The herpetofauna of Timor-Leste: a first report Author Kaiser, Hinrich Department of Biology, Victor Valley College, 18422 Bear Valley Road, Victorville, California 92395, USA; and The Foundation for Post-Conflict Development, 245 Park Avenue, 24 th Floor, New York, New York 10167, USA chalcopis@yahoo.com Author Carvalho, Venancio Lopes Universidade National Timor-Lorosa'e, Faculdade de Ciencias da Educacao, Departamentu da Biologia, Avenida Cidade de Lisboa, Liceu Dr. Francisco Machado, Dili, Timor-Leste Author Ceballos, Jester Department of Biology, Victor Valley College, 18422 Bear Valley Road, Victorville, California 92395, USA; and The Foundation for Post-Conflict Development, 245 Park Avenue, 24 th Floor, New York, New York 10167, USA Author Freed, Paul 14149 S. Butte Creek Road, Scotts Mills, Oregon 97375, USA Author Heacox, Scott Department of Biology, Victor Valley College, 18422 Bear Valley Road, Victorville, California 92395, USA; and The Foundation for Post-Conflict Development, 245 Park Avenue, 24 th Floor, New York, New York 10167, USA Author Lester, Barbara 14149 S. Butte Creek Road, Scotts Mills, Oregon 97375, USA Author Richards, Stephen J. Conservation International, PO Box 1024, Atherton, Queensland 4883, Australia; and Herpetology Department, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia Author Trainor, Colin R. School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory 0909, Australia Author Sanchez, Caitlin Department of Biology, Victor Valley College, 18422 Bear Valley Road, Victorville, California 92395, USA; and The Foundation for Post-Conflict Development, 245 Park Avenue, 24 th Floor, New York, New York 10167, USA Author O'Shea, Mark West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY 12 1 LF, United Kingdom; and Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia text ZooKeys 2011 2011-06-20 109 19 86 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.109.1439 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.109.1439 1313-2970-109-19 FFDE6B4A96644D30FFD8FFEA7F28FFF8 577024 Hemidactylus frenatus Schlegel, 1836 Fig. 12 Common names. (E) Common Indo-Pacific House Gecko. *(T) Teki uma baibain (teki = small gecko, uma = house, baibain = common). Identification. See comments under Gehyra cf. mutilata . Collection and natural history. This species is the most commonly encountered gecko in Asia, and it has also become an established exotic in many places in the New World. As a perianthropic species, it is present on the walls or among the rafters of almost every building, and it is distributed at widely differing altitudes and on the edges of many different habitats. This species is among the several gecko species found in Timor-Leste that may have been introduced during prehistoric colonization or historical inter-island trade. The species appeared absent from pristine habitats such as undeveloped forests, whereas it does occur in coffee plantations. Figure 12. Individuals of Hemidactylus frenatus showing two distinctive color patterns. (Top) Specimen from near Baucau, Baucau District (USNM [CMD 526], SVL 47 mm, TL 90 mm) displaying a pattern of distinct dorsolateral stripes complemented by an interrupted, less distinct vertebral stripe. Note the regenerated tail and the bright orange mite infestation on the third toe, as well as an egg visible through the skin. (Bottom) Specimen from near Lore 1 village (USNM [CMD 488], SVL 42 mm, TL 89 mm) with a cryptic dorsal pattern. Photos by Mark O'Shea .