A new species of Dixonius from Nui Chua National Park, Ninh Thuan Province, southern Vietnam (Squamata, Gekkonidae)

Abstract

A new species of the geckonid genus Dixonius is described from Nui Chua National Park, Ninh Thuan Province in southern Vietnam. The description is based on four adult specimens, two males and females each. The new species is distinguished from any other Dixonius by the combination of the following characters: maximum SVL 38.6 mm; bold dark canthal stripe terminating at back of head (occiput); more or less dark barred lips; patternless yellowish-orange back and tail; supranasals in distinct contact; 8–9 supralabials, with supralabials six or seven in midorbital position; 18–19 ventral scale rows at midbody; males with 5 precloacal pores. We further provide the first record of D. cf. vietnamensis for Ninh Thuan Province, which occurs in sympatry with the new species in coastal Nui Chua National Park. We provide first data on the natural history of the new species and a key to all five known Dixonius species (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)