Hoplodactylus tohu SCARSBROOK, WALTON, RAWLENCE & HITCHMOUGH, 2023
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Hoplodactylus tohu
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| Higher Taxa | Diplodactylidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Hoplodactylus tohu SCARSBROOK, WALTON, RAWLENCE & HITCHMOUGH 2023: 274 |
| Distribution | New Zealand (islands in the Marlborough Sounds, formerly widespread throughout the South Island) Type locality: New Zealand (Marlborough Sounds, Middle Trios Island) |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype: RE.000503, adult male collected by Y. M. McCann in February 1950. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Hoplodactylus tohu may be distinguished from its only congener, H. duvaucelii, by several characters: H. tohu (generally) does not attain as great a size at maturity, has a more pronounced brillar fold, and less often bears a median cleft in the mental scale. An abrupt size decrease at the 5th infralabial scale characterizing H. tohu is far less common in H. duvaucelii, with most individuals of the latter examined exhibiting a gradual size decrease in infralabial scales. H. tohu further differs from H. duvaucelii in generally having fewer subdigital lamellae on all digits of both the right manus and pes. The first digit of the right manus in H. duvaucelii differs in having a consistently less emergent claw and, usually, a comparatively bulbous distal end. Previously reported differences in the coloration and extent of patterning between these taxa are generalizations and can be misleading given fluid overlap between the two species. Dorsal body coloration and patterning in H. tohu often resembles those of young H. duvaucelii in being relatively more strongly contrasting, with patterning generally becoming weaker at maturity. However, considerable variation in coloration and pattern was observed throughout ontogeny in both species. (Scarsbrook et al. 2023) |
| Comment | Diet: Hoplodactylus tohu is largely insectivorous, but will also consume plant material, nectar, and fruit. Hoplodactylus is the only New Zealand diplodactylid genus in which saurophagy, including cannibalism, has been documented. Hoplodactylus species are extremely long-lived, with wild and captive-reared individuals recorded over 50 years old. |
| Etymology | The specific epithet was proposed by Dr Sharon Barcello-Gemmel, Rangatira of Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui Trust, in recognition of the tupuna [ancestor] Tohu Kākahi. Tohu Kākahi was one of the two Parihaka prophets with whakapapa [genealogical] connections to Te Ātiawa – the iwi [tribe] with mana whenua [authority] over Ngāwhatu Kai Ponu [The Brothers], where the largest extant population occurs. Name used as noun in apposition. |
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