Dierogekko Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier & Whitaker, 2006

Bauer, Aaron M., Jackman, Todd R., Sadlier, Ross A. & Whitaker, Anthony H., 2012, Revision of the giant geckos of New Caledonia (Reptilia: Diplodactylidae: Rhacodactylus), Zootaxa 3404, pp. 1-52 : 15

Dierogekko Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier & Whitaker, 2006

Content. Dierogekko validiclavis ( Sadlier, 1989) , D. inexpectatus Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier & Whitaker, 2006 , D. insularis Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier & Whitaker, 2006 , D. kaalaensis Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier & Whitaker, 2006 , D. koniambo Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier & Whitaker, 2006 , D. nehoueensis Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier & Whitaker, 2006 ( Fig. 3 B), D. poumensis Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier & Whitaker, 2006 , D. thomaswhitei Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier & Whitaker, 2006 .

Type species. Bavayia validiclavis Sadlier, 1989 by original designation.

Diagnosis. Dierogekko may be distinguished from all other New Caledonian diplodactylid geckos by the following combination of character states: body size very small (<46 mm SVL); head small; tail 92–120% of SVL; dorsal scalation granular, homogeneous; body without extensive skin webs or flaps; expanded subdigital lamellae under all toes; lamellae under penultimate phalanx of digits II–V of manus and pes paired or single; claw of digit I of manus and pes in a groove in the apical lamella between a larger medial scansor and a smaller lateral scansor; precloacal pores in one or two rows in males (10–20 pores in total), not extending onto thighs; dorsal pattern of longitudinal lines or series of spots or patternless, never with transverse markings; venter usually cream to light brown, sometimes pale yellow.

Distribution. Dierogekko is restricted to northern New Caledonia, with populations extending up the west coast from the Massif de Koniambo to Poum and on the Panié massif (Mt. Mandjélia and Mt. Panié) on the east coast. It is also known from the northern islands of Île Yandé and Île Baaba, and on Île Art and Île Pott in the Îles Belep. It is likely that its distribution is more continuous across this region than existing data show.

Remarks. See Bauer and Sadlier (2000) and Bauer et al. (2006b) for detailed information on members of this genus. Additional field work in northern New Caledonia has revealed a new species of Dierogekko on Île Baaba and hitherto unexpected genetic variation in D. koniambo (Skipwith et al. submitted).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Representatives of each of the eight genera of endemic New Caledonian diplodactylid geckos. A. Oedodera marmorata. B. Dierogekko nehoueensis. C. Bavayia pulchella. D. Paniegekko madjo. E. Eurydactylodes occidentalis. F. Rhacodactylus leachianus. G. Correlophus belepensis sp. nov. H. Mniarogekko jalu sp. nov. Photos A, E, G – H by A. H. Whitaker, photo B by A. M. Bauer, photos C – D by R. A. Sadlier. Photo F courtesy of Mark O’Shea.