Hemidactylus subtriedroides Annandale, 1905

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 : 43

Hemidactylus subtriedroides Annandale, 1905

Hemidactylus subtriedroides was described from northern Burma (= Myanmar) based on two male specimens in the collection of the ZSI, which were previously misidentified as H. maculatus by Anderson (1879), the collector of the syntypes. One specimen was transferred to BMNH in 1906. Annandale’s short description was composed primarily of comparing H. subtriedroides with H. subtriedrus , a species which he considered to be the most similar in appearance. He even acknowledged H. brookii , vaguely stating that his new species differed by possessing a flatter and broader tail base, and that “The bulk is greater than that of H. Brookii Gray, the dorsal tubercles are larger and the whole animal is more depressed. The proportions are also different.” Annandale was mostly correct in this statement if considering H. brookii s.s., however due to the subjectivity of his comparison without quantifiable evidence, and perhaps more importantly, because one of the syntypes of H. brookii s.l. represented this species, it was later synonymised without discussion ( Smith 1935). Loveridge (1941) appeared to recognise that this species was not typical of his concept of H. brookii and elevated it from synonymy to subspecific status as H. brookii subtriedroides , but also provided no justification for his action. Having examined both syntypes as part of this study it is clear that this is a distinct species from H. brookii s.s. It is here redescribed based on the BMNH syntype which is designated as the lectotype in accordance with Article 75.1 of the Code. The figure of Hemidactylus subtriedroides published soon after the original description ( Annandale 1905b:Pl. II, Fig. 1 ) clearly depicts a specimen with an original tail, and thus is likely based on the paralectotype specimen designated here (ZSI 4135: Fig. 2 B). The reason for choosing the BMNH specimen as the lectotype, is that the preservation of the ZSI syntype is of a lower quality, with signs that this specimen is now, or was in the past not maintained in 70% ethanol, leading to minor soft tissue degradation. See subsequent section of H. tenkatei for further discussion regarding the taxonomic status of this species.

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).

FIGURE 2. A. Hemidactylus brookii adult male lectotype (BMNH 1947.3.6.47) by present designation; B. H. gleadowi adult male neotype (BMNH [18] 84.7.25.8) by present designation; C. H. subtriedroides adult male lectotype (BMNH 1946.8.25.54) by present designation; D. H. kushmorensis adult male neotype (BMNH [18] 87.9.22.8) by present designation. E & F. Ventral view of the original tails showing the difference of subcaudal proportions and tail shape between the “ litter-dwelling ” and “ rock-dwelling ” morphotypes: E. H. kushmorensis adult male neotype (BMNH [18] 87.9.22.8); F. H. tenkatei adult male (BMNH 1926.10.30.47) from Timor.