Cyrtodactylus ayunpaensis, Nguyen & Ha & Murdoch & Grismer & Grismer & Luu, 2025

Cyrtodactylus ayunpaensis sp. nov.

Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6

Holotype. Adult male, VNUF R.2022.106 (Field No. IARSAI.06) from Ia Sao Commune, Ayun Pa Town , Gia Lai Province ( 14°71’71.6’’N, 104°95’71.3’’E; 212 m a.s.l.), collected by Vinh Quang Luu, Tron Thanh Tran, Lang Ksor on 7 July 2022. GoogleMaps

Paratypes. VNUF R.2022.107 (Field No. IARSAI.07), VNUF R.2022.108 (Field No. IARSAI.08), VNUF R.2022.109 (Field No. IARSAI.09), VNUF R.2022.110 (Field No. IARSAI.10), and VNUF R.2022.111 (Field No. IARSAI.11) bear the same data as the holotype .

Diagnosis. Cyrtodactylus ayunpaensis sp. nov. can be separated from remaining congeners of Cyrtodactylus by processing the unique combination of a maximum SVL of 91.5 mm; supralabials 11–13; infralabials 9–10; dorsal tubercles at midbody in 4–6 irregular rows; ventral scales 52–68; subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe 17– 19; precloacal and femoral pores absent in both sexces; enlarged precloacal scales 22–27 in males and absent in females; 7–11 enlarged femoral scales from each thigh; subcaudals transversely enlarged; small, irregularly shaped dark brown blotches on top of head; nuchal band thin and interrupted; dorsal pattern with four irregularly shaped bands and short stripes on the neck.

Description of the holotype. Adult male, SVL 91.5 mm; head distinct from neck, moderate in length (HL/SVL 0.30), relatively wide (HW/HL 0.64), flattened (HD/HL 0.33); snout long, blunt in dorsal profile (SE/HL 0.41), longer than diameter of orbit (OD/SE 0.46); scales on snout small, round or oval, granular, lager than scales on occiput; orbit large (OD/HL 0.20); pupils vertical; ear opening small, oval (EarL/HL 0.07); rostral almost twice as wide as high with an inverse Y-shaped structure, surrounded by first supralabial, nasal on each side, and internasal; nostril opening small and oval, nasal scale borderd by rostral, two supranasals and one postnasal; mental scale triangular, wider than high (ML/MW 0.8); two enlarged, triangular postmentals; supralabials 11/12; infralabials 9/10.

Body relatively short (AG/SVL 0.37); dorsal scales granular; dorsal tubercles round, keeled, conical, in four scales counted transversely across the midbody between ventrolateral folds, each surrounded by 8–10 granular scales; ventral scales smooth, oval, subimbricate, largest posteriorly, in 68 scale rows at midbody; 153 ventral scales between mental and cloacal orifice; precloacal groove absent; enlarged precloacal scales 25, arranged in a chevron shape; femoral and precloacal pores absent; enlarged femoral scales 10 or 11 on each thigh.

Fore- and hindlimbs moderately slender (ForeaL/SVL 0.14 mm, CrusL/SVL 0.17); forelimbs dorsally covered by several slightly enlarged tubercles; dorsal surface of hindlimbs bearing well-developed tubercles; two postcloacal tubercles on each side of the hemipenal swellings; number of subdigital lamellae on first finger 11/11, on first toe 14/14, on fourth finger 19/17, on fourth toe 19/19.

Tail regenerated, 80.3 mm in length, 8.1 mm in width at base; dorsal tail base with distinct tubercles on original part; subcaudals larger than supracaudal scales that form enlarged transverse plates.

Coloration in life. Ground color of top of head and dorsum brown; top of head bearing irregularly shaped dark-brown markings; a dark nuchal loop present, with a convex posterior border and concave anterior border; three brown transverse bands between limb insertions at midbody, narrower than light-colored interspaces; one dark-brown band at the level of the forelimbs; dorsal banding lacking divided paravertebral elements; light-colored interspaces bearing dark markings; light-colored tubercles bordering dark bands; dorsal surface of limbs with alternating greyish brown and dark-brown markings, and consistent across all four limbs, with no distinct color variations between them; tail regenerated, bearing primarily a brownish color with a mottled pattern and mix of darker brown and lighter grayish patches; ventral surface of head, body, and limbs beige to cream; ventral surface of tail greyish brown.

Variation. The paratypes are very similar to the holotype in all aspects of color pattern. Table 5 View TABLE 5 provides details on meristic and mensural variation.

