The First Record of the Syntopy of Hemiphyllodactylus montawaensis and H. ngwelwini (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in the Shan Plateau, Myanmar, with Additional Distribution Records

Abstract

We report two new localities of Hemiphyllodactylus montawaensis and one new locality of H. ngwelwini, located to the east of Taunggyi in Shan State, Myanmar. We collected five specimens from Site 1 and four specimens from Site 2. All specimens from Site 1 were identified as H. montawaensis, while Site 2 included three specimens of H. montawaensis and one specimen of H. ngwelwini. These represent the first record of the syntopic occurrence of these two species. These species were similar to each other in scalation but distinguishable by color pattern. Specimens of H. montawaensis from Site 1 did not show significant genetic differentiation from previously known localities, whereas those from Site 2 exhibited notable genetic differentiation. The new specimen of H. ngwelwini did not show significant genetic differentiation from previously known populations.