Panaspis tsavoensis, Kilunda & Conradie & Wasonga & Jin & Peng & Murphy & Malonza & Che, 2019

Panaspis tsavoensis sp. nov.

Tsavo Snake-eyed Skink

( Fig. 5–6 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 )

Chresonymy

Ablepharus wahlbergii: Barbour & Loveridge (1928: 163) ; Loveridge (1936:72, 1957:219).

Panaspis wahlbergii: Broadley & Howell (1991:16) ; Spawls et al. (2002:155).

Afroablepharus wahlbergi: Branch (2005:77) .

Panaspis wahlbergi: Spawls et al. (2018: 165) .

Holotype. NMK-L3845 (Field No. KIZ 030248 ), adult male collected on 21 August 2016 in Voi River near Voi Town, Tsavo East National Park, Taita-Taveta County (-3.36488°, 38.62143°; 524 m a.s.l.) by Jacob M. Ngwava, Hesborn Ombati and Felista K. Kilunda ( Fig 5 View FIGURE 5 ) .

Paratypes (5 specimens). NMK-L3847 (Field No. KIZ 030235), adult male collected on 5 September 2016 in Komboyo Area near Mtito Andei, Tsavo West National Park, Taita-Taveta County (- 2.75396 o, 38.11755 o; 868 m a.s.l.) by Vincent Muchai, Hesborn Ombati & Felista K. Kilunda; NMK/L2368/1, adult female collected on 14 July 2000 Kisima rocky hills, Taita-Rukinga Ranch, Tsavo plains (- 3.85326 o, 38.87479 o; 431 m a.s.l.) and NMK- L2368/2, adult male collected on 15 th July at Taita Discovery Centre- Taita-Rukinga Ranch (- 3.70549 o, 38.77406 o; 450 m a.s.l.) both by Craig Weatherby & Victor D. Wasonga; NMK-L3097, adult male collected on 7 December 2007 at Kitobo forest-Taveta (- 3.44343 o, 37.61852 o; 732 m a.s.l.) by Patrick K. Malonza, Beryl A. Bwong and Joash O. Nyamache.

Etymology. The specific epithet “ tsavoensis ” refers to the name of the type locality, Tsavo National Park. The name is in the masculine form.

Diagnosis. Panaspis tsavoensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from other members of the East Africa Panaspis wahlbergi-maculicollis group by the following combination of characteristics: 1) no white ventrolateral stripe (present in P. wahlbergi , P. massaiensis comb. nov. and P. megalurus ); 2) fused frontoparietal (divided in P. megalurus ); 3) smaller average size (29.1 mm SVL versus 33.2 mm SVL in P. maculicollis ); 4) shorter tail about 1.1 times SVL (versus 1.2 times SVL in P. maculicollis ). In addition, percentage genetic pair-wise difference from its nearest con- gener P. massaiensis comb. nov. is 5.87 % (see Table 2 View TABLE 2 ), from which it can be easily diagnosed with the absence of a white ventrolateral stripe, 24 versus 26 mid-body scale rows; shorter eye-tympanum distance and eye-snout distance ( Table 4 View TABLE 4 ); high number of subdigital lamellae under the fourth finger (7–10 versus 5) and high number of supralabials in front of subcocular (6–7 versus 5).

Description of the holotype. Specimen unsexed. Despite truncated tail the specimen is generally in good condition. In preservative, body brownish. Body size, head and scales typical for Panaspis . Body somewhat cylindrical ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ). Basic measurements (in mm) of the holotype: SVL = 31.42; TL = truncated; LD = 18.42; HL = 5.55; HW = 3.23 (see Table 3 View TABLE 3 for full set of measurements and scale counts). Small slender skink with reduced but functional limbs, tail longer than SVL if full. Rostral scale broader than high, nostril pierced in a single nasal, nasals 2 widely separated behind the rostral, frontonasal wider than long prefrontals separate, frontal small almost as broad as long, frontoparietal large and concave posteriorly and in contact with frontal, parietal and interparietal, parietals large and in contact behind interparietal, supraoculars 3, supraciliaries 5, loreals 2, preocular 3, upper labials 7 with four anterior–sub ocular, lower labials 6; mental wider than long, posteriorly curve edged, a large postmental followed by three postpostmentals. Dorsal scales smooth and imbricate, midbody scale rows 23. Ventrals smooth and over- lapping, digits clawed, a single row of unicarinate lamellae under the toes, palmer tubercles raised and conical. Tail truncated. Head short, indistinct from neck; snout conical. Ear opening oval and clearly visible; body elongated; body scales smooth. Fore and hind limbs relatively long, slender; all five digits moderately long and slender. Tail stump cylindrical.

Coloration. No white ventrolateral stripes present. A broad dark black band originating from snout through eye into flanks present. Dorsum bronze to brown, with very fine black longitudinal dorsal stripes or stippling. Body venter whitish. Tail dorsum brownish, tail venter white ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 ).

Variation. Scalation and body measurements are provided in Table 3 View TABLE 3 and 4 View TABLE 4 . The tail length of the two paratypes from Rukinga Ranch (NMK-L2368/1–2) is slightly longer than SVL (1.1 and 1.25 times longer). All the specimens have similar characters to the holotype such as no white ventrolateral stripe and fine dorsal stripes present or absent.

Natural history. Panaspis tsavoensis sp. nov. is a terrestrial diurnal species that lives within loose debris or holes, decomposing logs or grass stocks, under loose stones and similar micro-habitats.

Distribution, habitat and conservation status. Panaspis tsavoensis sp. nov. occurs in arid savannas mostly in areas below 1000 m elevation in Tsavo East and West National Park. Loveridge (1936:72) documented one specimen from Voi in 1906. Although this specimen was not examined by us, the closeness of this specimen to the type locality of the new species made us conclude that it might be referred to the new species.Although both the holotype and paratypes in this study were collected from the Tsavo plains, it is likely that this species is widespread in similar arid lands habitats below 1000 m a.s.l especially in the northern frontier such as in Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo, Samburu and Marsabit counties, therefore, it should be categorized as Least Concern under IUCN criteria although further sampling is necessary to confirm its full extent of distribution.