Biology:Paroedura guibeae

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Short description: Species of lizard

Paroedura guibeae
Paroedura guibeae ZSM 189 2004.jpg
Specimen collected from Tranoroa
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Paroedura
Species:
P. guibeae
Binomial name
Paroedura guibeae
Dixon & Kroll, 1974
P. bastardi clade range map.jpg
Range of the species within the Paroedura bastardi clade, with P. guibeae indicated by the green circles

Paroedura guibeae, Guibé's ground gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species was formerly synonymized with Paroedura bastardi, but a study in 2021 found that it represents a separate species within the species complex. It is endemic to Madagascar .[1]

Taxonomy

Paroedura guibeae was initially described in 1974, with the holotype being an adult male collected 10 km south of Betroka on 14 June 1953.[2] Although Nussbaum and Raxworthy synonymized the species with the Mocquard's Madagascar ground gecko (P. bastardi) in 2000, an integrative revision of the P. bastardi species complex in 2021 found that P. guibeae represents a morphologically and genetically distinct species, and thus the taxon name was resurrected.[3][4]

It has been found that at least four mitochondrial lineages are contained within P. guibeae, of which two have been considered to be distinct candidate species.[5] Taxonomic assessment of the P. guibeae clade is thus required to clarify their species status. Within the P. bastardi species complex, the P. guibeae lineage from Tranoroa has been recovered as the sister taxon to Paroedura manongavato. The following cladogram shows the position of P. guibeae among its closest relatives according to Piccoli et al. (2023):[6]

Paroedura picta (Outgroup)

Paroedura bastardi

Paroedura guibeae

Paroedura manongavato

Paroedura rennerae

Paroedura ibityensis

Paroedura neglecta

Paroedura tanjaka

In 2004, the specific name was changed by Michels and Bauer to guibei, as the species was named after Mr. (not Ms.) Jean Guibé.[7] However, Miralles et al. (2021) criticized the use of the species name P. guibei, as this emendation is incorrect from a nomenclatural perspective according to the articles of the ICZN. Under this reasoning, guibei has no valid use and the original spelling guibeae does not need to be emended.[4]

Distribution and habitat

View of Isalo National Park, a location where P. guibeae is known to occur

This reptile is one of many species endemic to the island nation of Madagascar, and has been observed in several localities in the southern region of the country. It is reported to mostly occur on the surfaces of rocks near canyon entrances in open grasslands. While Guibé's ground gecko is known to occur syntopically with the related Paroedura rennerae at least in one site (Zahavola in Isalo), the latter species has a preference for more humid microhabitats.[4]

Description

Juvenile specimen of P. guibeae from Tranoroa

Guibé's ground gecko is a moderately-sized species, reaching a maximum snout–vent length of 6 cm. Although the initial description of this species stated the nostrils are in contact with the rostral and first labial scales, later examination of the type material found this to be false and that the rostral scale is actually separated from the nostrils by prenasals.[3] Enlarged, keeled scales are present on the dorsum (including on the dorsal surfaces of the limbs), arranged in regular longitudinal rows. The digits end with posteriorly-tapering toe pads about twice as wide as the rest of the digit, each with a claw that is visible when seen from below. This lizard is mostly light tan in color, with slightly darker reticulated patterning.[2] Banded patterning is present on the digits of this species, a feature absent in the related Mocquard's Madagascar ground gecko and Paroedura rennerae.[4]

References

  1. Paroedura guibeae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
  2. 2.0 2.1 Dixon, James R.; Kroll, James C. (1974). "Resurrection of the generic name Paroedura for the phyllodactyline geckos of Madagascar, and description of a new species". Copeia 1974 (1): 24–30. doi:10.2307/1443003. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1443003. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Nussbaum, R.; Raxworthy, C. (2000). "Systematic revision of the genus Paroedura Gnther (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae), with the description of five new species". Miscellaneous Publications (Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan) 189: 1–26. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Miralles, Aurélien; Bruy, Teddy; Crottini, Angelica; Rakotoarison, Andolalao; Ratsoavina, Fanomezana M.; Scherz, Mark D.; Schmidt, Robin; Köhler, Jörn et al. (2021-02-26). "Completing a taxonomic puzzle: integrative review of geckos of the Paroedura bastardi species complex (Squamata, Gekkonidae)" (in en). Vertebrate Zoology 71: 27–48. doi:10.3897/vz.71.e59495. https://vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/59495/. 
  5. Cocca, Walter; Rosa, G.; Andreone, F.; Aprea, G.; Bergò, P. E.; Mattioli, F.; Mercurio, V.; Randrianirina, J. E. et al. (2018). "The herpetofauna ( Amphibia , Crocodylia , Squamata , Testudines ) of the Isalo Massif , Southwest Madagascar: combining morphological , molecular and museum data". Salamandra 54 (3): 178–200. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327043397. 
  6. Piccoli, Costanza; Belluardo, Francesco; Lobón-Rovira, Javier; Alves, Ivo Oliveira; Rasoazanany, Malalatiana; Andreone, Franco; Rosa, Gonçalo M.; Crottini, Angelica (2023-10-04). "Another step through the crux: a new microendemic rock-dwelling Paroedura (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from south-central Madagascar" (in en). ZooKeys 1181: 125–154. doi:10.3897/zookeys.1181.108134. PMID 37841030. PMC 10568478. https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/108134/. 
  7. Michels, J. Pieter.; Michels, J. Pieter; Bauer, Aaron M. (2004). "Some corrections to the scientific names of amphibians and reptiles". Bonner zoologische Beiträge 52: 83–94. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/119496. 

Wikidata ☰ Q107092863 entry