First appearance deceives many: disentangling theHemidactylus triedrusspecies complex using an integrated approach

Abstract

The gekkonid lizard genus Hemidactylus Oken is the second most species-rich genus of geckos with greatest diversity in the tropical regions of the world. Some species of the genus are commensal and widespread; however, there are several endemic lineages with restricted distribution. India is home to at least 35 species, with 20 endemic species and the number is steadily increasing with exploration of new habitats and integrated taxonomic approach including molecular data. We made investigations into the molecular and morphological variation throughout the distribution of Hemidactylus triedrus Daudin, 1802 based on fresh specimens, literature review, museum material and molecular data. Results from morphological, molecular and micro-CT based anatomical data are unequivocal and show that H. triedrus is a species complex represented by three species, H. triedrus sensu stricto and two undescribed taxa. H. subtriedrus Jerdon, 1854 syn. nov. was found to be morphologically similar to the type specimen of H. triedrus, and genetically embedded in a clade containing H. triedrus sensu stricto and is here treated as a junior synonym of H. triedrus, whereas H. lankae Deraniyagala is referred to as nomen dubium given that the types are presently not traceable and the original description is inadequate in diagnosing the taxon. The populations from western-central India and parts of Pakistan, and from southern Karnataka are distinct and diagnosable, and are herein described as two new species, respectively. Morphological and molecular data support the distinctiveness of the new species. The present work resolves a taxonomic turmoil that lasted over two centuries highlighting the need for studies that integrate morphological and molecular data.

A new cryptic species of ground-dwelling Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from southern India

“…Phylogenetic relationships of the major species groups of Indian Hemidactylus are well resolved (Bauer et al 2008, Bansal and Karanth 2010, Lajmi et al 2016. These studies present data documenting the high genetic divergence in currently recognized species, and thus, suggest that distinct and cryptic species may be present (Mirza et al , 2018. Hemidactylus vijayraghavani sp.…”

“…The Bangalore- Mysore Plateau is a major topographical feature in the range of H. reticulatus. The area harbors distinct lineages of gekkonid lizards, such as H. whitakeri (Mirza et al 2018) and Cyrtodactylus srilekhae Agarwal, 2016(Agarwal 2016 for these terrestrial lizards (Deepak et al 2016, Deepak andKaranth 2017). Confirmation of this speculation, however, will require more sampling across major rivers flowing though the range of the H. reticulatus Complex (Figure 7).…”

On the taxonomy and systematics of the recently described Lycodon deccanensis Ganesh, Deuti, Punith, Achyuthan, Mallik, Adhikari, Vogel, 2020 (Serpentes, Colubridae) from India

“…It is hoped that attempts are made to document the diversity of snakes across the country, especially in areas that are situated in unprotected dry lands or outside biodiversity hotspots. Recent herpetofaunal explorations of the Mysore plateau have demonstrated distinct and unique biota (Agarwal 2016, Mirza et al 2018, Agarwal et al 2020 and we advocate dedicated efforts to study the biodiversity of this region.…”

A new species of shieldtail snake (Squamata: Uropeltidae: Uropeltis) from the Bengaluru uplands, India

“…nov. is a humble tribute to his pioneering efforts to inventory and describe the reptiles of Bengaluru. In recent times, five more new reptiles were described from places near Bengaluru-Hemidactylus graniticolus from Harohalli (Agarwal et al 2011), Hemidactylus whitakeri from Kodalagurki (Mirza et al 2018), Cyrtodactylus srilekhae from Thathaguni (Agarwal 2016), Hemiphyllodactylus jnana from Kodigehalli (Agarwal et al 2019), and a snake Lycodon deccanensis from the same Devarayana Durga ). These works well indicate that further explorations around Bengaluru would reveal further reptile diversity, endemism and novelties.…”