Hemidactylus huluul MAZUCH, JANÁK, VELENSKÁ, NISTRI, ABDIRAHMAN-ELMI & ŠMÍD, 2024
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Hemidactylus huluul
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| Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Huluul gecko [pronounced huluːl ˈɡekəʊ] Somali: Qoroto [pronounced Koroto] |
| Synonym | Hemidactylus huluul MAZUCH, JANÁK, VELENSKÁ, NISTRI, ABDIRAHMAN ELMI & ŠMÍD 2024: 14 |
| Distribution | Somaliland Type locality: Somaliland, Sanaag Region, Huluul (9.974° N; 46.698° E; 829 m asl) |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype: NMP-P6V 76688 (sample code TMHC_994), adult male, collected by T. Mazuch on 10 October 2021 (Figures 7, 8, 9a, 9b). Paratypes (four): NMP-P6V 76685 (sample code TMHC_991), adult male; NMP-P6V 76686 (sample code TMHC_992), adult female; NMP-P6V 76687 (sample code TMHC_993), adult male; NMP-P6V 76689 (sample code TMHC_995), adult male. All paratypes have the same collection data as the holotype. Other material (4): TMHC 2024.01.1051, adult male, Somaliland, Sanaag Region, Huluul (9.974° N; 46.698° E; 829 m asl), collected by T. Mazuch on 10 October 2021; TMHC 2024.01.1048, juvenile, TMHC 2024.01.1049, TMHC 2024.01.1050, adult females, Somaliland, Sanaag Region, Huluul (9.974° N; 46.698° E; 829 m asl), collected by T. Mazuch, D. Hlaváč and P. Konečný on 23 November 2023. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A species of the Arabian radiation of Hemidactylus (sensu Šmíd et al. 2013a, 2020), a member of the macropholis group characterised by the following combination of morphological traits: (1) medium to large size, SVL 41.9–61.7 mm in males, 45.7–76.2 mm in females; (2) head robust, short and high, head depth 44–51% of head length, head width 64–78% of head length; (3) relatively long tail, tail length 104.9–118.6% of SVL; (4) uppermost nasals frequently in broad contact, less frequently in a narrow or no contact; (5) 1st supralabial in broad contact with nostril; (6) large anterior postmentals in a wide contact; (7) anterior postmentals usually in contact with only the first infralabials (in 78% of specimens); (8) 11–12 supralabials; (9) 7–9 infralabials (9 only in 6% of specimens, otherwise 7–8); (10) dorsum with 14–16 rows (16 in 22% of specimens, otherwise 14) of large, prominent, trihedral, strongly keeled, round tubercles; (11) other dorsal scales smooth (or less usually with a feeble keel), subimbricate, homogeneous; (12) 4–6 (mostly 5, counted longitudinally) and 2–3 (mostly 3, transversely) small dorsal scales between dorsal tubercles; (13) 22–26 tail segments; (14) 4–5 rows of small scales between tail tubercles of two adjacent tail segments; (15) subcaudals enlarged; (16) moderately long free distal phalanges of digits (relative length of free distal phalanges and proximal parts with lamellae on the 3rd toes 0.21–0.42, mean 0.33 ± 0.06 mm); (17) 8 lamellae under the 1st finger, 9–10 lamellae under the 4th finger, 7–8 lamellae under the 1st toe, and 9–11 lamellae under the 4th toe; (18) 10–14 precloacal pores in males; (19) presence of small lateral postanal tubercles; (20) in life, body colour beige-brownish to grey with four irregular X-shaped markings across the body, additional similar marking in the pelvic area or the base of tail. Brown stripe from nostril to anterior margin of eye continues from posterior eye margin to above the ear, then interrupted to continue above the shoulder, additional stripe from the upper posterior eye margin runs in temporo-parietal region, U-shaped or curved crossbar on the nape visible in adult specimens. Tail banded with five to eight broad bands, the black and white bands become more prominent down the tail end (when original). Body pinkish-white ventrally, posterior half of tail with four to six blackish bands ventrally (Figure 9a,b). (Mazuch et al. 2024) Additional details (7319 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | Named after the village of Huluul, in the vicinity of which all specimens have been collected. It is a noun in apposition. |
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