtodactylus recorded from Thailand and its discovery adds to the mounting evidence that this genus exhibits unprecedented levels of localized endemism throughout tropical Southeast Asia.
We describe Cyrtodactylus saiyok sp. nov. from a dry evergreen forest on a limestone hill in Khao Krajae, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand. It is characterized by a maximal known SVL of 61.0 mm; 18-19 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; 23 or 24 ventral scale rows between ventrolateral skin folds; a continuous series of enlarged femoro-precloacal scales, including 5 pore-bearing precloacal scales (males); no precloacal groove or depression; transversely enlarged subcaudal scales; a complete black nuchal loop; a W-shaped band above shoulders and 3-5 irregular, medially interrupted or not, black dorsal bands between limb insertions. Cyrtodactylus saiyok sp. nov. is the sixth reptile species that is possibly endemic to Sai Yok District.
We describe a new lowland forest-dwelling Cyrtodactylus from Suk Samran District, Ranong Province, southern peninsular Thailand, having a blotched dorsal pattern, a continuous series of poreless enlarged femoral and precloacal scales, 18-20 regularly arranged dorsal tubercle rows, no precloacal groove, no transversely enlarged subcaudal plates and a maximal known snout-vent length of 59.6 mm. Cyrtodactylus ranongensis sp. nov. seems closely related to C. quadrivirgatus, but is readily distinguished from it by having 35-40 ventral scale rows, a reddish iris, heavy dorsal mottling, and lacking longitudinal dark-brown elements in its dorsal pattern.
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