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Cnemaspis gunawardanai
Cnemaspis gunawardanai, or Gunawardana's day gecko, is a species of diurnal rupicolous gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka.[1] TaxonomyThe species is closely resembling C. rajakarunai, C. hitihamii, and other congeners of the alwisi group.[2][3] EtymologyThe specific name gunawardanai is named in honor of Dr. Jagath Gunawardana.[4] He is a leading environmental activist, conservationist, and a lawyer contributed to popularizing environmental laws among the general public.[1][5] DescriptionAn adult male is 37.4 mm long. Dorsum homogeneous with keeled granular scales. There are four spine-like tubercles on flanks. Dorsum patterned with creamy and yellowish vertebral markings on a uniform dark brown background. Snout is light brown. There is a black spot on the neck. A a vertebral cream stripe shading visible posteriorly. Arms and legs uniform dark brown with pale and dark blotches. Tail is dark brown with six pale yellow markings.[1] EcologyThe gecko found only from two localities: Pilikuttuwa and Maligatenna, Gampaha district.[6] Entirely wild species, it is commonly inhabited in dry, shaded, cool surfaces of rock outcrops inside caves.[7] The researchers suggested critically endangered IUCN category for the species due to regional endemism.[3] References
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