Nactus kunan

Nactus kunan
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Family:Gekkonidae
Genus:Nactus
Species: N. kunan
Binomial name
Nactus kunan
Zug and Fisher, 2012[2]

Nactus kunan is an extant species of slender-toe geckos described in 2012, and indigenous to the Admiralty Islands of Papua New Guinea. It is brightly coloured, and its specific name means "bumblebee" in the local Nali language.[3][4]

Distribution and habitat

The species is only known from two specimens collected from a village on Manus Island, the Admiralty Islands. It is expected to occur more widely in the highlands of Manus Island where forest patches remain. The specimens were collected from village house structures in small openings in the forest at night.[2]

Description

Nactus kunan is brightly coloured with a pattern of broad alternating dark (black or dark brown) and golden yellow bands on neck, trunk, and tail. It also has a unique head pattern among Nactus: a sharply contrasting yellow crown and eyelids on a black background.[2]

Nactus kunan appears to be bisexual, unlike Nactus pelagicus, the only other Nactus species of the Admiralty Islands. The holotype, an adult female, measured 57 mm (2.2 in) in snout–vent length, with an equally long tail. The other known individual was a juvenile female. Its duller colouration suggests that the species undergoes an ontogenetic colour shift at maturation.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Tallowin, O., Shea, G. & Oliver, P. 2015. Nactus kunan. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T15712630A15712633. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T15712630A15712633.en. Downloaded on 13 July 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Zug, George R.; Fisher, Robert N. (2012). "A preliminary assessment of the Nactus pelagicus species group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in New Guinea and a new species from the Admiralty Islands" (PDF). Zootaxa (3257): 22–37. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  3. ↑ Wheeler, Quentin (2012-08-05). "New to Nature No 79: Nactus kunan". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  4. ↑ Nactus kunan at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 December 2014.

Bibliography

  • Armstrong, Dave (2012-04-19). "New gecko species discovered in Papua New Guinea - Nactus kunan or bumblebee gecko". Earth Times. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  • Lies, Elaine (2012-04-19). ""Bumblebee" gecko discovered in Papua New Guinea: USGS". Reuters. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  • "New 'Bumblebee' Gecko Discovered in Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  • Rice, Doyle (2012-04-18). "New gecko species discovered in Papua New Guinea". Science Fair. USA Today. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  • Dell'Amore, Christine (2012-04-23). "New Species: Bumblebee Gecko Strikingly Striped". National Geographic. National Geographic Society. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
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