Lygodactylus anjajavy, Vences & Herrmann & Multzsch & Gippner & Razafimanafo & Rahagalala & Rakotomanga & Rakotoarison & Glaw & Miralles, 2025

Vences, Miguel, Herrmann, Cecilia, Multzsch, Malte, Gippner, Sven, Razafimanafo, Delina, Rahagalala, Ny Ando, Rakotomanga, Sandratra, Rakotoarison, Andolalao, Glaw, Frank & Miralles, Aurélien, 2025, Revision of the Lygodactylus tolampyae complex, with descriptions of three additional new dwarf gecko species from Madagascar’s North West, Zootaxa 5665 (3), pp. 301-328 : 318-322

Lygodactylus anjajavy sp. nov.

( Figs 8–10 )

Remark. Corresponds to L. sp. 28 of Gippner et al. (2021) and Vences et al. (2024a).

Holotype. ZSM 254/2023 (field number ZCMV 15727), female, collected from Anjajavy Reserve , “Sentier de la Marina ”, 14.99025°S, 47.23143°E, ca. 15 m a.s.l., northwestern Madagascar, between 07:30 and 10:00 pm, on 20 March 2023, by A. Miralles, N. A. Rahagalala and S. Rakotomanga.

Paratypes (n=7). ZSM 253/2023 (ZCMV 15717), UADBA-ZCMV 15726, ZSM 255/2023 (ZCMV 15728), UADBA-ZCMV 15729, UADBA-ZCMV 15730, all five with same data as the holotype. UADBA-FGZC 5755, collected at Caves of Belobaka , 15.69871°S, 46.40386°E, 38 m a.s.l., on 3 April 2018, by F. Glaw, D. Prötzel, N. A. Raharinoro, R. N. Ravelojaona, A. Razafimanantsoa, J. Forster, K. Glaw, T. Glaw and C. Zanotelli. UADBA-APR 07439, Analagnabe Forest, from gallery forest near Anjiamangirana, 40 km SW of Antsohihy, 15.157°S, 47.735°E, 175 m a.s.l., collected in 2006 by A. P. Raselimanana .

Diagnosis. Lygodactylus anjajavy sp. nov. is characterized as member of the L. tolampyae complex (and thereby distinguishable from all other Malagasy Lygodactylus not belonging to the complex) by combination of a mental scale semi–divided by a suture, broad contact of the posterior projection of the mental scale with the first infralabial scale, and three postmental scales; absence of whorls on the tail; and a typical appearance of the head with relatively large eyes. Within the L. tolampyae complex, many specimens of the new species appear to be recognizable by their typical color pattern, with light dorsolateral bands flanked dorsally and ventrally by relatively broad, complete or incomplete dark bands, and with an indistinct pattern of lighter blotches within the light dorsolateral bands (vs. either without light dorsolateral bands, or with less strongly marked dark edges of these bands and without lighter blotches within them). However, other individuals have very poorly marked or absent dorsolateral bands and cannot be distinguished from other species by color pattern. Further differences, although usually with overlap of values, are as follows: distinguished from L. andavambato by a less slender appearance (vs. conspicuously slender appearance), absence of regular dark–light alternating crossbands of similar width on tail (vs. presence); 1–2 internasal scales (vs. 3 internasals in most specimens); and a smaller relative eye diameter (ratio ED/SVL 0.06 vs. 0.05 in most specimens); and a higher longitudinal count of dorsal scales (LCDS 256–273 vs. 222–240); from L. arnei by a higher longitudinal count of ventral scales (LCVS 109–116 vs. 99–111) and a higher longitudinal count of dorsal scales in most specimens (LCDS 256–273 vs. 224–258); from L. herilalai by a higher longitudinal count of ventral scales (LCVS 109–116 vs. 98–106); from L. morii by a higher longitudinal count of ventral scales in most specimens (LCVS 109–116 vs. 93–121 with only three of 24 specimens in the range of the new species); and from L. tolampyae by a higher longitudinal count of dorsal scales (LCDS 256–273 vs. 204–241). No obvious and consistent morphometric or meristic differentiation from L. schwitzeri was noted. From a molecular perspective, the new species is characterized by numerous diagnostic nucleotide positions in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene (see Table 2).

