PTYCTOLAEMUS CHINDWINENSIS 2021

This new species of lizard was described in the Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary, Sagaing division, and named after the Chindwin River. Inhabiting primary and secondary forests, it is only the third species of this genus to be described, with the frst having been identifed in 1864 and the other in 2004.

The new species difers from the other two by having longer limbs and a diferent colouration on the skin around its throat. It also is genetically distinct from the two species by about 24%. All three species occur in Myanmar, one in Chin state and the others in Kachin state and neighbouring parts of China and India. Four specimens were collected at night in the forest in 2019, found on withered leaves, sleeping. Although the lizard is named after the Chindwin River, the specimens were collected far away from any body of water. This species can change its body colour; when they are sleeping on leaves at night, they are pale with almost no stripes or patches, but during the day, their bodies become darker and patterned.

Liu, S., Hou, M., Lwin, Y.H. and Rao, D. (2021) A new species of the genus Ptyctolaemus Peters, 1864 (Squamata, Agamidae) from Sagaing, Myanmar. Evolutionary Systematics 5(2): 347357. doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.5.75305