A New Species of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Surat Thani Province, Thailand Underscores This Group’s Remarkable Diversity on the Thai-Malay Peninsula

An integrative taxonomic study recognized a new species of the <i>Cyrtodactylus pulchellus</i> group from Kanchanadit District, Surat Thani Province, Southern Thailand. Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial <i>ND2</i> gene revealed a new species, <i>Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit</i><b>sp. nov.</b>, that is closely related to <i>C. lekaguli</i>. The new species differs from its sister lineage by bearing mean genetic divergence of 4.53% and significant differences in both mensural and morphometric characters (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <i>Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit</i><b>sp. nov.</b> can be differentiated from the remaining members of the <i>C. pulchellus</i> species group because of its genetic divergence of ≥7.99% and a combination of differences in body size: 11-15 supralabial and 10-12 infralabial scales, 29-35 paravertebral tubercles, 18-23 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles, 32-37 rows of ventral scales, 20-23 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe, 32-37 femoroprecloacal pores in adult males, and four or five dark body bands; weak tuberculation on body; absence of tubercles in the ventral body fold, absence of precloacal pores in females, and absence of scattered pattern of white tubercles on dorsum; presence of precloacal groove depression; and maculated white caudal bands. <i>Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit</i><b>sp. nov.</b> is currently known from its type locality.