NEW DISTRIBUTION RECORDS AND MORPHOLOGICAL INSIGHTS OF Lygosoma angeli (Smith, 1937) IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM

Tóm tắt

This study reports new locality record of three specimens of Lygosoma angeli (Smith 1937) from Bu Gia Map National Park, Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam. Notably, this site is geographically closer to the only known record in Cambodia than to any previously documented localities in Vietnam. This study also provides expanded morphological data, including both meristic and mensural characters, as well as color descriptions. Some variations in mensural characters, particularly head width and head depth, were observed in the three specimens compared with previously published data. Additionally, this study discusses the species’ potential distribution based on “Research Grade” public observations on iNaturalist, which suggests a broader range in Vietnam and Cambodia. Finally, the need for genetic analysis is highlighted to clarify population-level diversity and to assess the possibility of a distinct species occurring in the western part of the Mekong region.