Three New Endemic Species of Namib Day Geckos (Gekkonidae: <i>Rhoptropus</i> ) From the Namibe Province, Angola

Angola remains one of the least explored countries in Africa, and several groups of reptiles still require taxonomic and phylogenetic revision. To shed light on the true diversity of geckos in this gecko diversity hotspot of southwestern Africa, we conducted fieldwork in some of the less explored coastal regions of southern Angola. As a result, we identified previously unknown populations of Namib day geckos (genus <i>Rhoptropus</i>) which represent candidate new species. Through a comprehensive revision of the group, we describe three new endemic <i>Rhoptropus</i> spp. from the northern region of Namibe Province in Angola, based on morphological, phylogenetic and biogeographic data: <i>R. minimus</i> sp. nov., <i>R. megocellus</i> sp. nov., and <i>R. crypticus</i> sp. nov. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the biogeographic patterns of gecko diversity in Angola, highlighting the importance of this region as a significant center of endemism and diversification in Africa.