The hidden diversity and inland radiation of Sri Lanka’s ground-dwelling geckos of the genusCyrtodactylus(Reptilia: Gekkonidae)

A new species of ground-dwelling gecko has been discovered within the Sri Lankan endemic Cyrtodactylus (G.) triedrus complex, challenging its long-standing classification as a single species. This finding was supported by morphological and phylogenetic evidence, revealing significant genetic divergence (11–26%) among species in this clade. The study also resurrected Geckoella punctata, reassigning it to the genus Cyrtodactylus and redescribing it with a designated lectotype. The research highlights deep evolutionary splits between Indian and Sri Lankan species, particularly within the dry and wet zone clades of the subgenus Geckoella. Additionally, C. (G.) triedrus sensu stricto was restricted to moist or submontane forests in Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands, providing new insights into the biodiversity and biogeography of this region.

Amarasinghe, A. A. T., Karunarathna, S., Campbell, P. D., Gayan, A. K. A., Ranasinghe, W. D. B., De Silva, A., & Mirza, Z. A. (2022). The hidden diversity and inland radiation of Sri Lanka’s ground-dwelling geckos of the genusCyrtodactylus(Reptilia: Gekkonidae). Systematics and Biodiversity, 20(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2022.2039319