Description of the holotype. Female, in good state of preservation, left front-limb was removed as tissue sample, tail is present ( Figs 9–10 ). SVL 31.3 mm, TAL 32.1 mm; for other measurements, see Table 3. Body width (7.6 mm) is slightly larger than head width (6.1 mm). The distance from the tip of the snout to the anterior border of the eye (3.8 mm) is larger than the anterior interorbital distance (4.5 mm), and greater than the distance between the eye and ear opening (3.0 mm). Snout covered with granular scales slightly larger than those on the dorsum. Nostril surrounded by five scales: rostral, first supralabial, one postnasal and two supranasals. The mental scale is semi-divided; contact between posterior projection of mental scale and first infralabial scale is around 32.4% of the infralabial scale length; three symmetrical postmental scales, followed by six postpostmentals; six infralabial scales; seven supralabial scales; one internasal scale; granular dorsal scales; dorsum with small, homogeneous, granular, and unkeeled scales of similar size to those on trunk, slightly larger on limbs; 256 dorsal scales longitudinally along the body; 109 ventral scales between mental and cloaca; venter with larger homogeneous smooth scales; first finger present, small, but bearing a claw; four pairs of subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; no dorsolateral tubercles; no observable lateral spines at the base of the tail.

After one year of preservation in ethanol ( Fig. 9 ), the specimen appears brownish in colouration with a slightly darker middorsal stripe above and two pairs of dark interrupted stripes starting at the posterior side of the eyes running along the spine to the start of the tail, merging in form of a chevron. From there the merged stripe continues on the tail. On each side two additional stripes are running along the body, the upper one starts at the tip of the snout, while the lower one starts from the eye. Both stripes are heavily interrupted and might merge at the middle of the body. The head displays a darker spot, from which the dorsal stripe appears to start. The limbs are irregularly patterned, toes are striped. The dorsal tail is lightly banded additional to the dark stripe. Each side of the neck has a tubercle with a whitish tip. The ventral side of the body and limbs is uniformly whitish, the throat is slightly spotted. The ventral side of the tail is more grayish-white with small brownish spots. Several blueish, greenish, and reddish areas are visible on the ventral side probably due to preservation artefacts. In life ( Fig. 8 ), the colouration appears more differentiated and of higher contrast, especially the darker stripes. Photo of ventral coloration in life is not available.

Variation. Most specimens photographed in Anjajavy have a dorsal pattern consisting of relatively contrasted dark and light elements, and in the majority, a pattern of light brown dorsolateral bands as in the holotype is apparent ( Fig. 8 ). These bands can, however, be indisctinct (e.g., Fig. 8C ) while in younger individuals dorsal stripes might be particularly distinct ( Fig. 8B ). Unstriped specimens occur as well ( Fig. 8E,F ). For morphometric and meristic data of paratypes, see Table 3.

Etymology. The species name is a noun in apposition, derived from the Anjajavy private reserve, the type locality of the new species, located around Anjajavy Lodge, in recognition of the support the hotel provided to our research. More precisely, Anjajavy, refers to the name of the peninsula, and is derived from Sasavy, the local name for the Narrow-leaved Mustard tree ( Salvadora angustifolia ) which according to local guides is common especially in the mangrove parts of this reserve.

Habitat and natural history. In Anjajavy, Lygodactylus anjajavy has been found in the dry deciduous forest covering the lodge perimeter, most often on tree trunks or sleeping at night on the tip of thin branches. Although the Anjajavy forest is unusual in that it is scattered with several fragments of Tsingy-like karstic formation (most often lower than - and therefore hidden by - trees but which spurs as high as 30 meters in some places), no evidence suggests that the presence of this arboreal species depends on the presence of such a peculiar rocky environment.

Distribution. The species is known from three locations: (1) the type locality, Anjajavy Reserve; (2) Analagnabe Forest near Anjiamangirana; and (3) around the caves of Belobaka (close to Mahajanga on the way to Betsako; previously reported as “near to Betsako” in Vences et al. 2024a). The Belobaka sample (specimen not available for examination) is genetically highly divergent from the samples collected at the other two locations.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Specimens of Lygodactylus anjajavy sp. nov. in life, photographed in March 2023 in Anjajavy Private Reserve. A, holotype ZSM 254/2023 (field number ZCMV 15727); B, specimen MIRZC 1042 (not collected); C, paratype ZSM 255/2023 (ZCMV 15728); D, paratype UADBA-ZCMV 15726; E, paratype UADBA-ZCMV 15728; F, paratype UADBA-ZCMV 15730.

FIGURE 9. Dorsal and ventral views of the preserved name-bearing types of three new species of the Lygodactylus tolampyae complex described herein.

FIGURE 10. Lateral and ventral views of the head of the preserved name-bearing types of three new species of the Lygodactylus tolampyae complex described herein (not to scale). The images of the ventral views have been modified by a sharpening filter to better appreciate the boundaries between scales. Inset images show enlarged views of the mental (light green), first infralabial (dark green) and postmental (light blue) scale arrangements in the three specimens. The small red arrow points to the contact between posterior projection of mental and first supralabial which is typically broad in the L. tolampyae complex (only moderate in L. andavambato sp. nov.).