The taxonomy and phylogeny of the Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with emphasis on C. interdigitalis and C. ngati

Abstract Convergent morphological specializations for an arboreal lifestyle in most species of the Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus group have been a confounding factor for establishing a stable taxonomy among its species. Recent references to C. interdigitalis from throughout Thailand and Laos were made without comparisons to the type material from Tham Yai Nam Nao, Nam Nao National Park, Phetchabun Province, Thailand, but instead, were based on general morphological similarity and distribution. The taxonomy of C. interdigitalis is stabilized here by comparing the paratypes to other specimens from Thailand and Laos and recovering their phylogenetic relationships based on newly acquired genetic data, including those from the type locality. The phylogeny recovered all specimens outside the type locality to be either C. ngati from Vietnam or new species closely related to C. ngati. Cyrtodactylus interdigitalis is shown here to be a range-restricted upland endemic on the Phetchabun massif of northern Thailand. The phylogeny also indicates that C. ngati extends hundreds of kilometers farther south into northern Thailand and central Laos. We hypothesize that the significant morphological divergence in body shape of the types of C. ngati, compared to that of the Lao and Thai populations, may be due to local adaptions for utilizing karst (C. ngati) rather than vegetation (Lao and Thai populations). Additionally, phylogenetic and multivariate analyses identified a potentially new species from Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, Phitsanulok Province, in northern Thailand and another from the Khlong Naka Wildlife Sanctuary, Ranong Province, in southern Thailand. A series of newly examined specimens from Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phetchaburi Province, Thailand represents a possible ~82 km range extension to the southeast of C. rukhadeva. This research continues to underscore the high diversity of range-restricted upland endemics in Thailand and the importance of examining type material (if possible) in the context of a phylogeny so as to construct proper taxonomies that reveal, rather than obscure, diversity

A novel approach to state bounding for discrete-time Markovian jump systems with interval time-varying delay

This paper concerns with the problem of state bounding for a class of discrete-time Markovian jump systems with interval time-varying delay. By constructing a new Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional combining with the delay-decomposition technique and the reciprocally convex approach, new delay-range-dependent conditions are derived ensuring that all state trajectories of the system are mean square bounded. These conditions are derived in terms of matrix inequalities which can be computationallysolved to find a smallest possible bound of mean square. A numerical example is provided to verify the effectiveness of the obtained result

First Record of Philautus petilus Stuart and Heatwole, 2004 (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Vietnam and Its Phylogenetic Position

A small rhacophorid, Philautus petilus known from only the female holotype, is recorded for the first time outside of the type locality in Laos. Three specimens, containing the first known males of the species, were collected from Muong Nhe Nature Reserve in Dien Bien Province, northwestern Vietnam. The Vietnamese specimens are identified as P. petilus based on morphological similarities with the holotype from Laos. In addition, our molecular data verify the transfer of this species from Philautus to the genus Theloderma

Fig. 2 in Two additional records of megophryid frogs, Leptobrachium masatakasatoi Matsui, 2013 and Leptolalax minimus (Taylor, 1962), for the herpetofauna of Vietnam

Fig. 2. Leptobrachium masatakasatoi from Son La Province, Vietnam (TBU PAE.365, adult male). (a) dorsolateral view. (b) Ventral view. Photos A.V. Pham

New provincial records of skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) from northwestern Vietnam.

We report six new records of skinks from northwestern Vietnam: Eutropis macularius, Scincelladevorator , S.monticola, S.ochracea, Sphenomorphuscryptotis and S.indicus. Our new findings increase the species number of skinks (Scincidae) to nine in Dien Bien Province and to 14 in Son La Province. We also provide additional natural history data of aforementioned species

New provincial records of skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) from northwestern Vietnam.

We report six new records of skinks from northwestern Vietnam: Eutropis macularius, Scincelladevorator , S.monticola, S.ochracea, Sphenomorphuscryptotis and S.indicus. Our new findings increase the species number of skinks (Scincidae) to nine in Dien Bien Province and to 14 in Son La Province. We also provide additional natural history data of aforementioned species

First record of the Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Vietnam with description of a new species

A new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus is described from Dien Bien Province, northwestern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular data. Cyrtodactylus ngati sp. nov. can be distinguished from remaining congeners by the following combination of characters: maximum SVL 69.3 mm; dorsal pattern consisting of six dark irregular transverse bands between limb insertions: inter-supranasals one; dorsal tubercles present on occiput, body, hind limbs and on first half of tail; 17-22 irregular dorsal tubercle rows at midbody; lateral folds clearly defined, with interspersed tubercles; 32-38 ventral scales between ventrolatcral folds; 13 precloacal pores separated by a diastema of 5/5 poreless scales from a series of 7/7 femoral pores in enlarged femoral scales; precloacal and femoral pores absent in females; 1-3 postcloacal tubercles on each side; transversely enlarged median subcaudal scales absent. In the molecular analyses, the new species is shown to be the sister taxon to C. interdigitalis from Thailand. This is the 47th species of the genus Cyrtodactylus and the first member of the C. brevipalmatus species group recorded from Vietnam

A new species of mossy frog (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Northeastern Vietnam

We describe a new species of Theloderma from northeastern Vietnam based on morphological differences and molecular divergence. Theloderma khoii sp. nov. is distinguishable from its congeners on the basis of a combination of the following characters: large size, SVL 52.1 mm in male, 59.4 mm in female; head length and width equal; vomerine teeth present; snout pointed and truncated, eye large, ED 4.7 mm in male, 5.6 mm in female, spinules on upper eyelid; tibiotarsal articulation reaches to the posterior border of the eye or the tip of the snout; dorsal skin very rough with large irregular gland ridges and warts, ventral surface of body granular; tips of all digits dilated but all considerably smaller than tympanum; dorsal surface mossy green or olive mottled with dark magenta. The distribution of the new species is unknown but probably extends into adjacent high elevation forested areas in Ha Giang Province, Vietnam and in Yunnan Province, China with an extent of occurrence of only < 1000 km2 and continuing decline in the quality of its habitat due to deforestation. Thus, we suggest the species should be considered Endangered following IUCN’s Red List categories