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Rhacodactylus leachianus (CUVIER, 1829)

IUCN Red List - Rhacodactylus leachianus - Least Concern, LC
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Higher TaxaDiplodactylidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos)
SubspeciesRhacodactylus leachianus henkeli SEIPP & OBST 1994
Rhacodactylus leachianus leachianus (CUVIER 1829) 
Common NamesE: New Caledonia Giant Gecko 
SynonymA[scalabotes] leachianus CUVIER 1829
Pteroplura (Gecko) Leachianus — GRAY 1831 (in GRIFFITH & PIDGEON)
Ascalabotes leachianus — GRIFFITH & PIDGEON 1831
Lomatodactylus (Platydactylus) Leachianus — VAN DER HOEVEN 1833
Gecko leachii SCHINZ 1834
Platydactylus Leachianus — WIEGMANN 1834
Platydactylus leachianus — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1836: 315
Hoplodactylus (Rhacodactylus) leachianus — FITZINGER 1843
Rhacodactylus Leachianus — BOCAGE 1873
Rhacodactylus Aubrianus BOCAGE 1873 (fide ROUX 1913)
Rhacodactylus Aubryanus BOCAGE 1881
Rhacodactylus leachianus — BOULENGER 1883
Rhacodactylus aubryanus — BOULENGER 1883: 125
Rhacodactylus leachianus — BOULENGER 1885: 176
Rhacodactylus aubryanus — BOULENGER 1885: 177
Rhacodactylus leachianus aubryanus — ROUX 1913
Rhacodactylus leachianus — MERTENS 1964: 49
Rhacodactylus leachianus leachianus — KLUGE 1967
Rhacodactylus leachianus — KLUGE 1993
Rhacodactylus leachianus — RÖSLER 2000: 108
Rhacodactylus leachianus — BAUER et al. 2012

Rhacodactylus leachianus henkeli SEIPP & OBST 1994
Rhacodactylus leachianus henkeli — SCHÖNECKER & SCHÖNECKER 2009 
DistributionNew Caledonia; Isle of Pine; Belep Isles (?)

henkeli: restricted to the Ile des Pins south off New Caledonia

Type locality: not given (fide WERMUTH 1965).  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesHolotype: MNHN-RA 6687
Holotype: SMF 75976 [henkeli]
Holotype: lost, was MHNG 769.94, MLI* [aubrianus] 
Diagnosis 
CommentSynonymy: The only known specimen of Rhacodactylus leachianus aubrianus were destroyed in 197. The description of Bocage (1873) is inadequate to assess the potential validity of this taxon. The validity of henkeli has been questioned by SEIPP (1996; thesis) and GOOD et al. (1997).

Type species: Ascalabotes leachianus Cuvier, 1829 is the type species of the genus Rhacodactylus Fitzinger, 1843.

Abundance: Widespread but not very common. Highly priced as pet, e.g. in Korea.

Caudal autotomy: Bauer & Russell surveyed autotomy in carphodactylid geckos, including Rhacodactylus.

