| Cnemaspis anslemi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Gekkonidae |
| Genus: | Cnemaspis |
| Species: | C. anslemi |
| Binomial name | |
| Cnemaspis anslemi Ukuwela & Karunarathna, 2019 [1] | |
Cnemaspis anslemi, or Anslems' day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka described from northwestern foothills of Samanalawewa Nature Reserve. [2] [3]
The specific name anslemi honors Sri Lankan herpetologist Anslem de Silva, [4] who has worked nearly five decades on Sri Lanka herpetofauna. He is commonly known as the father of modern herpetology in Sri Lanka. [5]
The species is closely related to C. gemunu, C. godagedarai, C. phillipsi, and C. scalpensis. [1]
The species is restricted to home gardens and tropical evergreen rainforests in the Udamaliboda area, Lihinihela, Borangamuwa, and Warnagala areas. Researchers described the species as critically endangered due to tea and rubber plantations and mini hydropower plants. [5]
It is sympatric with many other gecko species, including Cnemaspis samanalensis , Cyrtodactylus triedrus , Gehyra mutilata , Hemidactylus depressus , H. pieresii , H. frenatus , H. parvimaculatus , and Hemiphyllodactylus typus''. [3]
Snout to vent length of adult male is 34.4 mm and female is 32.5 mm. Body slender and long. Eye relatively small with round pupil. Dorsum is covered with smooth granular scales. Chin and gular scales are smooth. [1] Tubercles are well developed. Males have no precloacal pores. Dorsum is reticulated brown, black, and white in color with two large oval shaped patches on the neck region. Head has scattered black and white dots. Dark canthal stripe is indistinct. Chin and gular areas are bright yellow. Neck is bright yellow with black dots in zig-zag pattern. Femur is dirty yellow. Tail has 13–15 cinnamon brown blotches. Eggs are pure white and spherical. [3]
Cnemaspis is a genus of diurnal (day) geckos found in Asia. With over 100 species, it is one of the most diverse genera of geckos. Molecular phylogenies suggest that the two regional groupings may form distinct clades which are not each other's closest relatives.
Dendrelaphis bifrenalis, also called Boulenger's bronzeback, Boulenger's bronze-back, and Travancore bronze-brown snake, is a colubrid snake native to Eastern Ghats of Southern India and Sri Lanka. It was first described by George Albert Boulenger in 1890. Dendrelaphis wickrorum from Sri Lanka was previously confused with this species.
The scaly gecko is a species of nocturnal, terrestrial, insectivorous gecko found in South India and northern Sri Lanka. This species was first discovered in the coastal sand dunes of Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu. Subsequently, it was incorrectly identified and only recently, elaborate descriptions and molecular data are available, enabling a proper identification.
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Cnemaspis nandimithrai, or Nandimithra's day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
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Cnemaspis kivulegedarai, or Kivulegedaras' day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
Kongahage Anslem Lawrence de Silva is a Sri Lankan biologist and herpetologist recognised as the father of modern herpetology in Sri Lanka. His career spanned for more than five decades; de Silva has contributed to the field of zoology with much research and numerous publications particularly on crocodiles, snakes and lizards.
Cnemaspis kotagamai, or Kotagama's day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka, described in 2019 from Ratnapura.
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Cnemaspis kawminiae, or Kawmini's day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka, described in 2019 from Nuwara Eliya.
Cnemaspis manoae, commonly known as Mano's day gecko, is a species of diurnal, rock-dwelling, insectivorous gecko endemic to Sri Lanka.
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