Systematics and biogeography of the widespread Neotropical gekkonid genus Thecadactylus (Squamata), with the description of a new cryptic species Author Bergmann, Philip J. Author Russell, Anthony P. text Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 2007 2007-03-31 149 3 339 370 https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2007.00251.x journal article 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2007.00251.x 0024-4082 5429060 REDEFINITION OF T. RAPICAUDA (HOUTTUYN) The loss of the original holotype of Thecadactylus rapicauda ( Hoogmoed, 1973 ) and the current description of T. solimoensis , rendering the genus polytypic, necessitates the designation of a new type series for T. rapicauda ( ICZN, 1999 : article 75), based on specimens from the likely original type locality ( Hoogmoed, 1973 ). It is undisputed that the lost holotype of T. rapicauda originated from outside of the range of T. solimoensis ( Hoogmoed, 1973 ; Avila-Pires, 1995 ). Published descriptions of T. rapicauda ( Daudin, 1802 ; Beebe, 1944 ; Vanzolini, 1968 ; Hoogmoed, 1973 ; Schwartz & Henderson, 1991 ; Avila-Pires, 1995 ; Breuil, 2002 ; Russell & Bauer, 2002a ) remain valid. Although individuals of this species may possess a postocular stripe, this is virtually never directed dorsally (see above). The distribution of T. rapicauda is also reduced in light of the description of a second species (see below). Material examined : Neotype : RMNH-16267. Male, collected 4.xii.1955 by D. C. Geijskes from Republeik, Surinam . Description: ( Fig. 7B ) 119 mm SVL, 73 mm TL, 37 mm HL, 24 mm HW, 4 mm IND; regenerated tail, only slightly broader than more proximal stump and regularly streaked; 4 nasal granules, dorsalmost enlarged; internasals with broad contact medially; 14 supralabials, 7 anterior to the eye; 13 infralabials; rostral partly divided; 10 spinose supraciliaries; postmentals elongate; 6 post-postmentals, medial one enlarged; 10 post-infralabials; dorsal forearm, tail base and ventral neck scales granular; hind limb web scales imbricate; 1 single-apexed, tuberculate cloacal spur; cloacal sacs absent; total manual lamellae on digits I, IV and V, 17, 23 and 19, respectively; total pedal lamellae on digits I, IV and V, 15, 24, 21, respectively; scansors on manual and pedal digits IV, 11 and 12, respectively; subdigital sulcus divides all lamellae on manual digit II, but only some on digit I; lateral stripe absent; dorsal colour and pattern light, mottled, with no diamonds; paravertebral spots absent; nuchal spot absent; postocular stripes project posterolaterally, but do not continue as a series of spots; 12 teeth occluded by rostral; 26 presacral, 2 cervical vertebrae without ribs; 23 ribs, 3 anterior to medial level of clavicles, 5 shortened; cloacal bones absent; paraphalanges visible in radiographs. Characters not included here, but included for the description of the holotype of T. solimoensis , represent data that could not be obtained from any T. rapicauda specimens. Neoparatypes : RMNH-5651: male with regenerated tail from Paramaribo , Surinam ; RMNH-16259: male with regenerated tail from Paramaribo , Surinam ; RMNH-16279: female with regenerated tail from Republeik, Surinam : RMNH-16280: male with original tail from Republeik, Surinam ; RMNH-26478: female with autotomized tail from Paramaribo , Surinam . Referred specimens : All those listed in Appendix 1 and not assigned to T. solimoensis . Distribution : The distribution of Thecadactylus to the exclusion of areas inhabited by T. solimoensis : Yucatan in Mexico, south to southern Colombia on both sides of the Andes, extending east in Venezuela , Guyana , Surinam , French Guyana , Brazilian Roraima, Brazilian Pará, and all of the Lesser Antilles to the exclusion of the Puerto Rican bank (but including Necker Island) and Barbados .