Variation: This is a fairly variable species. See Cemelli 201 and Cemelli & Fast 201 for a series of photographs that illustrate color variation. 
References
  • Barts, M. & Hulbert, F. 2004. Die Geckos der Welt. Draco 5 (18): 4-17 - get paper here
  • Bauer, A. M. & SADLIER, R. A. 2000. The herpetofauna of New Caledonia. Contributions to Herpetology, 17; Society for Study Amphibians and Reptiles, Ithaca, New York.
  • Bauer, A.M. 1990. Phylogenetic systematics and biogeography of the Carphodactylini (Reptilia: Gekkonidae). Bonner zool. Monogr. 30: 1-220 - get paper here
  • Bauer, A.M. & Sadlier,R.A. 1993. Systematics, biogeography and conservation of the lizards of New Caledonia. Biodiv. Lett. 1: 107-122 - get paper here
  • Bauer, A.M., and Sadlier, R.A. 2001. New data on the distribution, status, and biology of the giant New Caledonian geckos (Squamata: Diplodactylidae: Rhacodactylus spp.). Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 2 (1): 24-29 [2000] - get paper here
  • Bauer, Aaron M. 1995. Geckos of the genus Rhacodactylus. Reptiles 3 (7): 32-49
  • BAUER, AARON M.; TODD R. JACKMAN, ROSS A. SADLIER & ANTHONY H. WHITAKER 2012. Revision of the giant geckos of New Caledonia (Reptilia: Diplodactylidae: Rhacodactylus). Zootaxa 3404: 1–52 - get paper here
  • Bauer, Aaron M.;Russell, Anthony P. 1994. Is autotomy frequency reduced in geckos with "actively functional" tails? Herpetological Natural History 2 (2): 1-15
  • Bauer, Aaron M.;Sadlier, Roass A. 1994. The terrestrial herpetofauna of the Ile des Pins, New Caledonia. Pacific Science 48 (4): 353-366
  • Blees, M. 1996. Beitrag zur Ernährung von Rhacodactylus leachianus (Cuvier, 1829). Sauria 18 (4): 25-27 - get paper here
  • Bocage, J. V. Barboza du. 1873. Mélanges erpétologiques. l. Note sur quelques geckotiens nouveaux ou peu connus de la Nouvelle Calédonie. Jornal de Sciencias Mathematicas, Physicas e Naturaes, Lisboa, 4: 201—207. - get paper here
  • Boulenger, G. A. 1883. On the geckos of New Caledonia. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1883: 116—130. - get paper here
  • Boulenger, G.A. 1885. Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) I. Geckonidae, Eublepharidae, Uroplatidae, Pygopodidae, Agamidae. London: 450 pp. - get paper here
  • Broadley, D.G. 1958. Distribution of the races of Thelotornis kirtlandii. J. Herp. Assoc. Rhodesia 2: 2–3 - get paper here
  • Cemelli, S. 2015. Die Lokalvarianten von Rhacodactylus leachianus in der Terraristik Teil 1: Grande Terre. Reptilia (Münster) 20 (113): 45-49 - get paper here
  • Cemelli, S. & F. Fast 2015. Die Lokalvarianten von Rhacodactylus leachianus in der Terraristik Teil 2: Die Inselformen. Reptilia (Münster) 20 (114): 58-62 - get paper here
  • Cuvier, G. J. L. N. F. D. 1829. Le Regne Animal Distribué, d'apres son Organisation, pur servir de base à l'Histoire naturelle des Animaux et d'introduction à l'Anatomie Comparé. Nouvelle Edition [second edition]. Vol. 2. Les Reptiles. Déterville, Paris, i-xvi, 1-406 - get paper here
  • de Vosjoli, Philippe; Frank Fast,; Allen Repashy 2003. Rhacodactylus. The complete guide to their selection and care. USA, 296 pp.
  • de Vosjoli, Philippe;Fast, Frank 1995. Notes from a herpetological field trip to New Caledonia, part two. Notes on three species of New Caledonian geckos of the genus Rhacodactylus. Vivarium 6 (6): 26-29;53-54
  • Duméril, A.M. C. and G. Bibron. 1836. Erpetologie Générale ou Histoire Naturelle Complete des Reptiles. Vol. 3. Libr. Encyclopédique Roret, Paris, 528 pp. - get paper here
  • DUVAL, Thomas; Stéphane ASTRONGATT & Mickaël SANCHEZ 2019. Inventaire herpétologique de la forêt de Povila (province Nord, Nouvelle-Calédonie), avec une comparaison des protocoles de détection. Bull. Soc. Herp. Fr. 171: 13-36
  • Good, D. A., A. M. Bauer & Sadlier, R.A. 1997. Allozyme evidence for the phylogeny of giant New Caledonian geckos (Squamata: Diplodactylidae: Rhacodactylus), with comments on the status of R. leachianus henkeli. Australian Journal of Zoology 45: 317-330 - get paper here
  • Hammack, S. H., Deisinger, L. and Orlov, N. 2020. Rhacodactylus leachianus (New Caledonia giant gecko). Longevity. Herpetological Review 51: 65 - get paper here
  • Henkel, Friedrich Wilhelm 2008. Beobachtungen an Neukaledonischen Riesengeckos in der Natur. Draco 9 (36): 14-22 - get paper here
  • Henkel,F.W. 1991. Zur Kenntnis der diplodactylinen Gecko-Gattung Rhacodactylus Fitzinger 1843. Aspekte von Freileben, Haltung und Nachzucht. Salamandra 27 (1-2): 58-69 - get paper here
