Table Of ContentNEW
DESCRIPTIONS
CYRTODACTYLUS ARAVALLENSIS, A NEW GEKKONIDAE FROM THE DELHI RIDGE
1
E.V.S. Gill2
{With one plate
)
A new species of gecko Cyrtodactylus aravallensis is described from the Northern Aravalli Hills.
The highlight of this discovery is that its closest relatives are found east of the Indus Basin.
While studying the lizards of the campus of Male with a continuous series of 38 preano-
Jawaharlal Nehru University, I caught a gecko of a femoral pores.
species which could not be identified after Smith Colour (in vivo): Sandy coloured above with
(1935). This new species belongs to a group ofsmall, darker spots, forming 7 irregular cross-bands on the
palaeartic Cyrtodactylusspecies referred to by some back, and more on the tail; white spots along the
authors as Cyrtopodion (Leviton et al. 1992). sides of the head, the body and the tail; skin above
The description of the type, an adult male, is the eyes slightly transparent; bronze eyes; whitish
given below. below.
Cyrtodactylus aravallensis sp. nov. This gecko has a limited capacity to change
Description: Snout slightly longer than the colour according to the light and the background,
distance between the eye and the ear opening, the although it is not as developed as in Hemidactylus
greatest diameter of which is half, or less than a flavindis.
half that of the eye; pupil vertical; 9 or 10 upper Length: From snout to vent 51 mm; tail 68
and 6 to 8 lower labials. Head covered above with mm.
irregular rounded scales, mixed with larger ones Etymology: The name Cyrtodactylus
posteriorly.
aravallensis is given to this species after its place
Back covered with large subtrihedal tubercles
of discovery, which is a part of the northern
forming 9 or 10 straight series, and separated from
extension of the Aravalli Hills.
one another by one or two small scales. An indistinct
Holotype and paratype: The type specimen
lateral fold when dead. 26 or 27 rounded scales
was caught on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru
across the middle of the belly.
University, on 1st September, 1995. It has been
Limbs with keeled, imbricate scales above, the BNHS
deposited with the (Regn. No. 1433, Lizard
hind limbs being covered posteriorly with large
Collection).
spiny-looking subtrihedal tubercles; toes elongate;
Another adult male from the same location
subdigital lamellae well developed, those on the
was similar, except forhaving only 21 ventral scales,
basal phalanges as broad as the digits.
35 preano-femoral pores and two more series oflarge
Tail longer than the head and body, slightly
subtrihedal tubercles on the back.
depressed, with small scales and rows of large,
Relationship and diagnosis: Referring to
spiny-looking subtrihedal tubercles above; with a
Smith (1935), we can say thatthis species, belonging
median series of enlarged plates below.
to the Cyrtodactylus scaber group which is
The specimen described has the lower halfof
superficially distinguished from other Cyrtodactylus
the tail regenerated, this part being covered with
species by the straight series of large subtrihedal
uniform smooth small scales.
tubercles on the back, is closely allied to
‘AcceptedJanuary 1996
Cyrtodactylus fedtschenkoi and Cyrtodactylus
21313 Poorvanchal,Jawaharlal Nehru University,
NewDelhi-110067. montium-salsorumwith which it shares the presence
J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 94
E.V.S. Gill: Cyrtodactylus aravallensis sp. nov.
1. Lateral view of the type specimen (dead).
2. Free wild specimen in natural habitat, showing cryptic coloration.
NEW DESCRIPTIONS
123
of a continuous series of preano-femoral pores in Ecology: Cyrtodactylus aravallensis was
m m
the males. discovered on a 265 high, 600 longrocky ridge
It can, however, be distinguished from them surrounded by open, partly degraded tropical thorn
by the presence of only 6 to 8 lower and 9 or 10 forest. There, it shares the rocks with Hemidactylus
upper labials, versus 11 or 12 lower and 12 or 13 flaviridis Hemidactylus brooki Mabuya carinata
, ,
upper labials in these two species. Combined with and Calotes versicolor.
the number ofventral scales: 21 to 27, versus 28 to It is a rather common lizard, coming out
36 in Cyrtodactylus fedtschenkoi and 18 to 20 in between sunset and dusk and moving with great
Cyrtodactylus montium-salsorum, this character is speed. It behaves aggressively when caught, biting
diagnostic of the species. at any object within reach and depositing a
While Cyrtodactylus montium-salsorum and white secretion, but temperament may vary with
Cyrtodactylus fedtschenkoi are known from the the individual. Both specimens had regenerated
Punjab Salt Range, Baluchistan and further West tails.
respectively, the discovery of this species in the far Further investigation and collection is needed
away Aravalii Hills, east of the Indus basin is to prove the validity ofthe species and to delimit its
interesting. range.
RefereNCES
&
Leviton, A.E., S.C. Anderson, K. Adler S.A. Minton Smith, M.A. (1935): The Fauna of British India, including
(1992): Handbook to the Middle East Amphibians Ceylon and Burma. Reptila and Amphibia. Vol. 2 Sauria,
and Reptiles. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Taylor and Francis, London.
Reptiles. Survey of India (1982): Delhi Guide Map. Scale 1:25000.
