DESCRIPTION OF FIVE NEW SPECIES OF CYRTODACTYLUS (REPTILIA: GEKKONIDAE) FROM SRI LANKA

Abstract

The genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 has been considered to be represented in Sri Lanka by a single widely distributed species, C. fraenatus (Gunther, 1864). A survey of rainforest sites in the island's wet zone shows that at least six species are present, five of them new. Cyrtodactylus cracens and C. subsolanus were recorded from the western and eastern sides respectively, of the Sinharaja World Heritage Site; C. edwardtaylori, from a refuge at Namunukula; C. ramboda, from the north-western slopes of the central hills; and C. soba from the Knuckles mountains. Cyrtodactylus fraenatus sensu stricto, restricted to the hills around Kandy, is redefined based on one of its syntypes and fresh collections.