Hemidactylus gleadowi Murray, 1884

Mahony, Stephen, 2011, Taxonomic revision of Hemidactylus brookii Gray: a re-examination of the type series and some Asian synonyms, and a discussion of the obscure species Hemidactylus subtriedrus Jerdon (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), Zootaxa 3042, pp. 37-67 : 50-52

Hemidactylus gleadowi Murray, 1884

( Figures 1 D, 2B, 3C, 3D)

Hemidactylus Gleadowi Murray, 1884a:260 . Original type locality: “Rantah forests in Sind, (Jerruck Division)”, Pakistan. Hemidactylus gleadovii –– Boulenger, 1885:iiv, 116, 129. (Unjustified emendation)

Neotype by present designation. BMNH [18]84.7.25.8, adult male, “Sind” (= Sindh Province, Pakistan), presented by J. A. Murray.

Other examined material. BMNH [18]84.7.25.9, topotype adult female, details as for neotype.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym after Mr. F. Gleadow, Deputy Conservator of Forests and collector of the original type specimens described by J. A. Murray.

Definition. Hemidactylus gleadowi can be distinguished from all currently described South and Southeast Asian members of Hemidactylus based on the following combination of characters: adult SVL to 43.1 mm; TrL/ SVL 39.9–41.9%; HL/SVL 30–30.2%; ear opening oval; primary postmental shield width is subequal to that of the first infralabial, secondary pair broadly in contact with second infralabials; tubercles of the parietal region are of subequal size to largest canthal scales; 17–18 regular longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles, largest 12–14 times size of surrounding granules; two series of 12–13 precloacal-femoral pores separated medially by a diastema of one non-pore-bearing scale, size subequal to pore-bearing scales, scale row bordering anteriorly the precloacal-femoral pore series of subequal size to pore-bearing scales; 4–5 lamellae under digit I and seven under digit IV of pes, subdigital lamellae mostly divided on digit IV of manus and pes, enlarged lamellae series under digit IV of pes absent on the basal 20% of digit length; tail oval in cross-section without lateral denticulation, TailD/TailW 71.7–84%, tubercles on proximal tail portion form short recurved conical spines, subcaudals completely transverse the tail width on the distal third of original tail; two very small, bluntly conical cloacal spurs.

Comparisons. Hemidactylus gleadowi is here compared with the morphologically most similar Asian Hemidactylus species occurring east of the western Pakistan border. It differs from H. treutleri by its smaller size, SVL to 43.1 mm [44 mm in original description] (vs. SVL to 70 mm), and total 25–26 precloacal-femoral pores (vs. 14); from H. gujaratensis by its higher number of tubercle rows across the dorsum, 17–18 (vs. 12–14), and precloacalfemoral pores series separated medially by one non-pore-bearing scale (vs. at least five); from H. parvimaculatus by precloacal-femoral pore series separated medially by one non-pore-bearing scale (vs. 2–4), and seven lamellae on digit IV of pes (vs. 8–10). From H. brookii of which it was previously considered a synonym, by smaller size, SVL to 43.1 mm [44 mm] (vs. SVL to 55.8 mm), largest dorsal tubercle size 12–14 times that of surrounding granules (vs. 6–7 times), possessing a median non-pore-bearing scale of subequal size to pore-bearing scales (vs. a median non-pore-bearing scale <50% the size of pored scales), proximal four to five segments of the original tail with transverse row of eight enlarged tubercles (vs. six), enlarged lamellae series under digit IV of pes absent on basal ~20% digit length (vs. lamellae series extend to the base of the digit), dorsal markings composed of one middorsal and two dorsolateral longitudinal rows of small darker brown spots and blotches widely separated from each other (vs. large dark longitudinally oval blotches in three rows, some merge to form incomplete transverse bands).

For diagnosis from H. kushmorensis and H. tenkatei see the respective comparison sections for these species.

Condition of type. Neotype is complete and undamaged with the exception of the posterior half of the tail which is detached, but present with the specimen.

