Pristurus insignoides Arnold, 1986

Razzetti, Edoardo, Sindaco, Roberto, Grieco, Cristina, Pella, Francesca, Ziliani, Ugo, Pupin, Fabio, Riservato, Elisa, Pellitteri-Rosa, Daniele, Butikofer, Luca, Suleiman, Ahmed Saeed & Al-Aseily, Badar Awadh, 2011, Annotated checklist and distribution of the Socotran Archipelago Herpetofauna (Reptilia), Zootaxa 2826, pp. 1-44 : 12

Pristurus insignoides Arnold, 1986

Pristurus insignoides Arnold, 1986b: 353 , Figs 1 –3—Locus typicus: “Adho Dimellus (Adhoh di-Melhoh, 12°33’N 54°02’E)”. Pristurus insignis Blanford, 1881 [partim].— Boulenger, 1903: 75.

Pristurus insignoides .— Arnold, 1993: 358 [368, 375], Figs 1 –6.

Pristurus insignoides — Arnold, 2009: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 20, 21.

This species was recorded on the highlands of the Hajhir mountains between 800 and 1050 m, at two close localities only: Adho Dimellus [= Adho Di Meleh] ( Arnold 1986b), Firmihin ( Rösler & Wranik, 2004), Dihaal pass [= Adho Di Meleh] ( Schätti & Desvoignes, 1999). We also observed it around the Skand area in seven close localities at slightly higher altitudes between 1030 and 1473 m.

Habitat. P. insignoides was considered a strictly rocky gecko, like P. i n s i g n i s ( Rösler & Wranik, 2004), but during recent surveys, a few populations of this gecko were found to inhabit the montain forest at Skand, where several individuals were observed on tree trunks, branches, small rocks and stone walls in the glades.

Original data. Fig. 19. Skand, Adho Di Meleh.

Bibliographic data. Arnold (1986b), Wranik (1998b), Schätti & Desvoignes (1999), Rösler & Wranik (2004).

General distribution. Endemic to the higher mountains of Socotra Island.

Remarks. Although P. insignoides and P. insignis occur in contiguous areas, until now they have never been observed in sintopy. P. insignoides is found at higher, more vegetated, cooler and moister habitats, while P. insignis occurs in dryer, more open and warmer habitats.