Phylogeny and cryptic diversification in Southeast Asian flying geckos.

The closed-canopy forests of Southeast Asia are home to an impressive number of vertebrates that have independently evolved morphologies that enhance directed aerial descent (gliding, parachuting). These assemblages include numerous mammal, frog, snake, and lizard clades. Several genera of gekkonid lizards, in particular, have evolved specialized structures such as cutaneous expansions, flaps, and midbody patagia, that enhance lift generation in the context of unique gliding and parachuting locomotion. The genus Ptychozoon represents arguably the most morphologically extreme, highly specialized clade of gliding geckos. Despite their notoriety and celebrated locomotor ability, members of the genus Ptychozoon have never been the subject of a species-level molecular phylogenetic analysis. In this paper, we utilize molecular sequence data from mitochondrial and nuclear gene fragments to estimate the evolutionary relationships of this unique group of flying geckos. Capitalizing on the recent availability of genetic samples for even the rarest of known species, we include the majority of known taxa and use model-based phylogenetic methods to reconstruct their evolutionary history. Because one species, P. kuhli, exhibits an unusually wide distribution coupled with an impressive range of morphological variation, we additionally use intensive phylogeographic/population genetic sampling, phylogenetic network analyses, and Bayesian species delimitation procedures to evaluate this taxon for the possible presence of cryptic evolutionary lineages. Our results suggest that P. kuhli may consist of between five and nine unrecognized, distinct species. Although we do not elevate these lineages to species status here, our findings suggest that lineage diversity in Ptychozoon is likely dramatically underestimated.

A new species of Aplectana (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae) in Goniurosaurus bawanglingensis (Squamata, Eublepharidae), from Hainan Province, China.

Aplectana hainanensis sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) from the intestines of Goniurosaurus bawanglingensis (Squamata, Eublepharidae) is described and illustrated. Aplectana hainanensis sp. nov. represents the 52nd species assigned to the genus and the 5th species reported from the Sino-Japanese region. It is easily separated from the 4 species previously reported from the region by the distribution pattern of male caudal papillae: A. macintoshii has an irregular pattern; A. hylae has no precloacal papillae; A. fujianae has 1 pair of precloacal papillae; A paucipapillosa has 3 pairs of precloacal papillae; Aplectana hainanensis sp. nov. has 7 pairs of precloacal papillae.

A new species of Spauligodon (Nematoda; Oxyuroidea; Pharyngodonide) and other Helminths in Ptychozoon Kuhli (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from East Malaysia.

Spauligodon geckonis sp. nov. from the intestines of Ptychozoon kuhli (Gekkonidae) from East Malaysia is described and illustrated. Spauligodon geckonis sp. nov. represents the 52nd species assigned to the genus and the third species from the Oriental Region. The new species is separated from congeners by the unique combination of aspinose filamentous tail and spicule in the male and spinose filamentous tail and fusiform, two knobbed eggs in the female. Gravid individuals 3 species of Nematoda, Meteterakis singaporensis, Physalopteroides grismeri, and Skrjabinelazia machidai, as well as larvae assignable to the Ascaridae were also found.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Tioman Island rock gecko, Cnemaspis limi (Sauria, Gekkota, Gekkonidae).

We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the Tioman Island rock gecko, Cnemaspis limi, which is known as an endemic species to Malaysia. The complete mitogenome is 16,680 bp in size, consisting of 37 genes coding for 13 proteins, 22 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs and one control region. The A + T content of the overall base composition of H-strand is 53.09% (T: 23.20%, C: 32.48%, A: 29.89% and G: 14.43%). The major non-coding region (control region) is 1254 bp in length with the A + T content of 55.09% and four replicates of a 76-bp repeat within this region.