Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus (BEDDOME, 1870)
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Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus
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| Higher Taxa | Gekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Southern Ghats slender gecko |
| Synonym | Hemidactylus aurantiacus BEDDOME 1870: 33 Hemidactylus aurantiacus — STOLICZKA 1872 Lepidodactylus aurantiacus — BOULENGER 1885: 164 Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus — STEJNEGER 1899 Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus — BRONGERSMA 1932: 222 Hemiphyllodactylus typus aurantiacus — SMITH 1935 Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus — BAUER & DAS 1999 Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus — ZUG 2010: 37 Hemiphyllodactylus cf. aurantiacus — GANESH et al. 2018 |
| Distribution | S India (Anamallays = Anailmalais, Western Ghats, Bangalore, Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh) Type locality: “Shevaroys, under stones about Yercaud and elsewhere, at an elevation of 4,000 feet”. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Lectotype: BMNH 74.4.29.1333; Syntypes: ZMB 10233, BMNH 74.4.29.1332–1337 |
| Diagnosis | Description. A bisexual taxon of geckos (Gekkoninae) with elongate, slender habitus, slightly compressed, elongated appearance accentuated by short limbs and modest head (see Figures 3, 11, 15), tail somewhat elliptical in cross section and regularly shorter than SVL. Adults 27.2–37.9 mm SVL (mean ± SD, 34.3 mm ± 2.80; n = 14), 26–33 mm TailL (29.2 mm ± 2.87), 13.8–18.8 mm TrunkL (16.7 mm ± 1.27), 6.0–8.7 mm HeadL (7.9 mm ± 0.64), 4.3–6.5 mm HeadW (5.6 mm ± 0.72), 2.3– 3.7 mm SnEye (3.1 mm ± 0.36), 1.9–2.8 mm NarEye (2.4 mm ± 0.25), 1.7–2.1 mm EyeD (2.0 mm ± 0.13), 1.2–1.5 mm SnW (1.3 mm ± 0.10). Adult proportions 44–51% TrunkL/SVL (mean ± SD, 48.7% ± 2.0), 21–26% HeadL/ SVL (23.0% ± 1.0), 14–19% HeadW/SVL (16.5% ± 2.9), 57–79% HeadW/HeadL (71.3% ± 7.1), 34–42% SnEye/ HeadL (39.2% ± 2.6), 27–33% NarEye/HeadL (30.6% ± 1.8), 22–28% EyeD/HeadL (25.0% ± 1.7), 14–20% SnW/HeadL (16.7% ± 1.4), 69–96% EyeD/NarEye (82.0% ± 7.7), 21–30% SnW/HeadW (23.5% ± 2.7%). (Zug 2010) Scalation is predominantly granular from head onto tail, both dorsally and ventrally; ventral trunk scales slightly larger than dorsal ones, 11–17 Dorsal (median ± SD, 13.0 ± 1.87) and 8–12 Ventral (10.0 ± 1.51); similarly, subcaudal scales slightly larger than dorsal caudal scales but not plate-like. Cloacal spurs present, modest sized, 1–3 CloacS (2 ± 0.6). Larger scales on lips and snout, rostral largest, rectangular to pentagonal, often slightly concave on dorsomedial edge with slight cleft; 2–4 CircNa (3 ± 0.5), 3–6 SnS (4 ± 0.9); labial scales enlarged from rostral to below eye, becoming progressively smaller in subocular rictus, 10–13 Suplab (10 ± 1.0), 8–12 Inflab (11 ± 1.0); 10–14 Chin (11 ± 0.8), those behind mental slightly or not enlarged; ear opening distinct with no bordering enlarged scales. Each digit with expanded pad, terminal two phalanges free, arising from within pad on second to fifth digits of fore- and hindfoot and each clawed; pads of these digits each with large triangular apical lamella bordered proximally by lyre-shaped lamellae (scansors); modal digital formulae 2-2-2-2 (forefoot) and 2-2-3-2 or 3 (hindfoot) for scansors; first digit of fore- and hindfeet compressed, usually 4 rectangular lamellae (3-4 fore, 4-5 hind) ventrally, terminal phalanx not free with or without minute claw. Adult females rarely with precloacal pore series (0–3 PreclPor), males always with precloacal pores (median ± SD, 7 ± 1.6; range, 6–11) always separated from femoral pore series, 16–25 TotPore (21.5 ± 2.92). (Zug 2010) Coloration: Dusky brown ground color dorsally and laterally from head to tail, dark ocular stripe from loreal area to axilla thereafter interrupted and part of zigzag dorsal markings; also narrow dorsolateral dark stripe from rear of eye to axilla, where it also breaks into pieces of the dorsal zigzag marks; small white spots dorsolaterally on trunk but overwhelmed by dark trunk markings; dorsal postsacral mark, anteriormost broad dark brown traverse bar bordered behind by light golden bar then tan and subsequently by irregular edged dark brown bars separated by tan interspaces. (Zug 2010) Major diagnostic features: bisexual taxon; pigmented caecum and gonadal ducts; in adult males femoral pore series separated from precloacal pore series (TotPore typically 20- 25), always absent in females; chin scales bordering mental and first infralabial not greatly enlarged; digital lamellae formulae 2-2-2-2 (forefoot) and 2-2-3-2 or 2-2-3-3 (hindfoot); average adult SVL ~33–35 mm; bold body pattern of contrasting dark brown and dusky brown background and dorsal postsacral double bar of dark brown and light orange (Figure 15). (Zug 2010) Description of lectotype: An adult male: 34.5 mm SVL, broken TailL, 17.5 mm TrunkL, 7.8 mm HeadL, 5.6 mm HeadW, 3.7 mm SnEye, 2.8 mm NarEye, 2.0 mm EyeD, and 1.2 mm SnW. Proportions: 51% TrunkL/SVL, 23% HeadL/SVL, 16% HeadW/SVL, 72% HeadW/HeadL, 40% SnEye/HeadL, 30% NarEye/HeadL, 26% EyeD/ HeadL, 15% SnW/HeadL, 87% EyeD/NarEye, 21% SnW/ HeadW. Scalation: 3 CircNa, 5 SnS, 13 Suplab, 11 Inflab, 12 Chin (anteromedial ones only slightly larger than adjacent ones), 16 Dorsal, 12 Ventral, 1 CloacS, Subcaud not enlarged, 7 PreclPor, 22 TotPore with no contact between precloacal and femoral, digital formulae 2-2-2-2 (forefoot) and 2-3-3-3 (hindfoot). Pigmented caecum, pigmentation unknown for testis epididymis. Body ground color brown, no lateral light spotting evident, dark dorsolateral stripe from eye to shoulder, lateral stripe from in front of eye to axilla, these stripes broken on trunk and form lateral parts of dorsal chevron or zigzag markings of trunk, dark chevron at tail base. (Zug 2010) |
| Comment | Distribution: ZUG (2010) believes that its occurrence in Banglore is edificarian and appears to represent a recent accidental transport. Behavior: nocturnal |
| Etymology | Beddome offered no explanation for his choice of aurantiacus as the epithet for his new species. He did mention the orange color of the tail base, and because aurantium is a new Latin noun for the orange (fruit), ZUG (2010) suggested his choice derived from the association between the color of the orange and the gecko’s tail. |
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