The members of the alluaudi species group of Uroplatus are diagnosed by
differences in scalation, both dorsal and ventral. They also have
differences in the rostral scale. Uroplatus alluaudi and guentheri have
large conical tubercles scattered throughout the dorsal surface, U.
guentheri's tubercles continue ventrally. U. alluaudi's are only on the
dorsal surface. U. guentheri also has a divided rostral. U. malahelo has
homogenous (no tubercles, scales identical to each other) scalation and a
single rostral. (See Nussbaum and Raxworthy, 1995, for more details). By
examining the picture, it appears that the Uroplatus specimen in question has
tubercles over the dorsal surface of the body. To make an accurate
determination of the species designation, someone would need to physically
examine the specimen. It is entirely possible that it is an undescribed
species of Uroplatus.
Ron Van Heest
Department of Biology MS 314
University of Nevada
Reno, Nevada 89557
USA
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