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

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

Hemidactylus Brookii Gray, 1845: 153 . 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 ; Neo Tiew Road)

Singapore records.

Hemidactylus maculatus — Ģnther, 1864: 108.

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

Hemidactylus brookii — 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 ), 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 ), 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.

Figures

FIGURE 13. A) Gekko horsfieldii, B) Gekko hulk, C) Gekko kuhli, D) Gekko monarchus, E) Hemidactylus brookii, F) Hemidactylus craspedotus, G) Hemidactylus frenatus, and H) Hemidactylus platyurus. Photographs by: Evan S.H. Quah [A], Francis L.K. Lim [B], Kelvin K.P. Lim [C, G], Alex Figueroa [D, H], Joys Tan [E], and Holly Siow [F].