Lygodactylus tolampyae (GRANDIDIER, 1872)
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Lygodactylus tolampyae
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| Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Grandidier's Dwarf Gecko |
| Synonym | Hemidactylus tolampyae GRANDIDIER 1872: 8 Hemidactylus tolampyae — BOULENGER 1885: 113 Lygodactylus tolampyae — MOCQUARD 1909: 94 Lygodactylus tuberifer BOETTGER 1913: 288 Lygodactylus tolampyae — KLUGE 1993 Lygodactylus tolampyae — GLAW & VENCES 1994: 284 Lygodactylus (Lygodactylus) tolampyae — RÖSLER 2000: 95 Lygodactylus tolampyae — PUENTE et al. 2009: 64 Lygodactylus tolampyae — RÖLL et al. 2010 Lygodactylus tolampyae — GIPPNER et al. 2021 |
| Distribution | Madagascar (west coast) Type locality: “Forèts de la còte ouest” [= Forrest near the West coast of Madagascar] |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: MNHN-RA 7636 Lecotype: SMF 8948, male [tuberifer] |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: “A moderately sized tree-dwelling Lygodactylus, widespread and common in dry forests of western Madagascar. Lygodactylus tolampyae differs from all other Malagasy Lygodactylus by its mental scale that is semi-divided by sutures, with a posterior projection that has a broad and distinct contact to the first infralabial (this contact being absent or less broad in other Lygodactylus). The species is further distinguished from species in the L. madagascariensis group by the semi-divided mental and three postmentals (vs. undivided with two postmentals) and by the presence (vs. absence) of a claw on the first finger; from the species in the L. pictus group by having mostly three postmental scales (vs. usually two) and by lacking yellow ventral coloration in life (vs. presence in L. pictus and L. roavolana); from the species in the L. mirabilis group by granular (vs. keeled or partially keeled) dorsal scales; and from the species in the L. verticillatus group by a non-whorled tail (vs. whorled) and by 7 preanal pores in males (vs. usually 9 or more). Further differences to unclassified species are as follows: L. tolampyae differs from L. ornatus by the absence of dark stripes on the throat (vs. presence) and the number of prenal pores (7 vs. 11); and from L. pauliani apparently by a higher number of dorsal scales along and around the body (for values, see description below).” (PUENTE et al. 2009) |
| Comment | Synonymy: Boettger 1913 already recognized that tuberifer is very similar to tolampyae. This was confirmed by Pasteur 1965: 94. Note that the type series of tuberifer consisted of specimens of tuberifer and tolampyae though (Mertens 1965). Mertens 1965 redescribed the tuberifer specimens as L. tuberosus. Habitat. Puente et al. (2009) observed specimens belonging to this species active during the day on tree trunks, and at night, sleeping at the end of thin branches of trees and bushes, about 1–2 m above the ground. At Ankarafantsika, Berara, and in the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, the species is very common in deciduous dry forest. The species apparently also inhabits rocks in some cases. |
| Etymology | not given in original description. |
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