Distribution. Cyrtodactylus ayunpaensis sp. nov. is currently known only from the type locality in Ayun Pa town, Gia Lai Province, Central Highlands, Vietnam ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 ).

Natural history. The specimens were found at night from 19:00–22:00 on stacked granite rocks and cliffs approximately 0.5–1.0 m above the ground at an elevation of approximately 212 m a.s.l. The surrounding habitat was secondary lower montane evergreen forest which was populated by many vines and shrubs near the farming area of local people ( Fig. 8 View FIGURE 8 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a toponym referring to the type locality of Ayun Pa town, Gia Lai Province, Central Highlands, Vietnam.

Comparisons. Cyrtodactylus ayunpaensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from neighbouring species and all other species of the C. irregularis group in Vietnam based on examination of specimens and data obtained from the literature ( Smith 1921; Nguyen et al. 2006; Heidrich et al. 2007; Orlov et al. 2007; Ngo & Bauer 2008; Nazarov et al. 2008; Rösler et al. 2008; Geissler et al. 2009; Ngo & Chan 2010; Nazarov et al. 2012; Ziegler et al. 2013; Nguyen et. al 2013; Ngo Van Tri 2013; Schneider 2014; Luu et al. 2016, 2017; Pauwels et al. 2018; Ostrowski et al. 2020; Ngo et al. 2020; Ostrowski et al. 2021; Do et al. 2021; Nguyen et al. 2021; Ngo et al. 2023) ( Table 6 View TABLE 6 ).

Cyrtodactylus ayunpaensis sp. nov. is genetically most similar to the C. cryptus , C. kingsadai , and C. raglai lineages. However, it differs from C. cryptus by having more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 47–50 in C. cryptus ), the presence of enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus absent in C. cryptus ), the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 9–11 in C. cryptus ), more lamellae under the first finger (11–13 versus 9–10 in C. cryptus ), fewer lamellae under the fourth toe (18–19 versus 20–23 in C. cryptus ), and the presense of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. cryptus ); from C. kingsadai by having more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 39–46 in C. kingsadai ), the absence of femoral pores in males ( versus 0–4 in C. kingsadai ), the absence of precloacal pores in males and females ( versus 7–9, 4–8 in C. kingsadai , respectively), and fewer lamellae under the fourth finger and fourth toe (16–18, 18–19 versus 19–21, 21–25 in C. kingsadai , respectively); from C. raglai by having more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 36–39 in C. raglai ), the absent of precloacal pores in males ( versus 5 in C. raglai ), and fewer lamellae under the fourth toe (18–19 versus 21–22 in C. raglai ).

