|Cnemaspis selamatkanmerapoh |
Grismer, Wood, Jr., Mohamed, Chan, Heinz, Sumarli, Chan & Loredo, 2013
A new species of karst-adapted gekkonid lizard of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch is described from Gua Gunting and Gua Goyang in a karst region of Merapoh, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia whose unique limestone formations are in immediate danger of being quarried. The new species differs from all other species of Cnemaspis based on its unique suite of morphological and color pattern characters. Its discovery underscores the unique biodiversity endemic to karst regions and adds to a growing list of karst-adapted reptiles from Peninsular Malaysia. We posit that new karst-adapted species endemic to limestone forests will continue to be discovered and these regions will harbor a significant percentage of Peninsular Malaysia’s biodiversity and thusly should be conserved rather than quarried.
Key words: new species, Cnemaspis, karst, limestone, conservation, biodiversity, Merapoh, Peninsular Malaysia
|Fresh off the shelf! Merapoh Rock Gecko Cnemaspis selamatkanmerapoh. The description of this endemic, karst specialist helped save the limestone caves in Kampung, Merapoh, Pahang from being quarried. |
by Gastrophrynoides http://flic.kr/p/ipZVbK
Grismer, L. L., JR. Perry L. wood, Maketab Mohamed, Kin O. Chan, Heather M. Heinz, Alex S.-I. Sumarli, Jacob A. Chan & Ariel I. Loredo. 2013. A New Species of Karst-adapted Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from A Threatened Karst Region in Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. Zootaxa. 3746(3): 463–472.
'Save Merapoh Caves' Rock Gecko | Cicak Batu Selamatkan Merapoh