The herpetofauna of the Kei Islands (Maluku, Indonesia): Comprehensive report on new and historical collections, biogeographic patterns, conservation concerns, and an annotated checklist of species from Kei Kecil, Kei Besar, Tam, and Kur
Author
Karin, Benjamin R.
Author
Stubbs, Alexander L.
Author
Arifin, Umilaela
Author
Bloch, Luke M.
Author
Ramadhan, G.
Author
Iskandar, Djoko T.
Author
Arida, Evy
Author
Reilly, Sean B.
Author
Kusnadi, Agus
Author
Mcguire, Jimmy A.
text
Raffles Bulletin of Zoology
2018
2018-11-19
66
704
738
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.5363075
2345-7600
5363075
DC2B423B-55FE-4F92-985E-39F5A61EE04C
Gekko monarchus
(
Schlegel, 1836
)
Type
locality.
Ambon
,
Indonesia
.
Distribution in the Kei Islands.
We found no
Gekko monarchus
on the Kei Islands, though it was previously reported present by
Roux (1910)
and
de Rooij (1915)
. The WAM expedition collected
G. monarchus
from Kei Besar, and
Roux (1910)
collected it from Kei Dulah.
Natural history.
This is a common human commensal across Southeast Asia. Found at night on human structures with dim lighting, feeding on insects and other geckos.
Field identification.
This species is distinguished from
Gekko vittatus
populations in
Maluku
by its more mottled colouration and lack of a white dorsal stripe bifurcating at the neck. Dorsal colouration mottled grey to tan. All digits possess a claw, have little to no webbing, are slightly dilated, and possess undivided scansors. Tail cylindrical, sometimes with dark bands especially pronounced in juveniles. Across its range, males possess a series of 32–40 femoral pores, SVL to
95 mm
, tail to
110 mm
(
de Rooij, 1915
, p. 54–55).