Discovery of a new species of Luperosaurus (Squamata; Gekkonidae) from Sulawesi, with a phylogenetic analysis of the genus, and comments on the status of Luperosaurus serraticaudus
Rm. Brown et al., Discovery of a new species of Luperosaurus (Squamata; Gekkonidae) from Sulawesi, with a phylogenetic analysis of the genus, and comments on the status of Luperosaurus serraticaudus, COPEIA, (1), 2000, pp. 191-209
We describe a new species of Luperosaurus from first growth, low-elevation,
closed canopy rain forest on Mt. Tompotika at the tip of the eastern penin
sula of the island of Sulawesi (Celebes), Indonesia. The new species is the
first record of the genus Luperosaurus from this island and differs from a
ll known species of Luperosaurus by numerous morphological characters and a
unique color pattern. The new species also shares some presumably derived
character states with members of the genus Ptychozoon. A phylogenetic analy
sis of 24 morphological characters is consistent with the previously hypoth
esized presence of two species groups (putative lineages) within the genus
Luperosaurus. The analysis suggests that the new species from Sulawesi may
either belong to a clade also including L. brooksi and L, browni or may fal
l basal to the remaining Luperosaurus. The monophyly of the species current
ly referred to Luperosaurus is questionable. We consider Luperosaurus serra
ticaudus a junior synonym of L. browni.