Cyrtodactylus ayunpaensis sp. nov. from Gia Lai can be discriminated from other species in C. irregularis group as follows: from C. arndti by having a larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 73.4–80.9 mm in C. arndti ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 26–38 in C. arndti ), and the absence of precloacal pores in males and females ( versus 6, 6 in C. arndti , respectively); from C. badenensis by having a larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 59.3– 74.1 in C. badenensis ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 25–29 in C. badenensis ), and the presence of enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus absent in C. badenensis ); C. bidoupimontis by having more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 38–43 in C. bidoupimontis ), the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 4–6 in C. bidoupimontis ), and the presense of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. bidoupimontis ); from C. bugiamapensis by having a larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 58.6–76.8 mm in C. bugiamapensis ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 36–46 in C. bugiamapesis ), the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 7–11 in C. bugiamapensis ), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. bugiamapensis ); from C. caovansungi by having more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 38–44 in C. caovansungi ), the absence of femoral pores in males ( versus 6 in C. caovansungi ), and the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 9 in C. caovansungi ); from C. cattienensis by having a larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 43.5–69.0 mm in C. cattienensis ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 28–42 in C. cattienensis ), more enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus 3–8 in C. cattienensis ), and the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 6–8 in C. cattienensis ); from C. chumuensis by having a larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 52.4–67.5 mm in C. chumuensis ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 43–45 in C. chumuensis ), more enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus 4–5 in C. chumuensis ), the absence of femoral pores in males ( versus 0–2 in C. chumuensis ), the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 6–7 in C. chumuensis ), more enlarged precloacal scales (22–27 versus 17–19 in C. chumuensis ), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. chumuensis ); from C. chungi by having larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 66.6–68.5 mm in C. chungi ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 30–31 in C. chungi ), more enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus 4–6 in C. chungi ), the absence of precloacal pores in males and females ( versus 7, 6 in C. chungi , respectively), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. chungi ); from C. cucdongensis by having larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 55.8–65.9 mm in C. cucdongenis ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 35–44 in C. cucdongensis ), more enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus 5–9 in C. cucdongensis ), the absence of precloacal pores in males and females ( versus 5–6, 4–6 in C. cucdongensis , respectively), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. cucdongensis ); from C. culaochamensis by having a larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 69.8–79.8 mm in C. culaochamensis ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 45–50 in C. culaochamensis ), the presence of enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus absent in C. culaochamensis ), the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 7–8 in C. culaochamensis ), fewer lamellae under the fourth toe (18–19 versus 20–23 in C. culaochamensis ), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. culaochamensis ); from C. dati by having larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus max 70.1 mm in C. dati ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 42–48 in C. dati ), the absence of femoral pores in males ( versus 3–4 in C. dati ), the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 5–6 in C. dati ), and the presense of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. dati ); from C. gialaiensis by having a larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 50.1–62.8 mm in C. gialaiensis ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 38–45 in C. gialaiensis ), the presence of enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus absent in C. gialaiensis ), the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 9–10 in C. gialaiensis ), more lamellae under the fourth finger and fourth toe (16–18, 18–19 versus 14–15, 15–17 in C. gialaiensis , respectively), more scales rows around midbody (139–156 versus 120–127 in C. gialaiensis ), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. gialaiensis ); from C. huynhi by having a larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 67.2–79.8 mm in C. huynhi ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 43–46), more enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus 3–5 in C. huynhi ), the absence of femoral pores in males ( versus 3–8 in C. huynhi ), the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 7–9 in C. huynhi ), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. huynhi ); from C. irregularis by having more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 38–45 in C. irregularis ), the absent of precloacal pores in males ( versus 5–7 in C. irregularis ), different dorsal color pattern (banded versus blotched in C. irregularis ), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. irregularis ); from C. orlovi by having larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 61.0– 77.7 mm in C. orlovi ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 36–39 in C. orlovi ), the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 5–6 in C. orlovi ), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. orlovi ); from C. phumyensis by having larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 63.6–66.8 mm in C. phumyensis ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 33–41 mm in C. phumyensis ), the absence of precloacal pores in males and females ( versus 5–7, 6 pitted in C. phumyensis , respectively), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. phumyensis ); from C. phuocbinhensis by having larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 46.0– 60.4 mm in C. phuocbinhensis ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 43–47 in C. phuocbinhensis ), more enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus 5 in C. phuocbinhensis ), the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 7 in C. phuocbinhensis ), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. phuocbinhensis ); from C. pseudoquadrivirgatus by the presence of enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus absent in C. pseudoquadrivirgatus ), the absence of precloacal pores in males and females ( versus 5–9, 5–10 in C. pseudoquadrivirgatus , respectively), the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. pseudoquadrivirgatus ), and a continuous band ( versus interrupted in C. pseudoquadrivirgatus ); from C. sangi by having larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 49.9–56.3 mm in C. sangi ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 37 in C. sangi ), more enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus 4 in C. sangi ), the absence of precloacal pores in males and females ( versus 7, 4 pitted in C. sangi , respectively), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. sangi ); from C. takouensis by having more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 39–40 in C. takouensis ), more enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus 3–5 in C. takouensis ), the absence of femoral pores in males ( versus 0–2 in C. takouensis ), and the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 3–4 in C. takouensis ); from C. taynguyenensis by having a larger size (SVL 81.3–91.5 mm versus 60.0–85.0 mm in C. taynguyenensis ), more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 42–49 in C. taynguyenensis ), the presence of enlarged femoral scales (7–11 versus absent in C. taynguyenensis ), the absence of precloacal pores in males ( versus 6 in C. taynguyenensis ), more supralabial scales (11–13 versus 8–9 in C. taynguyenensis ), different dorsal color pattern (banded versus blotched in C. taynguyenensis ), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. taynguyenensis ); from C. yangbayensis by having more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 39–46 in C. yangbayensis ), the absence of femoral pores in males ( versus 0–2 in C. yangbayensis ), and the absence of precloacal pores in males and females ( versus 6–8 in C. yangbayensis ); from C. ziegleri by having more ventral scale rows (52–68 versus 33–39 in C. ziegleri ), the absence of femoral pores in males ( versus 0–6 in C. ziegleri ), the absence of precloacal pores in males and females ( versus 5–8, 0–8 in C. ziegleri , respectively), and the presence of transversely enlarged subcaudal plates ( versus absent in C. ziegleri ).