The Fergana Valley Is an Isolate of Biodiversity: A Discussion of the Endemic Herpetofauna and Description of Two New Species of Alsophylax (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from Eastern Uzbekistan

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This study was carried out in one of the most densely populated and geographically isolated regions in the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Fergana Valley. The Fergana Valley has the highest level of endemic biodiversity in Uzbekistan (and one of the highest in Central Asia), and the habitats of these endemic species are rapidly being developed for agricultural purposes. Given this development, the remaining areas of habitat are not being adequately protected. The main goal of this study was to obtain up-to-date data on the distribution and abundance of five endemic reptile species in the remaining isolated and undeveloped habitats across the Fergana Valley. One of the most important achievements was the discovery of two unique and new micro-endemic species of gecko genus Alsophylax, which are described herein. These results elevate the number of endemic species in the Fergana Valley and further highlight the urgent need to create state-protected areas of habitat with IUCN I and II protection status for the remaining areas of suitable habitat, which is currently not available. ABSTRACT: The high level of endemism in Fergana Valley has been well documented in numerous studies for various groups of animals and plants. In a relatively small area, there are 45 endemic plant species, five endemic insect species, and five endemic reptile species. In surveying this area for data on distribution, abundance, acoustics, and genetic samples for species of reptiles, we discovered two new species of gecko from the genus Alsophylax. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences indicate the relatives of these new species are the even-fingered gecko, Alsophylax pipiens, and the southern even-fingered gecko, Alsophylax laevis, located hundreds of kilometers to the northwest and southwest of the Fergana Valley. The threats to these new endemic species are significant given the amount of continued agricultural development that involves new territories previously considered “unsuitable” for any species of significance that is leading to the further reduction in, fragmentation of, and degradation of the remaining natural ecosystems in the Fergana Valley. The conservation of these rare and locally endemic species depends directly on the readiness of the state to create areas with IUCN I and II protection. The many studies documenting levels of endemism, along with the data published in this study, are the basis for the justification for state-protected areas in the Fergana Valley.