Đạt Bent–toed Gecko – Cyrtodactylus dati – Ngo Van Tri, 2013

Science name: Cyrtodactylus dati – Ngo Van Tri, 2013

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

Species status: Endemic ; IUCN status: LC (Least Concern)

Description:

Physical characteristics:

Cyrtodactylus dati is a medium-sized gecko with a maximum snout-vent length (SVL) of 70.1 mm. The tail is relatively short, with a tail-to-body length ratio of 1.03–1.08.
It has 20–22 irregular longitudinal rows of keeled tubercles at midbody and 42–48 rows of ventral scales between the ventrolateral folds. The species has 34–35 paravertebral tubercles between limb insertions, with 12–13 subdigital lamellae on the first toe and 18–19 on the fourth toe.
Males possess 5 or 6 precloacal pores, separated by one poreless scale, and 3 or 4 femoral pores on each thigh. There are no precloacal grooves, and 4–7 enlarged scales are present beneath the thighs.
Coloration and Appearance:

The gecko’s body is light brown with large, irregular dark brown blotches along the dorsum. The nuchal loop is fragmented into dark sections. The tail has alternating dark brown and white bands, typically 10 in total. There are no distinct dark blotches on the head.
The species’ ventral side is pale, and the subcaudal scales are small and not transversally enlarged.

Distribution and habitat:

Elevation: Found at an elevation of around 100 meters above sea level.
Area: Cyrtodactylus dati is endemic to southern Vietnam, with its type locality in Bu Dop State Forest Enterprise, Bu Dop District, Binh Phuoc Province. There is also a possibility of its presence in adjacent Cambodia (Mondulkiri).
Habitat: This species inhabits secondary evergreen forests, typically found among dry roots beneath the forest canopy, on tree branches, or among decayed trees. It thrives in dense vegetation near large tree trunks.

Behaviour and ecology:

Lifestyle: Cyrtodactylus dati is a nocturnal species, primarily active at night when it hunts for insects. It is often found on the forest floor or perched on low branches or roots close to decayed trees.
Reproduction: The species is oviparous, laying 2 eggs during the early rainy season. The reproductive cycle is synchronized with the onset of the wet season, typical of geckos in this region.
Diet: It primarily feeds on small invertebrates, especially insects found in the dense forest undergrowth.

Conservation and status:

IUCN Red List Category and Criteria: Listed as Data Deficient due to a lack of detailed information on its population size, distribution, and potential threats. The current population trend is unknown.
Threats: While the exact threats are not well-documented, habitat degradation due to deforestation and human activities in the region could pose future risks to the species.
Remarks:
Cyrtodactylus dati was first described in 2013 from Binh Phuoc Province, Vietnam, and was named in honor of Professor Hoàng Đức Đạt for his contributions to zoological research in Vietnam. Its fragmented nuchal loop and alternating dark bands on the tail distinguish it from closely related species.