Total Number of Reptile Species Recorded in Laos by Period

Chapter 1

OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

1.1. Overview of the situation of reptile research in Laos

Research on reptiles in Laos is still limited and has only increased significantly in the last years of the 20th century. In 1999, Stuart published the first list of reptiles in Laos with 109 species recorded (Stuart et al., 1999). In 2004, Teynié et al. published an updated list with 29 more species recorded in Laos. Four years later, Stuart and Heatwole (2008) recorded 13 more species from the country. In 2010, 6 new species of reptiles were described from Laos, bringing the total number of species recorded in Laos to 157. From 2010 to present, many studies have been conducted in some provinces of Laos such as Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Kham Muon, and 24 new species have been described, including: 2 new species described in 2011, 9 new species described in 2009, 6 new species described in 2015, 5 new species described in 2016, 1 new species described in 2017 and 1 new species described in 2018. In 2018, the total number of reptile species recorded and described in Laos was 181 species (Uetz et al. 2018), by 2020 the total number of reptile species in Laos increased to 212 species, and by May 2021 increased to 225 species (Uetz et al. 2021).

250

200

212

225

150 181

151

157

100

138

109

Stuart (1999)

Teynie Stuart et al Uetz et al Uetz et al Uetz et al Uetz et al (2004) (2008) (2010) (2018) (2020) (2021)

Figure 1.1. Total number of reptile species recorded in Laos by period

1.2. Classification and distribution system of the family Gekkonidae

The family Gekkonidae is a member of the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Reptilia, and Order Squamata. They are found mostly in warm climates around the world. Gekkonidae are unique in their vocalizations, which are used to communicate with each other. Most geckos do not have eyelids, but have transparent membranes that are cleaned by licking. Many geckos release odors or feces on their predators as a form of defense. Many species have suckers under their toes that allow them to cling to tree trunks, ceilings, and walls with ease. As of May 2021, the family Gekkonidae has 58 genera and 1,430 species worldwide (Table 1.1).

Table 1.1. Number of species in genera of the family Geckoidae (Uetz et al. 2021)

Status

Genus	Number of species	Status	Genus	Number of species
1	Africa	32	30	Lakigecko	1
2	Afrogecko	2	31	Lepidodactylus	41
3	Agamura	2	32	Luperosaurus	9
4	Ailuronyx	3	33	Lygodactylus	71
5	Alsophylax	6	34	Matoatoa	2
6	Altiphylax	5	35	Mediodactylus	17
7	Blaesodactylus	6	36	Microgecko	8
8	Bunopus	3	37	Nactus	35
9	Calodactylodes	2	38	Narudasia	1
10	Chondrodactylus	6	39	Pachydactylus	57
11	Christinus	3	40	Paragehyra	4
12	Cnemaspis	181	41	Paroedura	24
13	Crossobamon	2	42	Parsigecko	1
14	Cryptactites	1	43	Perochirus	3
15	Cyrtodactylus	314	44	Phelsuma	52
16	Cyrtopodion	24	45	Pseudoceramodactylus	1
17	Dixonius	13	46	Pseudo	11

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Status

Genus	Number of species	Status	Genus	Number of species
18	Dravidogecko	7	47	Ptenopus	3
19	Ebenavia	6	48	Ramigekko	1
20	Elasmodactylus	2	49	Rhinoceros	2
21	Gecko	5	50	Rhotropella	1
22	Gehyra	67	51	Rhizophora	9
23	Gekko	83	52	Stenodactylus	10
24	Goggia	10	53	Tenuidactylus	8
25	Hemidactylus	173	54	Trachydactylus	2
26	Hemiphyllodactylus	49	55	Trigonodactylus	4
27	Heteronotypic	5	56	Tropiocolotes	12
28	Homopholis	4	57	Urocotyledon	5
29	Colekanos	1	58	Uroplatus	21

Figure 1.2. Global distribution map of the family Gekkonidae.

Photo source: RepFocus.

