Reevaluation of the Taxonomic Status of a Poorly Known Gecko, Gekko liboensis(Reptilia: Squamata)

作     者：Teppei JONO Li DING Takuma KAITO Yezhong TANG Mamoru TODA 

作者机构：Chengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of Sciences Department of ChemistryBiology and Marine ScienceGraduate School of Engineering and ScienceUniversity of the Ryukyus Tropical Biosphere Research CenterUniversity of the Ryukyus 

出 版 物：《Asian Herpetological Research》 (亚洲两栖爬行动物研究（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2015年第6卷第3期

页      面：229-236页

核心收录：

学科分类：0710[理学-生物学] 07[理学] 071002[理学-动物学] 

基　　金：financially supported by a Fellowship for Young International Scientists of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. Y4J3011100) to TJ 

主　　题：China East Asia Gekkonidae Gekko japonicus group taxonomy morphology 

摘      要：Gekko liboensis Zhou and Li, 1982 is a poorly known gecko originating from Libo, Guizhou, southern China. Since the original description based on a single female from Libo, only three specimens（two females and one juvenile） have been reported from the type locality. Because of its close morphological resemblance to G. hokouensis Pope, 1927, G. liboensis is required to be reevaluated for its taxonomic status by studies based on additional specimens. Here we report for the first time the morphological features of 31 newly obtained specimens of G. liboensis from type locality and others, including males, and compare them with those of related species, chiefly on the basis of information from the literature. In addition, specimen-based comparisons were also made with G. hokouensis and an undescribed cryptic species known from the Ryukyus Islands, Japan. Results showed that the species is distinguished from its congeners in having a larger body size（60–91 mm）, 0–2 small internasals, 10–13 supralabials, 10–13 infralabials, smooth enlarged tubercles present on the dorsum forming 4–10 irregular rows at the midbody but absent on the four limbs and tail, both fingers and toes without developed interdigital webs, a single cloacal spur on each side, and 10–12 precloacal pores in males. It most resembles G. hokouensis and its cryptic species but is clearly differentiated by having a larger body size, a predominantly absent internasal, fewer number of dorsal tubercle rows, larger number of precloacal pores, and conspicuous white marks on the dorsum and head. Judging from these results, we confirmed the taxonomic validity of G. liboensis. In addition, the geographic distribution of this gecko on the basis of obtained data was briefly discussed.