Geographically structured genetic and morphological variation in a new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from a karstic archipelago in western Cambodia

Evan S. H. Quah and L. Lee Grismer and Pablo Sinovas and Phyroum Chourn and Sophea Chhin and Seiha Hun and Anthony Cobos and Peter Geissler and Christian Ching and Matthew L. Murdoch and Sothearen Thi and Jeren J. Gregory and Eddie Nguyen and Alexis P. Hernandez and Amanda Kaatz and Jesse L. Grismer (2025) Geographically structured genetic and morphological variation in a new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from a karstic archipelago in western Cambodia. ZooKeys, 1240. pp. 73-115. ISSN 1313-2989

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URL: https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/139691/list/9/

Abstract

A new species of karst-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko (genus Cyrtodactylus) is described from an unexplored karstic archipelago in western Cambodia. Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis sp. Nov. is composed of four allopatric, monophyletic mitochondrial lineages based on the ND2 gene. All are statistically diagnosable from one another based on univariate (ANOVA) and multivariate (PCA, DAPC, and MFA) analyses using a suite of size-correct- ed morphometric, meristic, and categorical color pattern and morphological characters. Uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence among them is low (1.4–2.2%), indicating a recent divergence from one another. Given their all-party, diagnosability, monophyly (i.e., no individuals from one population are embedded within another), we contend they are on separate evolutionary trajectories with no chance of secondary overlap via dispersal through the current unhabitual terrain or through the unlikely future coalescence of the karstic formations on which they occur. The discovery of this new species underscores the necessity for further exploration to gain a more informed understanding of the herpetological diversity of Cambodia in general, and that of western Cambodia in particular, where dozens of isolated karstic formations still remain unexplored.

Item Type:	Article
Keyword:	Bent-toed gecko, genetics, Indochina, integrative taxonomy, karstic archipelago
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301-705.5 Biology (General) > QH426-470 Genetics Q Science > QL Zoology > QL1-991 Zoology > QL1-355 General Including geographical distribution
Department:	INSTITUTE > Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation
Depositing User:	JUNAINE JASNI -
Date Deposited:	21 Oct 2025 12:29
Last Modified:	21 Oct 2025 12:29
URI:	https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/45490

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