Gekko verreauxi TYTLER, 1865
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Gekko verreauxi
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| Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Andaman giant gecko |
| Synonym | Gekko verreauxi TYTLER 1865: 546 Gekko stentor – BOULENGER 1885 (part) Gekko smithii – SMITH 1935 (part) Gekko verreauxi — KLUGE 1993 Gekko verreauxi — RÖSLER 2000: 82 Gekko (Gekko) verreauxi — WOOD et al. 2019 Gekko (Gekko) verreauxi — WOOD et al. 2020 |
| Distribution | India: Andaman Islands Type locality: Andaman Islands. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Lectotype: BMNH 68.4.3.64 (designated by Ota et al. 1991). Paralectotype. NHMUK 1868.4.3.65, an adult female from the same location. Other specimens: ZSI/ANRC (Andaman and Nicobar Islands Regional Centre). |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis. A large-bodied species of Gekko (SVL 140.06– 146.48 mm) characterized by: 12–14 supralabials; 9–13 infralabials; two elongate inner pairs of postmentals in broad contact with each other; two smaller, separated outer pairs of postmentals; 11–13 precloacal pores in males; absence of femoral pores; two internasals in contact with each other; distinct ventrolateral dermal folds; 26–29 transverse rows of imbricate ventrals; 12 or 13 transverse rows of enlarged, rounded, dorsal tubercles; two to three enlarged post-cloacal spurs on each side of the vent; 18–20 undivided subdigital lamellae on toe IV; presence of five legible, dark, transverse bands in juveniles and subadults transforming into a nearly uniform dark-brown dorsal coloration in adults with a pale-white to light-brown venter (Chandramouli et al. 2021). Description and variation. A large species of Gekko, measuring 109.55–146.49 mm SVL. Head large (mean HL:SVL 0.26), longer than broad (mean HL:HW 1.19) with a blunt, rounded snout tip. Eyes moderately large (mean ED:HL 0.25) with a vertically elliptical pupil approximately one-half the length of the snout (mean ED:ES 0.53); nostrils situated closer to the snout tip than to the eyes (mean EN:ES 0.79). Trunk one-half as long as the body (mean AG:SVL 0.46). Overall habitus depressed. Supralabials 12–14 on each side; infralabials 9–13 on each side; two moderately enlarged postmentals in broad medial contact, followed by three smaller pairs of scales. Dorsum bearing 11–13 transverse rows of enlarged tubercles. Ventrals imbricate, in 27–29 transverse rows at midbody. A pair of enlarged, rounded cloacal spurs at the base of the vent. Anterior subcaudals not enlarged, posterior ones slightly enlarged. Upper arm shorter than lower arm (mean UAL:LAL 0.79); palm enlarged with five fingers; the first one with an indistinct claw; relative lengths of fingers IV>III>V>II>I. Thighs short (mean FEL:SVL 0.16), robust bearing a few tuberculated scales on the dorsal surface. Tibia as long as the thighs (mean TBL:SVL 0.16); toes with entire, undivided subdigital lamellae, 18–20 on toe IV; relative lengths of toes IV>III>V>II>I. Fingers and toes free, lacking membranous skin flaps. Males have a series of 11–13 precloacal pores and lack femoral pores (Chandramouli et al. 2021). Coloration in life. Overall dorsal coloration uniform dark- to light-brown with five to six darker transverse bands on the body and five or six on the tail. Venter uniform brown and lacking any specific pattern. Eyes with vertically elliptical pupils and a greenish yellow iris (Chandramouli et al. 2021). |
| Comment | Synonymy: Partly after Chandramouli et al. 2021. Has been synonymized previously with Gekko smithii GRAY 1842 (by SMITH 1935 and others). |
| Etymology | Named after Jean Baptiste Edouard Verreaux (1810-1868) and Jules Pierre Verreaux (1807-1873), naturalists, collectors, and dealers. |
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