A new species of cryptically coloured day gecko (Phelsuma) from the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in western Madagascar

Abstract

Phelsuma borai sp. nov. (Squamata: Gekkonidae) is described from the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, a deciduous dry forest on a karstic limestone massif in western Madagascar. The new species, known from a single specimen only, has a greyish-brown ground colouration and the ability of remarkable colour change. In terms of colouration and morphology it most closely resembles Phelsuma mutabilis, which might occur in sympatry, but differs by scalation, colouration and strong genetic divergence.