Another step through the crux: a new microendemic rock-dwelling Paroedura (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from south-central Madagascar

Costanza Piccoli; Francesco Belluardo; Javier Lobón-Rovira; Ivo Oliveira Alves; Malalatiana Rasoazanany; Franco Andreone; Gonçalo M Rosa; Angelica Crottini

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1181.108134

Another step through the crux: a new microendemic rock-dwelling Paroedura (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from south-central Madagascar

Zookeys. 2023 Oct 4:1181:125-154. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1181.108134. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Costanza Piccoli^{1

2

3

4}, Francesco Belluardo^{1

2

3}, Javier Lobón-Rovira^{1

2

3}, Ivo Oliveira Alves^{1

2

3}, Malalatiana Rasoazanany⁵, Franco Andreone⁴, Gonçalo M Rosa^{6

7}, Angelica Crottini^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali Turin Italy.
² Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal Universidade do Porto Vairão Portugal.
³ BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal Universidade do Porto Porto Portugal.
⁴ MRSN, Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Via G. Giolitti, 36, I-10123 Turin, Italy BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão Vairão Portugal.
⁵ Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar Université d'Antananarivo Antananarivo Madagascar.
⁶ Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY London, UK Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London London United Kingdom.
⁷ Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & Global Change and Sustainability Institute (CHANGE), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Bloco C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & Global Change and Sustainability Institute Lisboa Portugal.

Abstract

Using an integrative taxonomic approach including genetic and morphological data, we formally describe a new microendemic gecko species belonging to the Paroedurabastardi clade, previously referred to as P.bastardi D. We name this taxon currently known from Anja Reserve and Tsaranoro Valley Forest (south-central Madagascar), as P.manongavatosp. nov. The new species differs from other species of the P.bastardi clade by ≥ 12.4% uncorrected p-distance at the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and it forms a monophyletic group in the COI mtDNA phylogenetic tree. It lacks haplotype sharing at the nuclear KIAA1239 and CMOS genes with the other species of the same complex, including the syntopic P.rennerae. Given its limited extent of occurrence and high levels of habitat fragmentation linked to forest clearances and fires, we propose the IUCN Red List Category of Critically Endangered, based on the B1ab(iii) criterion. The conservation value of Anja Reserve and Tsaranoro Valley Forest is remarkable. Preserving the remaining deciduous forest habitat is of paramount importance to protect these narrow-range reptile species.

Keywords: Anja Reserve; Haute Matsiatra; Tsaranoro Valley; dry-deciduous forests; integrative taxonomy.

Costanza Piccoli, Francesco Belluardo, Javier Lobón-Rovira, Ivo Oliveira Alves, Malalatiana Rasoazanany, Franco Andreone, Gonçalo M. Rosa, Angelica Crottini.