1.2.1. Research on the Gecko family in neighboring countries

- In Vietnam: Vietnam is located in the East of Laos with a border stretching from North to South, so in terms of ecosystem and biogeography, it can be said that most of them are quite similar. Research works on reptiles in general, the family Gekkonidae

In particular, in Vietnam, it was carried out quite early since the beginning of the 19th century. Up to now, experts have discovered and published 94 species in 8 genera of the family Gekkonidae such as: Genus Cnemaspis has 6 species, Cyrtodactylus has 48 species, Dixonius has 6 species, Gehyra has 3 species, Gekko has 17 species, Hemidactylus has 7 species, Hemiphyllodactylus has 6 species, and Lepidodactylus has 1 species (Uetz et al. 2021). (Species details in Appendix 09).

- In Thailand: Thailand has a border with Laos to the west. Research on reptiles in this country has also been carried out quite strongly, up to now, showing the published results of the Gekkonidae family of 94 species in 7 genera: Cnemaspis has 19 species, Cyrtodactylus has 38 species, Dixonius has 7 species, Gehyra has 4 species, Gekko has 15 species, Hemidactylus has 5 species, Hemiphillodactylus has 6 species, and Ptychozoon has 5 species (Uetz et al. 2021). (Species details in Appendix 10).

- In Cambodia: Bordering Laos to the south. Research on reptiles in this country is still limited and only increased significantly in the late 20th century. And until 2018, a total of 187 species of reptiles were recorded (Uetz et al. 2018). Currently in Cambodia, there are 25 species of the family Gekkonidae in 7 genera: Cnemaspis with 3 species, Cyrtodactylus with 10 species, Dixonius with 2 species, Gehyra with 2 species, Gekko with 5 species, Hemidactylus with 2 species and Hemiphillodactylus with 1 species (Uetz et al. 2021). (Species details in Appendix 11).

- In Myanmar: There is a border to the northwest of Laos. Research by experts on reptiles in this country is also being conducted a lot, especially the Gekkonidae family. And up to now, a total of 77 species of Gekkonidae have been recorded and described in 6 genera: Cnemaspis with 3 species, Cyrtodactylus with 45 species, Gekko with 6 species, Hemidactylus with 10 species, Hemiphyllodactylus with 12 species and Lepidodactylus with 1 species (Uetz et al. 2021). (Species details in Appendix 12).

6 7

2 0

1 3 4 2 0

17 15

5 6

5 7 5

4 6 6

0 1 0 0 1

6 3 3

Laos

Vietnam

Thailand

Cambodia

Myanmar

Figure 1.3. Comparison of the number of Gecko species in neighboring countries

1.2.2. Studies on the Gekkonidae family in Laos

By 2018, Laos had 45 species belonging to 7 genera of the Gecko family such as:

- The genus Cnemaspis has one species described in 2010, Cnemaspis laoensis.

- The genus Cyrtodactylus is the genus with the largest number of species in Laos. In 1999, only 2 species of the genus Cyrtodactylus were recorded in Laos, including Cyrtodactylus interdigitalis and Cyrtodactylus jarujini . In 2004, David et al. described a new species, Cyrtodactylus buchardi . In 2010 and 2011, several surveys were conducted in many provinces of Laos, with 5 new species described and recorded, including: Cyrtodactylus roesleri ; Cyrtodactylus wayakonei ; Cyrtodactylus lomyenensis ; Cyrtodactylus teyniei and Cyrtodactylus pageli . In 2014, 6 new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus were discovered and described, including: Cyrtodactylus darevskii; Cyrtodactylus jaegeri; Cyrtodactylus khammouanensis; Cyrtodactylus multiporus; Cyrtodactylus spelaeus ; Cyrtodactylus vilaphongi . From 2015-2019, there were 8 new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus.

described and recorded, including: Cyrtodactylus soudthichaki; Cyrtodactylus bansocensis; Cyrtodactylus cryptus ; Cyrtodactylus calamei; Cyrtodactylus hinnamnoensis ; Cyrtodactylus rufford ; Cyrtodactylus sommerladi; Cyrtodactylus thathomensis . Thus, there are 22 species in total.

- The genus Dixonius has one recorded species.

