Lepidodactylus mitchelli

Fig. 3 A, D, 4 A urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: AFFBA 315 - F 8 AA- 45 D 0 - 933 A-EEC 2 F 5 BA 02 CC Holotype. UMMZ 244058 (field tag FK 17164), mature male, collected by F. Kraus and W. Nemani, Boiaboiawaga Island, 10.2096 ° S, 150.9059 ° E, sea level, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, 20 March 2015. Paratypes (n = 7). Same locality as holotype, collected by F. Kraus and D. Mitchell, 25 May 2002 (BPBM 15841 – 47). Diagnosis. A medium-sized (adult SVL 35 – 45.5 mm) species of Lepidodactylus having a subcylindrical tail without a lateral fringe of enlarged scales; 12 – 14 enlarged scales of pore-bearing series limited to precloacal region, 10 – 13 precloacal pores in males; 13 – 17 T 4 lamellae, 8 – 11 T 1 lamellae, with 2 – 3 divided subterminal scansors on T 4; lamellae occupying most of toes (T 4 lamellaeL / T 4 L = 0.84 – 0.98); fairly wide toes (T 4 W / T 4 L = 0.31 – 0.40) with moderate webbing (T 3 T 4 webL / T 4 L = 0.13 – 0.23); row of tiny scales between the precloacal series and either side of the pubic patch; dorsum usually with several irregular dark-brown saddles (wide tan vertebral band in one juvenile); and many posteroventral and plantar scales uniformly brown. Comparisons with other species. The subcylindrical tail without a lateral fringe of enlarged scales and the 2 – 3 divided subterminal scansors under the toes place Lepidodactylus mitchelli sp. nov. in Brown and Parker’s (1977) Group II. Lepidodactylus mitchelli sp. nov. differs from other Melanesian members of this group as follows: from L. guppyi, L. pulcher, and L. shebae in having fewer enlarged precloacal / femoral scales (12 – 14 versus 39 – 52, 18 – 20, and 34, respectively) and fewer precloacal pores (10 – 13 versus 39 – 52, 16, and 32, respectively); it further differs from L. pulcher in its smaller adult size (SVL = 35 – 45.5 mm versus 40 – 55 mm in L. pulcher). The new species is most similar to L. novaeguineae. It differs from that species in having more T 4 lamellae (13 – 17 versus 9 – 15 in L. novaeguineae), its color pattern of vague dark-brown saddles (Fig. 4 A, versus many longitudinal dark streaks or dorsolateral series of bold dark-brown blotches in L. novaeguineae), generally darker venter (heavily peppered with brown in seven of eight specimens versus white with sparse brown punctations in L. novaeguineae, Fig. 3 A versus 3 C), and in having many posteroventral and plantar scales uniformly brown (versus only with minute black punctations in L. novaeguineae, Fig. 3 D versus 3 F). Description of holotype. A mature male of medium size (SVL = 40.5 mm, TrL = 19.5 mm). Head relatively long (HL / SVL = 0.24) and wide (HW / HL = 0.88), distinct from neck. Loreal region slightly inflated; no distinct canthus rostralis. Top of snout, area between nares, and area posterior to nares concave. Snout tapered and rounded at tip, relatively long (SN / HL = 0.44), almost twice eye diameter (SN / EY = 1.9). Eye relatively small (EY / HL = 0.23, EY / EN = 0.65); pupil vertical, constricted into series of four lobes; supraciliaries slightly larger than adjacent granules. Ear opening small (Ear / HL = 0.073), compressed, oriented diagonally from posterodorsal to anteroventral on right, horizontal on left; distance between ear and eye significantly larger than eye diameter (EE / EY = 1.6). Rostral wider (2.0 mm) than high (0.9 mm), highest just medial to nares, lower between these points; length (0.2 mm); barely visible from above. Supranasals separated by three internasals. Rostral in contact with first supralabials, two supranasals, and three internasals. External nares circular; each bordered by rostral, two supranasals, first supralabial, and one postnasal. Mental shallowly triangular, shorter (0.60 mm) than wide (0.75 mm). Mental bordered posteriorly by two enlarged postmentals, these bordered posteriorly by three rows of enlarged gulars that are followed by smaller granular chin scales. First three infralabials bordered below by somewhat enlarged postmentals; remaining scales below infralabials smaller, only twice size of central throat scales. Supralabials to mid-orbital position nine on each side; to angle of jaw 12 on each side. Infralabials 13 on each side. Body of modest habitus (TrL / SVL = 0.48), slightly depressed. Dorsal scales on head, body, limbs, and throat tiny, juxtaposed granules, larger on sides and snout; tubercles absent. Ventral scales flatter but somewhat beaded, smooth, subimbricate, gradually decreasing in size laterally to become granular. Enlarged precloacal scales in single series of 12 scales, each bearing a pore; scales on thighs not enlarged. Enlarged scales form a pubic patch between the precloacal series and vent; row of tiny scales between the precloacal series and either side of the pubic patch; eight scales in a row between apex of enlarged precloacal series and vent. Scales on palms and soles rounded, smooth. Fore- and hindlimbs relatively small but well-developed (FA / SVL = 0.11, CS / SVL = 0.13). Digits well-developed, broadly dilated throughout their length (T 4 W / T 4 L = 0.31, Fig. 3 D), all but first fingers and toes with recurved claws; clawed phalanges laterally compressed, free above and extending slightly beyond terminal scansors. Subdigital lamellae narrow and smooth, all digits with 2 – 3 divided subterminal scansors; lamellae extend for majority of length of each toe (T 4 scansor L / T 4 L = 0.89). Lamellae of manus 9 – 10 – 11 – 13 – 9 on right, 9 – 10 – 11 – 13 – 10 on left; of pes 8 – 11 – 16 – 16 – 11 on right, 10 – 10 – 14 – 15 – 8 on left. Relative lengths of digits on manus and pes I

Kraus, Fred (2019): New species of Lepidodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from New Guinea and adjacent islands. Zootaxa 4651 (2): 305-329, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4651.2.7