Cyrtodactylus erythrops (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new cave-dwelling gecko from Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand

Abstract

A new cave-dwelling species of Cyrtodactylus Gray is described from Mae Hong Son Province in northern Thailand. The new species, C. erythrops sp. nov., is characterized by its moderate size (snout-vent length to at least 78 mm), relatively large, closely-spaced, flattened tubercles in 18–20 irregular rows at midbody, low number of ventral scales across midbody (28), absence of precloacal groove, presence of precloacal and femoral pores separated by a diastema, broad subcaudal plates, and dorsal pattern of dark spots and blotches. It is the fifth species of cave-dwelling Cyrtodactylus recorded from Thailand and its discovery adds to the mounting evidence that this genus exhibits unprecedented levels of localized endemism throughout tropical Southeast Asia.