Systematics of the Calotes irawadi complex (Squamata, Agamidae) with two newly described species from Thailand

Authors: Prakobkarn, Arpapan DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1281.175455 Published: Jan. 1, 2026 Source: ZooKeys OpenAlex: View in OpenAlex

Collection: Pensoft Publishers

Keywords: Morphometric analysis · Topics: Amphibian and Reptile Biology, Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies, Coleoptera: Cerambycidae studies

Two new species of Calotes lizards, C. thailandensis sp. nov. and C. maehongsonensis sp. nov., are diagnosed and described from Thailand. These new species are most closely related to C. irawadi and C. wangi, which are members of the C. irawadi complex, supported by phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA data (ND2 and COI genes) coupled with morphometric and osteological data. Calotes thailandensis sp. nov. and C. maehongsonensis sp. nov. are distinguished from true C. irawadi by having a wider PelvW, but a smaller head size in adult males. In particular, adult males of C. thailandensis sp. nov. obviously differ from both C. irawadi and C. wangi by having a longer supratympanic spine, whereas C. maehongsonensis sp. nov. has a distinctly longer hindlimb than that of C. irawadi and C. wangi. As a result, two new species increase the list of known Calotes species in Thailand to four species; C. thailandensis sp. nov., C. maehongsonensis sp. nov., C. emma and C. goetzi.

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