Rock island melody: A revision of the Afroedura bogerti Loveridge, 1944 group, with descriptions of four new endemic species from Angola

By

Branch, Bill (William R.)
Schmitz, Andreas
Lobón-Rovira, Javier
Baptista, Ninda
António, Telmo
Conradie, Werner

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2021

Original Publication

Zoosystematics and evolution

Volume

97

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

55--82

Subjects

Biodiversity hotspot , cryptic species , endemism , espécies crípticas , Gekkonidae , hotspot de biodiversidade , Reptilia , Еndemismo

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.97.57202

 

Abstract

Four new species of flat geckos in the Afroedura bogerti Loveridge, 1944 group are described from south-western and west-central Angola. The description of these new species significantly restricts the distribution range of typical A. bogerti, a morphologically very similar species, from which they differ genetically by 5.9–12% divergence for the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Morphologically and genetically, Angolan Afroedura are divided into two main groups: a mostly south-western coastal group and a west-central inland/highland group. These two groups are further divisible into three and two subgroups respectively, all geographically isolated, differing by a combination of the following features: colouration, average adult size, number of mid-body scale rows, number of scale rows on dorsal and ventral surface of each tail verticil and if nostril scales are in contact or not. All five Angolan species are morphologically distinguishable and in agreement with the molecular results. An updated dichotomous key to the Afroedura transvaalica group is provided. The new discovery adds to a growing number of endemic Pro-Namib reptiles described from Angola in recent years.