Hemidactylus brookii Gray, 1845

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, Zootaxa 5287 (1), pp. 1-378 : 110-111

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:78E23714-8973-4755-BC94-0A751D7D2B37

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7967824

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/88502B73-FFF7-B818-FF6B-40FF7ABB0902

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Hemidactylus brookii Gray, 1845
status

 

Hemidactylus brookii Gray, 1845 View in CoL — Non-native; Established.

Hemidactylus Brookii Gray, 1845: 153 View in CoL . Lectotype: BMNH 1947.3 .6.47 (formerly BM RR1934.9.1.49[.21. a]), designated by Mahony (2011: 46); paralectotype: BMNH 1947.3.6.49 (formerly BM RR1934.9.1.51[.21.b]), designated by Mahony (2011: 46). Type locality:“Borneo” and “ Australia ”; later restricted to “ Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo”, East Malaysia via lectotype designation.

Brooke’s House Gecko

( Figure 13E View FIGURE 13 ; Neo Tiew Road)

Singapore records.

Hemidactylus maculatus View in CoL — Ģnther, 1864: 108.

Hemidactylus gleadovii — Flower, 1896: 865.—Ridley, 1899: 206.

Hemidactylus brookii View in CoL — Boulenger, 1912: 42.—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 150.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 2002: 150.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 168.—L.L. Grismer, 2011b: 476, 478.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 168.— Groenewoud, D. & I.S. Law, 2016b: 60 (Admiralty Park).

Hemidactylus brooki — de Rooij, 1917: 32.—Sworder, 1925a: 64.— Smith, 1935: 91.

Hemidactylus brookii brookii — Denzer & Manthey, 1991: 315.

Remarks. Considered a species complex with a global distribution, H. brookii sensu stricto has been delineated to only occur in Asia ( Carranza & Arnold 2006), specifically in countries east of the Indus River Valley where it is regarded as uncommon (Zug et al. 2007). For a review of H. brookii’s complicated taxonomic history, consult Bauer et al. (2010), Mahony (2011), and Lajmi et al. (2016). Ģnther (1864) first documented the presence of H. brookii in Singapore from specimens at NHMUK, but curiously, Boulenger (1885) seemed not to have examined the specimens. Later, where he defined the range of H. brookii, Boulenger (1912) stated that it was “recorded from Singapore ”, perhaps acknowledging Ģnther’s (1864) record. Sworder (1925a) doubted the occurrence of H. brookii based on the absence of voucher specimens and no records aside from Ģnther (1864). In fact, H. brookii was not documented again in Singapore until 152 years later on 4 February 2016 ( Table 2 View TABLE 2 ), when four individuals were observed at Admiralty Park ( Groenewoud & Law 2016b). Groenewoud & Law (2016b) presumed the individuals were introduced given the absence in records and the presence of erosion-control coconut mats in the park. However, BMNH 1956.1.11.21 was collected in 1956 by Romer, and UF 91874 was collected by Cathcart prior to 1968. Considered indeterminate in Singapore ( Baker & Lim 2012), we believe this is not the case based on the aforementioned records, and personal observations at East Coast Park, Katong, Keppel Club, Kranji Dam, Lavender, Neo Tiew Road ( Fig. 13E View FIGURE 13 ), Pang Sua Park Connector in Choa Chu Kang, Sungei Kadut Drive, and Tengah Forest (A. Figueroa pers. obs.). We believe H. brookii may have gone unnoticed as observers may have confused it with other gecko species, specifically H. frenatus , since the two species superficially resemble one another.

Occurrence. Ubiquitous outside of forested areas. Uncommon.

Singapore conservation status. Not Applicable.

Conservation priority. None, non-native species.

IUCN conservation status. Least Concern [2019].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): BMNH 1956.1.11.21 (no date).

Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): UF.

Singapore localities. Admiralty Park—East Coast Park—Katong—Keppel Club—Kranji Dam—Lavender—Neo Tiew Road—Pang Sua—Sungei Kadut Drive—Tengah Forest.

NHMUK

Natural History Museum, London

UF

Florida Museum of Natural History- Zoology, Paleontology and Paleobotany

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Squamata

Family

Gekkonidae

Genus

Hemidactylus

Loc

Hemidactylus brookii Gray, 1845

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P. 2023
2023
Loc

Hemidactylus brookii brookii

Denzer, W. & Manthey, U. 1991: 315
1991
Loc

Hemidactylus brooki

de Rooij, N. 1917: 32
1917
Loc

Hemidactylus brookii

Grismer, L. L. 2011: 476
Lim, K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. 2002: 150
Chou L. M. & Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. 1994: 105
Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. 1992: 150
Boulenger, G. A. 1912: 42
1912
Loc

Hemidactylus gleadovii

Flower, S. S. 1896: 865
1896
Loc

Hemidactylus maculatus

Gnther, A. C. L. G. 1864: 108
1864
Loc

Hemidactylus Brookii

Gray, J. E. 1845: 153
1845
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