Universität zu Köln

Grismer, L. Lee and Ziegler, Thomas (2022). How many more species are out there? Current taxonomy substantially underestimates the diversity of bent-toed geckos (Gekkonidae, Cyrtodactylus) in Laos and Vietnam. ZooKeys (1097). S. 135 - 153. SOFIA: PENSOFT PUBLISHERS. ISSN 1313-2970

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Abstract

Cyrtodactylus is the most diverse genus of the family Gekkonidae and the world's third largest vertebrate genus. The number of species has increased more than fourfold over the last two decades. Indochina, especially Vietnam and Laos, has witnessed a surge in new species discoveries over the last three decades. The species number reported from Laos and Vietnam has remarkably increased from five in 1997 to 71 species in 2021. However, within the genus, several taxonomic issues have not yet been fully resolved. Based on recently collected samples from Laos and Vietnam, we conducted a comprehensive molecular review of Cyrtodactylus occurring in Laos and Vietnam. Our molecular analysis with support from morphological comparisons showed that C. thuongae is a junior synonym of C. dati and C. rufford is a junior synonym of C. lomyenensis. In total, 68 described species distributed in Laos and Vietnam are undisputed with strong support from both molecular and morphological evidence. On the other hand, the molecular analyses revealed that there are at least seven undescribed species in Vietnam and Laos, one in the C. angularis group, one in the C. chauquangensis, and five in the C. irregularis group. This number will likely increase significantly, as previous work suggested that the C. angularis and C. irregularis groups harbor three and six unnamed lineages, respectively. Based on survey gaps identified in our study, it is clear that additional new species will be discovered in poorly studied regions of central Vietnam and northern and southern Laos. As many species in the genus are facing high extinction risks, several undescribed populations might already be severely threatened by human activities in both countries. Therefore, urgent taxonomic research is needed before conservation assessments of newly discovered taxa can be undertaken to protect them from anthropogenic threats.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Grismer, L. Lee UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Ziegler, Thomas UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-687196
DOI:	10.3897/zookeys.1097.78127
Journal or Publication Title:	ZooKeys
Number:	1097
Page Range:	S. 135 - 153
Date:	2022
Publisher:	PENSOFT PUBLISHERS
Place of Publication:	SOFIA
ISSN:	1313-2970
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language COMPLEX SQUAMATA GEKKONIDAE; IRREGULARIS COMPLEX; NATIONAL-PARK; 1827 REPTILIA; 1ST RECORD; PROVINCE; GRAY; GENUS; EVOLUTION Multiple languages Zoology Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/68719