Faculty of Forestry, National University of Laos, Vientiane 01170, Lao PDR.
IUCN Laos PDR, Vientiane 01160, Lao PDR.
Zool Res. 2023 Nov 18;44(6):1039-1051. doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.062.
We describe a unique new species and genus of agamid lizard from the karstic massifs of Khammouan Province, central Laos. is an elusive medium-sized lizard (maximum snout-vent length 101 mm) specifically adapted to life on limestone rocks and pinnacles. To assess the phylogenetic position of the new genus amongst other agamids, we generated DNA sequences from two mitochondrial gene fragments (16S rRNA and 2) and three nuclear loci ( , and ), with a final alignment comprising 7 418 base pairs for 64 agamid species. Phylogenetic analyses unambiguously place the new genus in the mainland Asia subfamily Draconinae, where it forms a clade sister to the genus from East Asia and the northern part of Southeast Asia. Morphologically, the new genus is distinguished from all other genera in Draconinae by possessing a notably swollen tail base with enlarged scales on its dorsal and ventral surfaces. Our work provides further evidence that limestone regions of Indochina represent unique "arks of biodiversity" and harbor numerous relict lineages. To date, is known from only two adult male specimens and its distribution seems to be restricted to a narrow limestone massif on the border of Khammouan and Bolikhamxai provinces of Laos. Additional studies are required to understand its life history, distribution, and conservation status.
我们描述了来自老挝中部甘蒙省喀斯特山脉的一种独特的新的蜥蜴科蜥蜴属。是一种难以捉摸的中型蜥蜴（最大鼻口长度 101 毫米），专门适应石灰岩岩石和尖峰上的生活。为了评估新属在其他蜥蜴科动物中的系统发育位置，我们从两个线粒体基因片段（16S rRNA 和 2）和三个核基因座（ 、 和 ）生成 DNA 序列，最终的比对包括 7418 个碱基对的 64 种蜥蜴科物种。系统发育分析明确将新属置于亚洲大陆蜥蜴科的 Draconinae 亚科中，在那里它与来自东亚和东南亚北部的属形成一个分支。形态上，新属与 Draconinae 亚科中的所有其他属明显不同，其尾巴基部明显肿胀，背腹表面有增大的鳞片。我们的工作进一步证明，印度支那的石灰岩地区是独特的“生物多样性方舟”，拥有众多的残余谱系。迄今为止，仅从两个成年雄性标本中得知，其分布似乎仅限于老挝甘蒙省和博利坎赛省边界的一个狭窄的石灰岩山脉。需要进一步的研究来了解其生活史、分布和保护状况。
