| Cnemaspis hitihamii | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Gekkonidae |
| Genus: | Cnemaspis |
| Species: | C. hitihamii |
| Binomial name | |
| Cnemaspis hitihamii Silva, Bauer, Botejue, Ukuwela, Gabadage, Gorin, Poyarkov, Surasinghe & Karunarathna, 2019 | |
Cnemaspis hitihamii, or Hitihami's day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka. [1]
The specific name hitihamii is named in honor of Sri Lankan warrior Meegahapitiye Walauwe Hitihami Mudiyanse Rate Rala, who is a national hero fought in the Great Rebellion of 1817–1818 occurred in Uva-Wellassa against British rule. It was the third Kandyan War led by Keppetipola Disawe. [2] [3] [4]
The species is a sister species of C. nilgala. [1]
The species was discovered from area lies between 354–567 meters above sea level from a granite cave in Maragalakanda area, Monaragala. [5] Individuals are restricted to rock outcrops and granite caves in forested areas. It is sympatric with many geckoes such as Calodactylodes illingworthorum and Hemidactylus hunae . Researchers identified the species is Critically Endangered due to low numbers and density only recorded from seven locations. [1]
An adult male is 41.7 mm long. Dorsum homogeneous with smooth granular scales. Chin, gular, pectoral and abdominal scales are smooth. There are 21 belly scales across mid body. Tubercles on posterior flank are well developed. Para vertebral granules linearly arranged. Body long and slender. Head small and depressed. Snout relatively short. Pupil round. Head, body and limbs are golden brown to dark brown mixed with light grey dorsally. There are five to seven irregular black paravertebral spots. Short black longitudinal line present on occipital area. A row of white spots present along vertebral line. Tail cinnamon brown with 8-12 faded grey cross-bands. [1]
Several Sri Lankan media as well many parliamentarians criticized the usage of popular people's name for specific name. [6] The argument was largely due to unknowing about binomial nomenclature in zoological taxonomy among people. [7] They indicated that the usage of heroes' names gives by equating the national heroes to geckos. [5] However, researchers rejected this and explained that the name is given only to honor the personality. [8]
Great Rebellion of 1817–1818, also known as the 1818 Uva–Wellassa Rebellion , was the third Kandyan War in the Uva and Wellassa provinces of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which is today the Uva province of Sri Lanka. The rebellion started against the British colonial government under Governor Robert Brownrigg, three years after the Kandyan Convention ceded Kingdom of Kandy to the British Crown.
Vidya Jyothi Sarath Wimalabandara Kotagama is a Sri Lankan ornithologist and environmentalist. He is a Professor Emeritus and former head of the Department of Zoology, University of Colombo.
Cnemaspis podihuna, also known as Deraniyagala's day gecko or dwarf day gecko is a species of diurnal gecko found only in Sri Lanka.
The Kandyan period covers the history of Sri Lanka from 1597–1815. After the fall of the Kingdom of Kotte, the Kandyan Kingdom was the last Independent monarchy of Sri Lanka. The Kingdom played a major role throughout the history of Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1476. The kingdom located in the central part of Sri Lanka managed to remain independent from both the Portuguese and Dutch rule who controlled coastal parts of Sri Lanka; however, it was colonised by the British in 1815.
Cnemaspis nilgala, also known as Nilgala day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
Cnemaspis godagedarai, or Godagedara's day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka, described in 2019 from Matara.
Cnemaspis nandimithrai, or Nandimithra's day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
Cnemaspis gotaimbarai, or Gotaimbara's day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
Cnemaspis kohukumburai, or Kohukumbura's day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
Cnemaspis butewai, or Butewes’ day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
Cnemaspis kivulegedarai, or Kivulegedaras' day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
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.
Cnemaspis kotagamai, or Kotagama's day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka, described in 2019 from Ratnapura.
Cnemaspis dissanayakai, or Dissanayaka's day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka, described in 2019 from Polonnaruwa.
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 lokugei, or Lokuge's day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
Cnemaspis gunasekarai, or Gunasekara's day gecko, is a species of diurnal rupicolous gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
Cnemaspis gunawardanai, or Gunawardana's day gecko, is a species of diurnal rupicolous gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
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