A NEW DWARF GECKO SPECIES (SQUAMATA: GEKKONIDAE: Cnemaspis) FROM THE NORTHERN WESTERN GHATS OF INDIA

Based on molecular and morphological data, I describe a new species of the polyphyletic gekkonid genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 from the northern Western Ghats in India. The new species is the second smallest known Indian dwarf gekkonid and belongs to the clade of C. girii[i] sensu Pal [i]et al. (2021). It is genetically distinct from all congeners of the C. girii clade by p-distance ranging from 3.8 to 8.4 % on the 16S rRNA gene. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from all congeners by having the following combination of characters: A small species with adult males reaching a maximum SVL 27.0 mm; heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis with 11–12 longitudinal rows of enlarged tubercles; males with 3–4 femoral pores on each thigh, separated medially by 19–24 poreless scales; 63–65 middorsal scales; 136–150 ventral scales; 33–35 midbody scales; 12–14 subdigital lamellae under fourth digit of pes; feebly carinate scales on the neck and chest; and absence of conical or spine-like tubercles on flank.