Ra. Nussbaum et al., New species of day gecko, Phelsuma Gray (Reptilia : Squamata : Gekkonidae), from the Reserve Naturelle Integrale d'Andohahela, southern Madagascar, COPEIA, (3), 2000, pp. 763-770
Andohahela Reserve Naturelle Integrale is located in southeastern Madagasca
r. It consists of three parcels, the largest of which (Parcel 1, 63,100 ha)
, lying on the eastern flank of the Anosyenne Mountains between 90 and 1972
m elevation, is dominated by rain forest. We surveyed the herpetofauna of
Parcel 1 at the beginning of the warm, rainy season between 20 October and
5 December 1995. We recorded 45 amphibian and 32 reptile species in Parcel
1, including a new species of Phelsuma, which we describe in this paper. Th
is new species, Phelsuma malamakibo is a medium-sized, rock-dwelling specie
s which occurs in primary rain forest at elevations between 810 m and 1940
m. It is identified by the presence of a distinct dark lateral stripe on th
e neck and body with a white lateral stripe beneath it and a second, thin d
ark lateral stripe below the white stripe; greenish dorsal ground color wit
h reddish brown spots arranged into three longitudinal rows or lines on the
neck and back; no sexual dichromatism; a median cleft dorsally on the rost
ral scale; nostrils centered above the first supralabial scale; subequal su
bcaudal scales; keeled gular and anterior chest scales; and smooth (unkeele
d) scales on the ventral surfaces of the body and tail. In most respects, t
his new species is similar to Phelsuma lineata, P. pusilla, and P. quadrioc
ellata; however, these species have keeled ventral scales. Phelsuma malamak
ibo is similar to P. modesta in having smooth ventral scales, but the latte
r species is sexually dichromatic and differs from P. malamakibo in details
of coloration and nostril position, as well as habitat. Phelsuma modesta i
s largely arboricolous in variable, usually drier habitats, whereas P. mala
makibo is saxicolous in rain forest.