Bich Ngan’s Bent-toed Gecko – Cyrtodactylus bichnganae – Ngo Van Tri & Grismer, 2010

Science name: Cyrtodactylus bichnganae – Ngo Van Tri & Grismer, 2010

Taxonomic:  Animalia>> Chordata>> Reptilia>> Squamata >> Gekkonidae >> bichnganae

Species status: Endemic ; IUCN status: VU (Vunerable)

Description:

Physical characteristics:
This gecko has a slender body, long limbs, and elongated digits. The snout-vent length (SVL) ranges from 95.3 mm to 99.9 mm, and the tail is long, with a tail-to-body length ratio (TL/SVL) of 1.16.
The species has 18–19 interorbital scales across the frontal bone and 18–19 scales between the eye and the nostril. There are 30–31 rows of ventral scales between the ventrolateral folds, and the body has 16–18 irregular longitudinal rows of smooth, conical tubercles at midbody.
Coloration: The dorsal pattern consists of 6 or 7 dark bands against a brown background, with 9 white rings along the tail. The head has a distinctive nuchal loop (a band behind the neck), and the underside is lighter in color. The species has no tubercles on the tail, but the subcaudal scales are transversely enlarged.

Distribution and habitat:

Elevation: Found at elevations of around 600 meters.
Area: This species is endemic to northwestern Vietnam, where it is known only from the type locality near Son La City and Thuan Chau in Son La Province. It inhabits karst limestone forests.
Habitat: Cyrtodactylus bichnganae is a karst specialist, inhabiting mixed evergreen forests with hard trees and shrubs in limestone areas. The species is found in rock crevices and on cliffs within these forests.

Behaviour and ecology:

Lifestyle: Cyrtodactylus bichnganae is a nocturnal gecko that is most active at night. It typically forages near rock crevices and cliffs, where it hunts insects.
Reproduction: The species is oviparous, with females laying two eggs in the cracks of limestone rocks during the early rainy season. The temperature of the environment determines the sex of the hatchlings.
Diet: It feeds primarily on insects and other small invertebrates found in its limestone forest habitat.

Conservation and status:

IUCN Red List Category and Criteria: Vulnerable (D2)
Threats: The species is known from a single locality with a restricted range. Quarrying in the area poses a potential threat to its habitat. While it can persist in disturbed areas, any intensification of quarrying could immediately threaten the species with extinction.
Remarks:
Cyrtodactylus bichnganae was discovered in 2010 in a karst forest near Son La, Vietnam, and named in honor of the daughter of one of the authors, Ngo Hoang Bich Ngan. The species has adapted to life in rocky karst environments, where its camouflage helps it blend in with its surroundings, making it difficult for predators to spot and aiding in hunting prey.