Dixonius siamensis.

- The genus Gehyra has one species, Gehyra mutilata.

- The Gecko genus ( Gekko ) has recorded 11 species in the Gekko genus up to now in Laos since the discovery of the Gekko gecko species in 1758. After a long time, the Gekko petricolus species was discovered . Next are the Gekko lionotum species; Gekko scientiadventura; Gekko thakhekensis . In 2015, a series of 4 species were discovered: Gekko sengchanthavongi ; Gekko bonkowskii ; Gecko boehmei and Gekko aaronbauri . And in 2017, the Gekko nadenensis species was discovered . In 2019, there was 1 more species, Gekko kabkaebin.

- The genus Hemidactylus has 5 species which are common species with wide distribution such as: Hemidactylus aquilonius, Hemidactylus bowringii, Hemidactylus frenatus, Hemidactylus ganotii and Hemidactylus platyurus .

- The genus Hemiphyllodactylus has 4 species recorded in Laos such as: Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis ; Hemiphyllodactylus kiziriani; Hemiphyllodactylus indosobrinus and Hemiphyllodactylus serpispecus.

Research by Luu et al. (2016) on Reptiles in Laos within 6 years from 2010 to 2016 discovered up to 21 new reptile species in Laos, including 16 species belonging to the family Gekkonidae such as: Genus Gekko 4 species, Genus Cyrtodactylus 11 species and Genus Hemiphyllodactylus 1 species.

Figure 1.4. Map showing species described in Laos from 2010 to 2016.

(Luu et al. 2016)

Table 1.2. Gecko species recorded and distributed in Laos

Species

Author
Cnemaspis laoensis	Grismer 2010
Cyrtodactylus bansocensis	Luu, Nguyen, Le, Bonkowski & Ziegler 2016
Cyrtodactylus buchardi	David, Teynié & Ohler 2004
Cyrtodactylus calamei	Luu, Bonkowski, Nguyen, Le, Schneider, Ngo &
	Ziegler 2016
Cyrtodactylus cryptus	Heidrich, Rösler, Thanh, Böhme & Ziegler 2007
Cyrtodactylus darevskii	Nazarov, Poyarkov, Orlov, Nguyen, Milto, Martynov,
	Konstantinov & Chulisov 2014
Cyrtodactylus hinnamnoensis	Luu, Bonkowski, Nguyen, Le, Schneider, Ngo &
	Ziegler 2016
Cyrtodactylus interdigitalis	Ulber 1993
Cyrtodactylus jaegeri	Luu, Calame, Bonkowski, Nguyen & Ziegler 2014
Cyrtodactylus jarujini	Ulber 1993
Cyrtodactylus khammouanensis	Nazarov, Poyarkov, Orlov, Nguyen, Milto, Martynov,
	Konstantinov & Chulisov 2014
Cyrtodactylus lomyenensis	Ngo Van Tri & Pauwels 2010
Cyrtodactylus multiporus	Nazarov, Poyarkov, Orlov, Nguyen, Milto, Martynov,
	Konstantinov & Chulisov 2014
Cyrtodactylus pageli	Schneider, Nguyen, Schmitz, Kingsada, Auer &
	Ziegler 2011
Cyrtodactylus roesleri	Ziegler, Nazarov, Orlov, Nguyen, Vu, Dang, Dinh &
	Schmitz 2010
Cyrtodactylus rufford	Luu, Calame, Nguyen, Le, Bonkowski & Ziegler 2016
Cyrtodactylus sommerladi	Luu, Bonkowski, Nguyen, Le, Schneider, Ngo &
	Ziegler 2016
Cyrtodactylus soudthichaki	Luu, Calame, Nguyen, Bonkowski & Ziegler 2015
Cyrtodactylus spelaeus	Nazarov, Poyarkov, Orlov, Nguyen, Milto, Martynov,
	Konstantinov & Chulisov 2014
Cyrtodactylus teyniei	David, Nguyen, Schneider & Ziegler 2011
Cyrtodactylus thathomensis	Nazarov, Pauwels, Konstantinov, Chulisov, Orlov &

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