Description of a new species of Homonota (Reptilia, Squamata, Phyllodactylidae) from the central region of northern Paraguay

By

Cacciali, Pier
Morando, Mariana
Avila, Luciano Javier
Köhler, Günther, 1965-

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018

Original Publication

Zoosystematics and evolution

Volume

94

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

147--161

Subjects

dry Chaco , Gekkota , Phylogeny , South America , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.94.21754

 

Abstract

Homonotais a gecko distributed in central and southern South America with 12 species allocated in three groups. In this work, we performed molecular and morphological analyses of samples ofHomonotafrom the central region of northern Paraguay, comparing the data with those of related species of the group:H.horridaandH.septentrionalis. We found strong molecular evidence (based on 16S, Cyt-b, and PRLR gene sequences) to distinguish this lineage as a new species. Morphological statistical analysis showed that females of the three species are different in metric characters (SVL and TL as the most contributing variables), whereas males are less differentiated. No robust differences were found in meristic characters. The most remarkable trait for the diagnosis of the new species is the presence of well-developed keeled tubercles on the sides of the neck, and lack of a white band (crescent-shaped) in the occipital area, which is present inH.horridaandH.septentrionalis. Nevertheless, in our sample, we found three specimens (one juvenile and two young adults) that exhibit the white occipital band. Thus, this character seems only reliable in adults of the new species. The new species is parapatric toH.septentrionalis, both inhabiting the Dry Chaco of Paraguay.