Sphaerodactylus macrolepis, Gunther, 1859

Daza, Juan D., Pinto, Brendan J., Thomas, Richard, Herrera-Martinez, Alexandra, Scantlebury, Daniel P., Padilla García, Luis F., Balaraman, Rajesh P., Perry, Gad & Gamble, Tony, 2019, The sprightly little sphaerodactyl: Systematics and biogeography of the Puerto Rican dwarf geckos Sphaerodactylus (Gekkota, Sphaerodactylidae), Zootaxa 4712 (2), pp. 151-201 : 179

Key to the Sphaerodactylus macrolepis species complex

1A. Sexual dichromatism present, distribution within the Puerto Rico Bank, scapular patch with discrete ocelli, body dorsal scales larger than ventral scales ( Figs.13 , 14 )..................................................................... 2

1B. Sexual dichromatism absent, distribution on the Anguilla Bank, scapular patch ocelli very close or fused, body dorsal scales and ventral scales subequal....................................................... Sphaerodactylus parvus ( Fig. 8 ).

2A. Dorsal body scales large and imbricate, dorsal scales with knob-like and hair-bearing organs in the free edge ( Fig. 2 ), scapular patch mainly black, variable in size and shape, but never with two anteriorly projecting points or formed by two dark circles surrounding the ocelli, males with or without pattern on the head................................................ 3

2B. Dorsal body scales small and almost juxtaposed, dorsal scales without knob-like organs ( Fig. 1 ), scapular patch oftentimes bicolor (brown and black), scapular patch with anteriorly projecting points ( Fig. 10 ) or made by two dark circles surrounding the ocelli, males with marbled pattern on the head. Distributed on the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, also in the eastern and southern parts of Culebra Island......................................... Sphaerodactylus macrolepis ( Figs. 9 , 10 ).

3A. Males marked with head pattern, distributed in Puerto Rico and satellite islands (e.g. Piñeros), females with two medial lines separated, not forming a medial blotch..................................................................... 4

3B. Males without marked head pattern, distributed in Vieques and Western part of Culebra Island, females with two medial lines forming a medial blotch ( Fig. 26 )............................................ Sphaerodactylus inigoi (Figs 11,12).

4A. Males dorsal pattern formed by continuous or stippled lines, male head color variable from red to yellow................ 5

4B. Males dorsal pattern salt and pepper, male head color blue or gray............. Sphaerodactylus g. mimetes ( Figs. 20 , 21 ).

5A. Maximum SVL more than 32 mm ( Fig. 7 ).................................................................. 6

5B. Maximum SVL equal or less than 30 mm .................................. Sphaerodactylus g. stibarus ( Figs. 24 , 25 ).

6A. Scapular patch reduced and not enclosing the ocelli, scapular patch not surrounded by white margin, snout scales hexagonal. ................................................................................................... 7

6B. Scapular patch large and enclosing the ocelli, scapular patch surrounded by white margin. snout scales rounded........... 8

7A. Nuchal spot well separated from with scapular patch........................... Sphaerodactylus g. ateles ( Figs. 18 , 19 )

7B. Nuchal spot approaching or in contact with scapular patch.................... Sphaerodactylus g. spanius ( Figs. 22 , 23 ).

8A. Males head color brownish red, females with pigmentation on the belly and ventral side of the tail, seven lamellae on fourth toe.......................................................... Sphaerodactylus g. grandisquamis ( Figs. 14 , 15 ).

8B. Males head color orange, females without pigmentation on the belly and ventral side of the tail, nine lamellae on fourth toe.................................................................. Sphaerodactylus g. guarionex ( Figs. 16 , 17 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. SEM of the dorsal scales of species from S. macrolepis complex, scales sampled on the dorsum, just behind the scapular patch. A) S. macrolepis from Great Thatch (UPRRP 4465); B) S. macrolepis from Southeast Culebra (TG 2741); C) S. inigoi from West Culebra (JDD 259); D) S. inigoi from Vieques (RT 10767); E) S. g. stibarus from Isla Piñeros (JDD 546); F) S. g. grandisquamis from Loiza Puerto Rico (RT 14665); G) S. g. guarionex from Toa Baja, Puerto Rico (RT 15625), H) S. g. ateles from CanÞo Boquilla, Puerto Rico (RT 14641); I) S. g. mimetes from Patillas, Puerto Rico (RT 14675); J) S. g. spanius from Toro Negro, Puerto Rico (RT 14789). All images to the same scale, note the smaller scale size of S. macrolepis (A–B) in comparison with S. grandisquamis and S. inigoi (C–J).

