Science name: Hemiphyllodactylus zugi – Nguyen, Lehmann, Le Duc, Duong, Bonkowski & Ziegler, 2013
Taxonomic: Animalia>> Chordata>> Reptilia>> Squamata >> Gekkonidae >> zugi
Species status: Endemic ; IUCN status: LC (Least Concern)
Description:
Physical characteristics: Hemiphyllodactylus zugi is a small, slender gecko. Adult males average 41 mm in snout-vent length (SVL), while adult females are larger at 46.6 mm. The species is characterized by enlarged chin scales bordering the mental and first infralabial. The digital lamellae formula for the forefoot is 3-4-4-4, and for the hindfoot, it is 4-5-5-5. Males have continuous femoral and precloacal pore series with 18–21 pores, while females lack these pores. Males also have a single cloacal spur.
Coloration and Appearance: The dorsal trunk features irregular dark brown transverse bands, and the upper flank has a series of large light spots edged in dark grey. There is an indistinct dark lateral head stripe. The caecum and gonadal ducts are unpigmented.
Distribution and habitat:
Elevation: Found between 435 and 601 meters above sea level.
Area: Hemiphyllodactylus zugi is known from a karst forest near Ban Nua Village, An Lac Commune, Ha Lang District, in Cao Bang Province, northern Vietnam. It is also expected to occur in the contiguous limestone forests in Guangxi Province, China, and possibly other nearby areas in Vietnam.
Habitat: This species inhabits disturbed secondary limestone forests near residential areas. Specimens have been found at night on wooden fences, tree bark, leaves near cave entrances, and on limestone boulders close to forest paths, about 0.5 to 1.5 meters above the ground.
Behaviour and ecology:
Lifestyle: Hemiphyllodactylus zugi is nocturnal and often found in close proximity to human habitation. It prefers rocky and forested environments, using structures such as fences or tree trunks for refuge. The species is also known to inhabit cave entrances.
Reproduction: The species is oviparous, and males exhibit sexual dimorphism with the presence of precloacal and femoral pores.
Conservation and status:
IUCN Red List Category and Criteria: Listed as Data Deficient due to limited information about its population and distribution, although it appears to be adaptable to its environment.
Threats: While the population is thought to be stable, potential threats include habitat disturbance near residential areas. It is not currently known from protected areas, and further research is necessary to assess potential threats more thoroughly.
Conservation actions: Additional studies are needed to understand the distribution and population trends of this species.
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