New gecko species found in Hainan

A Zhou's leopard gecko recently found in Hainan's karst topography [Photo by Zhou Runbang/Hainan Daily]

Researchers in Hainan province recently discovered a new leopard gecko and confirmed it belongs to the species of goniurosaurus after morphological and molecular biological analysis.

The research output was published in Zootaxa, a scientific mega journal for animal taxonomists.

The new species, named Zhou's leopard gecko, was discovered by Zhou Runbang, a Chinese researcher working for the Forestry Department of Hainan Province. It is the first gecko species found by Chinese only and the third discovered in Hainan following the Hainan-Krallen gecko in 1908 and the Bawangling-Leopard gecko in 2002. There are 17 independent gecko species worldwide.

Zhou's leopard gecko is nocturnal and ground-dwelling. It can crawl but is not able to climb vertical surfaces like other species as it lacks adhesive toe pads.

According to analysis conducted by Zhou and his associates from the Hainan Provincial Forestry Science Research Institute, the three geckos found on Hainan Island are correlated in evolutionary development; the Zhou's leopard gecko is a transitional species between the Bawangling-Leopard gecko and the Hainan-Krallen gecko.

Based on observation and previous reports, the Bawangling-Leopard gecko tends to dwell beside granite and limestone rocks in highland forests and the Hainan-Krallen gecko likes to live beside volcanic or moss-covered rocks in highland forests, whereas the Zhou's leopard gecko is endemic to Hainan's karst topography; a vivid reflection of biological diversity.

Researchers will conduct further analysis on the pedigree of the Zhou's leopard gecko.