A New Species of Goniurosaurus (Squamata: Eublepharidae) from Yingde, Guangdong Province, China

Abstract

A new species of the genus Goniurosaurus (Squamata: Eublepharidae) is described from Yingde, Guangdong Province, China: Goniurosaurus yingdeensis sp. n. It can be discriminated from other known congeners by having 10–13 precloacal pores; dorsal ground color of head, body, and limbs in adults dark brown; posteriorly rounded nuchal loop situated low on the nape of the neck; five body bands between the nuchal loop and the caudal constriction; tail length and snout–vent length almost equal in individuals with original tail; the base of claws being sheathed by four scales; and short conchoidal lateral scales at claw base. First-hand data on the natural history of G. yingdeensis, and an expanded key to the genus Goniurosaurus, are provided. Being found outside the known geographical distribution of the genus Goniurosaurus, this is the first record in Guangdong Province in southern China.