Thecadactylus rapicauda, (HOUTTUYN)

Bergmann, Philip J. & Russell, Anthony P., 2007, Systematics and biogeography of the widespread Neotropical gekkonid genus Thecadactylus (Squamata), with the description of a new cryptic species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 149 (3), pp. 339-370 : 354-355

REDEFINITION OF T. RAPICAUDA (HOUTTUYN)

The loss of the original holotype of Thecadactylus rapicauda ( Hoogmoed, 1973) and the current description of T. solimoensis , rendering the genus polytypic, necessitates the designation of a new type series for T. rapicauda ( ICZN, 1999: article 75), based on specimens from the likely original type locality ( Hoogmoed, 1973). It is undisputed that the lost holotype of T. rapicauda originated from outside of the range of T. solimoensis ( Hoogmoed, 1973; Avila-Pires, 1995). Published descriptions of T. rapicauda ( Daudin, 1802; Beebe, 1944; Vanzolini, 1968; Hoogmoed, 1973; Schwartz & Henderson, 1991; Avila-Pires, 1995; Breuil, 2002; Russell & Bauer, 2002a) remain valid. Although individuals of this species may possess a postocular stripe, this is virtually never directed dorsally (see above). The distribution of T. rapicauda is also reduced in light of the description of a second species (see below).

Material examined: Neotype: RMNH-16267. Male, collected 4.xii.1955 by D. C. Geijskes from Republeik, Surinam. Description: ( Fig. 7B ) 119 mm SVL, 73 mm TL, 37 mm HL, 24 mm HW, 4 mm IND; regenerated tail, only slightly broader than more proximal stump and regularly streaked; 4 nasal granules, dorsalmost enlarged; internasals with broad contact medially; 14 supralabials, 7 anterior to the eye; 13 infralabials; rostral partly divided; 10 spinose supraciliaries; postmentals elongate; 6 post-postmentals, medial one enlarged; 10 post-infralabials; dorsal forearm, tail base and ventral neck scales granular; hind limb web scales imbricate; 1 single-apexed, tuberculate cloacal spur; cloacal sacs absent; total manual lamellae on digits I, IV and V, 17, 23 and 19, respectively; total pedal lamellae on digits I, IV and V, 15, 24, 21, respectively; scansors on manual and pedal digits IV, 11 and 12, respectively; subdigital sulcus divides all lamellae on manual digit II, but only some on digit I; lateral stripe absent; dorsal colour and pattern light, mottled, with no diamonds; paravertebral spots absent; nuchal spot absent; postocular stripes project posterolaterally, but do not continue as a series of spots; 12 teeth occluded by rostral; 26 presacral, 2 cervical vertebrae without ribs; 23 ribs, 3 anterior to medial level of clavicles, 5 shortened; cloacal bones absent; paraphalanges visible in radiographs. Characters not included here, but included for the description of the holotype of T. solimoensis , represent data that could not be obtained from any T. rapicauda specimens.

Neoparatypes: RMNH-5651: male with regenerated tail from Paramaribo, Surinam; RMNH-16259: male with regenerated tail from Paramaribo, Surinam; RMNH-16279: female with regenerated tail from Republeik, Surinam: RMNH-16280: male with original tail from Republeik, Surinam; RMNH-26478: female with autotomized tail from Paramaribo, Surinam.

Referred specimens: All those listed in Appendix 1 and not assigned to T. solimoensis .

Distribution: The distribution of Thecadactylus to the exclusion of areas inhabited by T. solimoensis : Yucatan in Mexico, south to southern Colombia on both sides of the Andes, extending east in Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, French Guyana, Brazilian Roraima, Brazilian Pará, and all of the Lesser Antilles to the exclusion of the Puerto Rican bank (but including Necker Island) and Barbados.

Figures

Figure 7. Photographs of the holotype of Thecadactylus solimoensis [QCAZ-6691 (= OMNH-36431)] (A), and the neotype of T. rapicauda (RMNH-16267) (B).