A new species of Philippine False Gecko, named Pseudogekko hungkag, discovered in Bicol has been officially announced after its thorough study and description by an international team of herpetologists.
In an article on Herpetologica, an international peer-reviewed journal published on Sept. 9, the Pseudogekko species was described as "secretive, delicate, and slender-bodied."
It was explained in the article that the name Pseudogekko hungkag was "derived from the (Filipino) adjective hungkag, meaning hollow or empty, and used in reference to the new species unique use of hollow cavities and crevices (hollow bamboo trunks/stems, cavities in tree branches, and other tube-shaped, or sheltered microhabitats)."
"Over the last century, few species were added to this Philippine endemic genus. During the last decade, however, revisionary studies have resulted in the recognition of six new species," the researchers said.
They further observed that several of these species appear to be rare, have restricted geographic ranges, or exhibit patchy, fragmented areas of occurrence.
The new species, according to the researchers, nested within the P. brevipes clade.
"In this study we report on the discovery of a second Luzon Island species in the P. brevipes complex, a clade in which members typically have diminutive bodies," the experts said.
"The new species constitutes an exception to the general appearance of other members of the P. brevipes complex, in that it has a relatively heavy-bodied, robust stature, separating it phenotypically from all members of the group," they added.
The experts cited that the new species constitutes the second Luzon lineage in the group of rainforest species, which was "considered previously to be restricted to the Negros-Panay and Mindanao Pleistocene aggregate island complexes in the central and southern landmasses of the archipelago."
They pointed out that while the new species' conservation status cannot yet be assessed due to lack of available biodiversity information, "we suspect the new species might be vulnerable to extinction as a result of habitat loss" because of the highly fragmented nature of forested habitats of southern Luzon.