Calotes zhaoermii, Wang & Shu & Li & Dong & Mu & Su & Zhu & Zhang & Guo & Che, 2025

Calotes zhaoermii sp. nov. Wang, Shu, Li, Guo, Che

( Fig. 3–5 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 , Table 3 View TABLE 3 )

Chresonyms

Oriocalotes paulus Hu et al. 1987 ; Zhao & Adler 1993; Li et al. 2010

Calotes paulus Giri et al. 2019 ; Che et al. 2020; Wang et al. 2020

Holotype. KIZ 57053 , adult female from Yarang Village , Muotuo County, Xizang Autonomous Region, China (29.25141667º E, 95.2489722º N, elevation 1074 m). Collected by Fu Shu and Ming Su in 29 July, 2024 .

Paratype. KIZ 032533 , road-killed adult male from Muotuo County, Xizang Autonomous Region, China. Collected by Ke Jiang in August 5th, 2018 .

Etymology. The new species name, zhaoermii , is derived from the name of the landmark Chinese herpetologist, Dr. Zhao Er-Mi, who had conducted extensive surveys back in 1973 in Muotuo County of Xizang Autonomous Region where the new species is native to and contributed substantially to the herpetological knowledge both in China and across Asia. We name the new species after Dr. Zhao in honoring his contribution to herpetological research. We suggest “ ē氏树w ” (Pinyin: Zhao Shi Shu Xi) as its Chinese common name, and Zhao’s tree agamid as its English common name.

Diagnosis. Calotes zhaoermii sp. nov. can be diagnosed from congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) dorsal body scales heterogeneous, not aligned in regular oblique rows; (2) three spines present on head, including a single pair of post-orbital, supratympanic, and temporal spines; (3) nuchal crest eight, weakly developed; (4) midbody scale rows 52–58; (5) middorsal crest scales 39; and (6) caudal vertebrae 53–56.

Comparison. Calotes zhaoermii sp. nov. was confused with C. paulus , and it was morphologically similar to C. zolaiking and C. sinyik , but the new species can be diagnosed from the C. paulus and C. zolaiking by having more caudal vertebrae (52–56 vs. 33–45 in C. paulus , 50 in C. zolaiking ) and more vertebral crest scale count (39 vs. 24–32 in C. paulus , 33–35 in C. zolaiking ). Additionally, C. zhaoermii differs from C. paulus by having more scales around midbody (52–58 vs. 42–46); from C. zolaiking by having more and better developed nuchal crest scales (8 vs. less than 4); and from C. sinyik by having fewer vertebral scales (39 vs. 42 or 43), weaker shoulder fold (vs. better developed), moderately keeled scales on ventrolateral body (vs. more strongly keeled), and differential shape of dorsal body scales (more heterogeneous vs. more homogeneous).

For remaining species of the genus Calotes , the new species can be diagnosed from all by having heterogeneous and irregularly arranged dorsal body scales (vs. homogeneous and regularly aligned) and weakly developed dorsal crest (triangular shaped, short vs. lanceolate shaped, tall and strongly erected).

Description of holotype. Subadult individual, SVL 47.5mm. Tail long, slender, TAL 234.3% SVL. Head longer than wide, HW 74.6% HL, robust, anterior slope steep, HD 64.4% HL. Rostral near triangular, bordering two elongated scales laterally in addition to first pair of supralabials; nasal oval, laterally elongated, separated from first supralabial by single scale row; loreal keeled, smaller than nasal; subocular scale rows three, all keeled, medial row much enlarged; supralabial scales 9/9, moderately keeled, first four largest; three much enlarged, slightly convex scales between posteroinferior eyes and superoanterior tympanum; tympanum exposed, vertical oval, TD 31% OD; supratympanic spine short, shorter than post-orbital spine, three small scales superior to tympanum. Canthus rostralis distinct; supraciliary overlapping posteriorly about one fourth of length; post orbital spines short, about one fifth of orbit diameter and same length as supratympanic spine; dorsal head scales heterogeneous, several enlarged, distinctively keeled scales scattered on snout, forming Y-shaped pattern anterior of eyes; scales between anterior most supraciliaries nine, parietal fused with two adjacent anterior scales, parietal distinct; scale lateral to parietal enlarged, distinctively keeled; temporal spine longest comparing to post-orbital and supratympanic. Nuchal crest eight, short triangular shaped, differentiated from dorsals, TNC 3.3% HL; dorsal crest feeble, vertebral scale count 32; shoulder fold absent; scales near axillary pointed posterosuperiorly; remaining dorsals keeled, heterogeneous in size, unregularly arranged, intermixed with moderately enlarged scales, middorsal scale rows around body 32.

Mental large, T-shaped, enclosed by first pair of chin shields and single gular scale; chin shields five pairs, keeled, first three pairs largest, first pair bordering infralabials; infralabials 10/9, first three longest, keeled; gulars more or less homogeneous in size, distinctively keeled, slightly smaller than ventrals; transverse gular fold absent; ventrals about same size as background dorsals, distinctively keeled, regularly arranged. Limbs slender, forelimb long, (UAL+LAL+HaL) 51% SVL, hind limb length (ULL+LLL+FOL) 72.2% SVL; limb scales distinctively keeled, larger than background dorsals, heterogeneous; subdigital lamellae 22 under finger IV, 28 under toe IV.

Coloration. The species possesses a great ability to change color. The holotype in life at rest ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 ), the dorsal surface of the head is mostly olive green, except the parietal and temporal region, which are mainly brown. Three evenly spaced, faint, black transverse stripes are present on dorsal snout. Lateral surface of the head is mainly light grass green. Six distinct black radial stripes present around eyes, with three suborbital ones extending inferiorly to infralabials. The background coloration of the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the body and limbs consists of a camouflaged mixture of dark olive green, light grass green, off white, reddish brown, and black speckles, stripes, and patches. Five inverted triangular black patches are present along vertebrate from region posterior of axillary to the cloaca; and similar colored transverse bands continues posteriorly from the cloaca to the tip of the tail. The ventral surfaces of the head are yellowish white, with heavy black speckles. The venter is light pinkish brown, with black and white speckles scattered. A black lateral stripe is present along ventral medial line from the anterior chest to the groin. When stressed, the holotype change its color to mainly reddish brown, with most of the green color disappeared.

Variation. The head of the paratype is damaged due to it being run over by a vehicle on the road and the skull is nearly flattened. However, the overall condition of the head (with regard to pholidosis characters) and remaining parts of the body are in good condition. The paratype resembles the holotype in most regards, except COLOURATION a few pholidosis characters ( Table 2 View TABLE 2 ).

Natural History. Currently the new species is recorded from Muotuo County in southeastern Xizang Autonomous Region, China only. Calotes zhaoermii sp. nov. inhabits tropical rainforest and may be arboreal ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 ), and both type specimens were found on roads. Agamids such as Japalura andersoniana , Mictopholis sp. , and Calotes medogensis were found sympatric with the new species..