Description of neotype. BMNH [18]84.7.25.8, adult male. A summary of mensural and meristic data is provided in table 1. A small sized species of Hemidactylus (SVL 43.0 mm); head distinct from neck, lores rounded and interorbital region flat, forehead flat; snout longer than orbit diameter; scales on snout circular, smallest are domed, largest on the canthal region are bluntly conical, size subequal to enlarged tubercles on the parietal, becoming mixed over the frontal with small granular scales; supraoculars primarily covered with homogenous small granular scales with a row of slightly enlarged, domed tubercles running parallel to the supraciliaries; dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head are covered with small granular scales densely mixed with enlarged domed tubercles, size increasing laterally and posteriorly; twelve interorbital scales across the narrowest point of the frontal; canthus rostralis rounded; pupil vertically elliptical, with crenellated edges; supraciliaries rounded, size increasing slightly anterodorsally, all lacking spines; ear opening deep, oval, obliquely orientated, lacking enlarged tubercles on anterior edge; orbit to ear distance slightly greater than diameter of orbits; rostral subrectangular, with medial groove dorsally, extending to half of the rostral depth; rostral depth more than half its width, contacted by nostrils, supralabial I, one internasal and two oval, slightly enlarged supranasals; nostrils circular, oriented dorsolaterally, nostril in contact with supralabial I, two postnasals, supranasal and rostral; three scale rows separating eye from supralabials; 9/9 (left/right) supralabials; 7/7 (left/right) infralabials; mental subtriangular, wider than its length (MenL/MenW 85.7%); two paired postmentals, primary pair subequally in contact with each other and the mental, secondary pair not in contact with each other, ~80% the size of the first and rounded posteriorly, primary postmental pair is bordered posteriorly by two enlarged smooth, rounded chin shields three times larger than adjacent granular scales; 2– 3 rows of enlarged elongated scales border the lower edge of the infralabials, size increasing gradually anteriorly and laterally from the small throat granular scales; endolymphatic sac not visible.

Body slightly compressed dorsally, ventrolateral fold absent; dorsum covered with uniform, small granular scales interspersed with large tubercles, those of the nape are smallest, circular and domed to bluntly conical, size increasing posteriorly, dorsal most tubercles with a weak anterior median keel, laterally and posteriorly becoming more conical, all circular, largest are 12–14 times the size of surrounding granular scales; 18 distinctly linear longitudinal rows at midbody, 29 in a paravertebral line from the back of the skull to the area above the vent, intertubercle distance varies randomly; ventrolateral and gular granular scales grade suddenly into large, smooth, imbricate ventrals; preanal depression absent; precloacal-femoral pores number 13/12 (left/right), a single non-pore-bearing scale of subequal size to pored scales separates pore-bearing rows; precloacal scales between the pore series and the cloaca are not enlarged relative to ventrals.

Forelimbs slender; dorsal surface of the upper forelimb covered with smooth, slightly imbricate scales grading to small granular scales posteriorly and ventrally, dorsal surface of the lower forelimb covered with small granular scales of subequal size to those on the dorsum and intermixed with enlarged tubercles of subequal size to those on the nape, subimbricate scales of the upper forelimb extend anteriorly along the lower forelimb onto the dorsal surface of the manus; hind limbs relatively short; dorsal surface of the hind limbs and posterior thigh covered with small granular scales, dorsally widely interspersed with larger conical tubercles, largest being of equal size to the largest dorsal tubercles, ventral surfaces of hind limbs with flat imbricate to subimbricate scales; ventral surface of the manus and pes covered with smooth, rounded granular scales; digits relatively short, flattened, a small curved claw on all digital tips; distal phalanges elevated; lamellae numbering on left manus (total: divided) I (5: 2), II (6: 5), III (7: 5), IV (7: 4) and V (6: 3); and on left pes I (4: 2), II (7: 4), III (7: 5), IV (7: 5) and V (6: 4); basal subdigital lamellae narrow, enlarged lamellae series under digit IV of pes absent on basal ~20% digit length; interdigital webbing absent.