FIGURE 2. SEM of the dorsal scales of species from S. macrolepis species complex, showing details of the hair bearing organs, with one hair each, and knoblike organs on the dorsal scales. A) S. macrolepis from Great Thatch island (UPRRP 4465), which lack knoblike organs; B) S. inigoi from Vieques (RT 10767); C) S. g. grandisquamis from Loiza, Puerto Rico (RT 14665); D) S. g. mimetes from Patillas, Puerto Rico (RT 14675). All images to the same scale.

FIGURE 7. Maximum and minimum SVL measured for adult geckos from the Sphaerodactylus macrolepis species complex.

FIGURE 8. Adult specimens of Sphaerodactylus parvus. A–B, Female from Saint Maarten (MPM23023), C–D male from Saint Barthélemy (MPM23053).

FIGURE 9. Live specimens of Sphaerodactylus macrolepis from St. Croix (A, female and B, male) and Culebra Island, Zoni Beach (C, female and D, male). A–B photographs courtesy of Toby Hibbits, Texas A&M Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections.

FIGURE 10. Adult specimens of Sphaerodactylus macrolepis from Culebra island. A–B, Female (SHSUHerp000845), C–D male (SHSUHerp000818).

FIGURE 13. Adult specimens of Sphaerodactylus inigoi from Culebra island. A–B, Female (SHSUHerp000210), C–D male (SHSUHerp000210).

FIGURE 14. Live specimens of Sphaerodactylus g. grandisquamis from Piñones, Puerto Rico (A, female and B, male).

FIGURE 15. Adult specimens of Sphaerodactylus g. grandisquamis from Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. A–B, Female (SHSUHerp000743), C–D male (SHSUHerp000739).

FIGURE 16. Live specimens of Sphaerodactylus g. guarionex from Barceloneta, Puerto Rico (A, female and B, male).

FIGURE 18. Live specimens of Sphaerodactylus g. ateles from Lajas, Puerto Rico (A, female and B, male). Photographs courtesy of Stuart V. Nielsen, University of Florida.

FIGURE 19.Adult specimens of Sphaerodactylus g. ateles from Caño Boquilla, Puerto Rico.A–B, Female (SHSUHerp000770), C–D male (SHSUHerp000771).

FIGURE 20. Live specimens of Sphaerodactylus g. mimetes from Patillas, Puerto Rico (A, female and B, male).

FIGURE 21. Adult specimens of Sphaerodactylus g. mimetes from Patillas, Puerto Rico. A–B, Female (SHSUHerp000193), C–D male (SHSUHerp000204).

FIGURE 22. Live specimens of Sphaerodactylus g. spanius. A, female from Toro Negro, Puerto Rico. B, male from Divisoria, Puerto Rico.

FIGURE 23. Adult specimens of Sphaerodactylus g. spanius from Maricao, Puerto Rico. A–B, Female (SHSUHerp000790), C–D male (SHSUHerp000791).

FIGURE 24. Live specimens of Sphaerodactylus g. stibarus from Isla Piñeros, Puerto Rico (A, female and B, male).

FIGURE 25. Adult specimens of Sphaerodactylus g. stibarus from Isla Piñeros, Puerto Rico.A–B, Female (SHSUHerp000917), C–D male (SHSUHerp000918).

FIGURE 26. Dorsal lines forming a blotch (A, Sphaerodactylus inigoi from Culebra, Flamenco) or with separated lines, not forming a blotch (B, Sphaerodactylus g. grandisquamis, Piñones, Puerto Rico).

FIGURE17.AdultspecimensofSphaerodactylusg.guarionexfromBarceloneta,Puerto Rico.A–B,Female(SHSUHerp000187), C–D male (SHSUHerp000183).