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 Lygodactylus tolampyae — VENCES et al. 2024 |
| Distribution | Madagascar (west coast) Type locality: “Forèts de la còte ouest” [= Forrest near the West coast of Madagascar] tuberifer: Type locality: Menabé, W. Madagascar. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: MNHN-RA 7636, male, probably lost fide Brygoo 1983 and Vences et al. 2024; other specimen: MNHN 1899.344 from “Environs de Suberbieville, Boeny” in the North west, also lost now fide Vences et al. 2024. Lecotype: SMF 8948 (originally SMF 4160,4a), male; SMF 5949 and SMF 8950‒8952 are concurrently paralectotypes of L. tuberifer; SMF 5949 is also the holotype of L. tuberosus and SMF 8950‒8952 are paratypes of L. tuberosus fide Vences et al. 2024; the lectotype was designated by Mertens 1922 [tuberifer] |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: As justified in the Identity section above, we consider the name-bearing types of both nomina, L. tolampyae and L. tuberifer, as corresponding to the genetic lineage A+B, which is the only one detected by our surveys in the supposed areas of provenance of the respective types. L. tolampyae can be distinguished from all other Malagasy Lygodactylus not belonging to the L. tolampyae complex by a mental scale semi-divided by a suture, broad contact of the posterior projection of the mental scale with the first infralabial scale, and three postmental scales. Furthermore, it is characterized by the absence of whorls on the tail (original tail), and a typical look of the head with relatively large eyes. For a distinction of newly described species in the L. tolampyae complex, see species accounts below. For variation in color pattern, see Fig. 4. (Vences et al. 2024: 430) Additional details (1449 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| 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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