  • Hudel, L., Georg, L. and Henkel, L. 2020. New distribution records: four species of giant geckos (Gekkota: Diplodactylidae) occur in syntopy on Ile des Pins, New Caledonia. Herpetology Notes 13: 261-265. - get paper here
  • Ineich I 2009. Bocourt’s Terrific Skink, Phoboscincus bocourti Brocchi, 1876 (Squamata, Scincidae, Lygosominae), in GraNdCoLaS P. (ed.), Zoologia Neocaledonica 7. Biodiversity studies in New Caledonia. Mémoires du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle 198: 149-174. Paris, ISBN: <br />978-2-85653-618-6.
  • Kluge, A. G. 1967. Systematics, Phylogeny, and Zoogeography of the Lizard Genus Diplodactylus Gray (Gekkonidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 15: 1007-1108 + 19 plates - get paper here
  • Koo, K. S., Park, H. R., Choi, J. H., & Sung, H. C. 2020. Present Status of Non-Native Amphibians and Reptiles Traded in Korean Online Pet Shop. Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology 34 (2): 106–114 - get paper here
  • Langner, C. 2015. Auf der Suche nach Neukaledonischen Riesengeckos. Reptilia (Münster) 20 (113): 34-44 - get paper here
  • Mertens, Robert 1964. Neukaledonische Riesengeckos (Rhacodactylus). Der Zoologische Garten (N.F.) 29: 49-57
  • Myers, Alan 1999. New Caledonian Geckos of the Genus Rhacodactylus. Gekko 1 (1): 30-34
  • RODRIGUES NEHEMY, IBRAHIM KAMEL; THAYLLON ORZECHOWSKY GOMES, FERNANDA PAIVA, WESLEY KAUAN KUBO, JOÃO EMÍLIO DE ALMEIDA JÚNIOR, NATHAN FERNANDES NEVES & VINICIUS DE AVELAR SÃO PEDRO. 2022. Herpeto-commerce: A look at the illegal online trade of amphibians and reptiles in Brazil. Cuadernos de Herpetología 36(2): 185–196. - get paper here
  • Röll, B. & Henkel, F.W. 2003. Männlein oder Weiblein? Reptilia (Münster) 8 (43): 68-71 - get paper here
  • Rösler, Herbert 2017. Gecko-Chorologie (Squamata: Gekkota). Gekkota (4): 1-160
  • Roux,J. 1913. Les reptiles de de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et des îles Loyalty. In: Nova Caledonia, Recherches scientifiques en Nouvelle Calédonie et aux Iles Loyalty. Zoologie. (vol. 1, L. 2). Sarasin, F. & Roux,J. (eds.). C.W. Kreidel’s Verlag, Wiesbaden, pp. 79-160 - get paper here
  • SANCHEZ, Mickaël 2015. A new locality for Correlophus ciliatus and Rhacodactylus leachianus (Sauria: Diplodactylidae) from Néhoué River, northern New Caledonia. Herpetology Notes 8: 553-555 - get paper here
  • Schönecker, P. 2012. Insektenfreie Fütterung omnivorer Geckoarten im Terrarium – Ein Futter aus den USA hält Einzug in die Geckohaltung. Reptilia (Münster) 17 (97): 46-54 - get paper here
  • Schönecker, P. 2015. Dunkle Riesen im Terrarium: Haltung und Zucht von Rhacodactylus leachianus der Lokalform des Mont Koghis. Reptilia (Münster) 20 (113): 24-33 - get paper here
  • Schönecker, P. 2015. Rhacodactylus – Vielfältige Riesen aus Neukaledonien. Reptilia (Münster) 20 (113): 14-23 - get paper here
  • Schönecker, Patrick & Stefanie Schönecker 2008. Biologie, Haltung und Nachzucht von Rhacodactylus leachianus henkeli. Draco 9 (36): 42-49 - get paper here
  • Schönecker, Patrick & Stefanie Schönecker 2008. Die Gattung Rhacodactylus. Draco 9 (36): 4-13 - get paper here
  • SCHÖNECKER, Patrick & Christian LANGNER 2012. Neue Namen und alte Bekannte – Gattungsrevision der Neukaledonischen Riesengeckos (Rhacodactylus) und weiterer Geckogattungen Neukaledoniens. Terraria-Elaphe 2012 (6): 58-65 - get paper here
  • Seipp, R. & F. J. OBST 1994. Beschreibung einer neuen Unterart des neukaledonischen Rhacodactylus leachianus Cuvier, 1829 (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae). Senckenbergiana biologica 74 (1-2): 205-211.
  • Sound, P., F. W. Henkel, C. Langner & A. Seitz 2018. Thermal ecology and habitat utilization of Rhacodactylus leachianus from New Caledonia (Squamata: Diplodactylidae). Salamandra 54 (2): 117-122 - get paper here
  • Tröger, M. 2001. Anmerkungen zur Pflege und Nachzucht von Rhacodactylus l. leachianus (CUVIER 1829). Elaphe 9 (1): 15-17
  • Vences M, Henkel FW & Seipp,R 2001. Molekulare Untersuchungen zur Phylogenie und Taxonomie der Neukaledonischen Geckos der Gattung Rhacodactylus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae). Salamandra 37 (2): 73-82 - get paper here
  • Watkins-Colwell, Gregory J. 2002. Gecko Hunting in New Caledonia. Gekko 3 (2): 2-8
 
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