title: A new species of karst-dwelling bent-toed gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Khammouane Province, central Laos.
abstract: We describe a new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus from Khammouane Province, central Laos based on morphological features and molecular data. Morphologically, Cyrtodactylus bansocensis sp. nov. is differentiated from other congeners by a unique combination of the following characters: medium size, SVL reaching 74.0 mm; dorsal pattern consisting of four light transverse bands between limb insertions; supranasals in contact with each other; dorsal tubercles at midbody in 14-15 irregular rows; lateral folds present without interspersed tubercles; ventral scales between ventrolateral folds 34-35; precloacal and femoral pores in males 34, separated by four poreless scales in the male holotype and in a continuous row in the male paratype; enlarged femoral and precloacal scales present; postcloacal tubercles 5-7 on each side; dorsal tubercles present at tail base; and subcaudal scales transversely enlarged. Molecular analyses revealed the new species to be closely related to Cyrtodactylus rufford, which is also found in Khammouane Province.
authors.affiliation: Department of Wildlife, Faculty of Forest Resources and Environmental Management, Vietnam National University of Forestry, Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Hanoi, Vietnam.; Email: qvinhfuv@yahoo.com.au.
authors.forename: Vinh Quang
authors.initials: VQ
authors.lastname: Luu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam.; Email: nqt2@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Truong Quang
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai Road, Hanoi, Vietnam.; Email: le.duc.minh@hus.edu.vn.
authors.forename: Minh Duc
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: Zoological Institute, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany.; Email: m.bonkowski@uni-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonkowski
authors.affiliation: Zoological Institute, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany. AG Zoologischer Garten Köln, Riehler Strasse 173, D-50735 Cologne, Germany.; Email: m.bonkowski@uni-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ziegler
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D017753:Ecosystem; D007812:Laos; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size