Cnemaspis shevaroyensis
| Shevaroy dwarf gecko | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Gekkota |
| Family: | Gekkonidae |
| Genus: | Cnemaspis |
| Species: | C. shevaroyensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Cnemaspis shevaroyensis Khandekar, Gaitonde, & Agarwal, 2019 | |
Cnemaspis shevaroyensis, commonly known as the Shevaroy dwarf gecko, is a small species of diurnal gecko in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to the Shevaroy Hills in Tamil Nadu, India.[1]
Taxonomy
Cnemaspis shevaroyensis was described in 2019 by Akshay Khandekar, Nikhil Gaitonde, and Ishan Agarwal. The specific epithet shevaroyensis is a toponym referring to the Shevaroy (Yercaud) massif in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu, which serves as the type locality.[1]
Description
Cnemaspis shevaroyensis reaches a maximum snout-vent length (SVL) of 34 mm (1.3 in). It exhibits the following key morphological traits:
- Dorsal Pholidosis: Heterogeneous dorsal scales consisting of weakly keeled, granular scales intermixed with 10–14 rows of large, strongly keeled, conical scales. Flanks lack spine-like tubercles.
- Ventral Scales: Smooth and subimbricate, with 21–24 scale rows across the belly.
- Pores: Males possess four femoral pores on each thigh, separated by 7–9 poreless scales from 2–4 precloacal pores.[1]
- Color Pattern: The dorsum features 6–8 light grey vertebral blotches extending from the neck to the base of the tail. It has two single dorsal ocelli on the occiput and between the forelimbs, as well as two pairs positioned anteriorly and posteriorly near the forelimb insertions. The throat is off-white with yellow lateral margins and three black longitudinal streaks.
It closely resembles Cnemaspis gracilis, Cnemaspis agarwali, and Cnemaspis thackerayi, but can be differentiated by the number and arrangement of its precloacal and femoral pores, dorsal scale rows, and ocelli patterning.[1]
Distribution and Habitat
The species is currently known only from its type locality near the Kottachedu Kari Raman Temple in Yercaud, located in the Shevaroy Hills of Tamil Nadu, India, at an elevation of approximately 1,180–1,200 meters. It inhabits dry deciduous forest environments with partial canopy cover and has been recorded in shaded, cool microhabitats, such as dark spots among rocky boulders near perennial streams in teak plantations.[1]
Ecology
Cnemaspis shevaroyensis is diurnal.[1] It lives in sympatry with several other reptile species, including Hemidactylus frenatus, Hemidactylus parvimaculatus, Eutropis carinata, Eutropis macularia, Lygosoma albopunctata, and Calotes versicolor.[1]
References
External Links
https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/Cnemaspis/shevaroyensis