Tail completely original, distal half is detached but present; dorsally compressed and oval in cross section, longer than snout to vent length; slightly constricted at the base and tapering gradually to a narrow tip; post-cloacal hemipenal bulge distinct; two very small, conical cloacal spurs on each side; longitudinal middorsal furrow present on the tail, lateral furrow absent; median subcaudal series begin on the third tail segment consisting of transversely enlarged, smooth, subimbricate scales, approximately 30% tail width on the fourth segment only reaching approximately 80% tail width from the distal quarter of the tail length, laterally bordered by large posteriorly rounded subimbricate scales, size rapidly decreasing laterally and dorsally; tail segments are distinct for at least the proximal two thirds, becoming less distinct distally, first four segments with a transverse row of eight tubercles, followed by rows of six, dorsal most tail tubercles are domed to conical, laterally tail tubercles are erect conical spines anteriorly becoming obliquely pointed conical spines distally.

Colouration in preservative: Dorsal surfaces of the head, body, limbs and tail primarily mid brown. Dorsally with one middorsal and two dorsolateral longitudinal rows of barely distinguishable darker brown spots and blotches; dorsal surface of the head also with brown blotches and spots; two parallel stripes extend from the posterior edge of the orbit, the lower extending to the lower edge of the ear opening, the upper stripe reaching to half way between the orbit and the upper border of the ear opening; a brown canthal stripe from the supranasal to the anterior border of the orbit; the rostral, supra and infralabials with a large brown blotch on each scale; the upper surface of the forelimb manus and pes with fine brown mottling, the hind limb with scattered brown blotches; anteriorly the tail appears faintly mottled and faintly banded distally; entire ventral surface of the head, body, limbs and tail appear plain light beige, however under magnification individual scales have varying numbers of minute dark brown specks, most notably on the tail; precloacal-femoral pores are orange-brown.

Variation. Variation of major mensural and meristic characters are presented in table 1. Further difference from the lectotype include: contacting edges of first postmentals with each other are slightly longer than edges in contact with the mental, enlarged chin shields contacting the posterior edge of the first postmentals are replaced by slightly enlarged granular scales, secondary postmental pair in contact with first infralabials; first and third to fifth tail segments with a transverse row of eight tubercles, second segment with a row of nine and distal rows with six tubercles, lateral tail tubercles are not as pointed and more acutely angled posteriorly; no precloacal-femoral porebearing or pitted scales.

The original description is based on an unknown number of syntypes and characters which vary from specimens examined here are as follows: 13 precloacal-femoral pores on each thigh; 10–12 supralabials and 8–10 infralabials; 15–16 tubercle rows at midbody; a transverse row of 8–10 tubercles on the first segment of the tail; and 38–39 ventral scale rows. For colouration, it was not mentioned if the description provided was for live or preserved specimens ( Murray 1884a) and so is provided here “Colour pinkish grey, a greyish-white line from the nostril to the orbit, bordered by a dark line above and below; three dark lines radiating from behind the orbits, the uppermost curving behind and nearly meeting on the occiput, the next or central one extends from above the ear opening to the shoulder, and the third or lowest to below the ear opening. Back with 5 imperfect transverse bands. Tail with from 12 to 15 bands.”

Distribution. This species is currently known only with certainty from the original type locality as “Rantah forests in Sind, (Jerruck Division)”. Jerruck (25°3’0”N, 68°15’0”E) is currently situated in Hyderabad District, Sindh Province in southeastern Pakistan. They were collected under the bark of Babool (Acacia) trees ( Murray 1884a). The considerably less informative locality associated with the neotype is “Sind”.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Historical figures of the Hemidactylus brookii group taxa: A. H. brookii adult male lectotype (BMNH 1947.3.6.47) by present designation, from Gray (1867: Pl. 15, Fig. 2), later reprinted in Gray (1875: Pl. 15, Fig. 2); B. H. subtriedroides adult male paralectotype (ZSI 4135) by present designation, from Annandale (1905 b: Pl. II, Fig. 1); C. H. gleadowi not based on the original type series, from Boulenger (1890: 86, Fig. 27), later reprinted as H. brookii (Boulenger 1912: 42, Fig. 14; Smith 1935: 90, Fig. 28); D. H. gleadowi a syntype from Murray (1884 a: Fig. 3).