geckos

Geckos are considered to be the most primitive living saurian in Sri Lanka. Ferguson (1877) recorded sixteen species of geckos in his book ‘Reptile Fauna of Ceylon’, which is the first comprehensive and fully annotated list of the Sri Lankan herpetofauna. Subsequently Deraniyagala (1930) and Taylor (1953) described 15 species in eight genera and 20 species in eight genera, respectively. Again in 1953, Deraniyagala increased the number of species+ subspecies to 19 in the volume II of the Colored atlas of vertebrates of Ceylon. In recent literature Manamendra-Arachchi (1997) considered the Sri Lankan gecko wealth to be 19 living forms, and after several additions De Silva (2006) lists 25 taxa in his checklist. With the description of several new Cnemaspis species in 2007, the total number now have rose to 42 (De Silva, 2006; Bauer et al, 2007; Wickramasinghe & Munindradasa, 2007; Manamendra-Arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007).

Genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887

The gecko genus Cnemaspis is the only genus which contains purely diurnal geckos in Sri Lanka, thus are commonly called ‘Day geckos’. 21 species have been described so far and few more new species have been discovered and await description. These geckos are crepuscular, usually found on rock faces, large trees and occasionally under stones and logs. They are more often found in pairs and territorial behavior has been observed in males. Some species lay two fused eggs separatly but others do communal nesting (visit Project Cnemaspis).

Several taxonomical changes/ new species descriptions have taken place in this genus during last couple of years. 17 new species have been added to the list (during a single year) making this genus the most species-rich reptile genus in Sri Lanka. Additionally, Cnemaspis ranwellai Wickramasinghe, 2006 is now considered as a junior synonym of C. scalpensis. For more information on the new species refer to the following papers.

1. Bauer, A.M., de Silva, A., Greenbaum, E. & Jackman, T. 2007. A new species of day gecko from high elevation in Sri Lanka, with a preliminary phylogeny of Sri Lankan Cnemaspis (Reptilia, Squamata, Gekkonidae). Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl., Zool. Reihe 83, Supplement, 22–32 / DOI 10.1002/mmnz.200600022

2. Wickramasinghe, L.J.M. & Munindradasa, D. A. I. 2007. Review of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) in Sri Lanka with the description of five new species. Zootaxa 1490, 63 pp.

3. Manamendra-Arachchi, K., Batuwita, S. & Pethiyagoda, R. 2007. A taxonomic revision of the Sri Lankan day-geckos (Reptilia: Gekkonidae: Cnemaspis), with description of new species from Sri Lanka and Southern India. Zeylanica.7(1): 9-122. Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka.

Cnemaspis alwisi Wickramasinghe & Munindradasa, 2007 ; Alwis’s day gecko (E) ; Alwisge diva huna (S) Endemic
Cnemaspis amith Manamendra-Arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007 Endemic
Cnemaspis clivicola Manamendra-Arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007 Endemic
Cnemaspis gemunu (Bauer et al, 2007) Endemic
Cnemaspis kallima Manamendra-Arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007 Endemic
Cnemaspis kandiana (Kelaart, 1852) ; Kandyan Daygecko (E) ; Kandukara Divasarihuna (S) Endemic
Cnemaspis kumarasinghei Wickramasinghe & Munindradasa, 2007 ; Kumarasinghe’s day gecko (E) ; Kumarasinhage diva huna (S) Endemic
Cnemaspis latha Manamendra-Arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007 Endemic
Cnemaspis menikay Manamendra-Arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007 Endemic
Cnemaspis molligodai Wickramasinghe & Munindradasa, 2007 ; Molligoda’s day gecko (E) ; Molligodage diva huna (S) Endemic
Cnemaspis pava Manamendra-Arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007 Endemic
Cnemaspis phillipsi Manamendra-Arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007 Endemic
Cnemaspis podihuna Deraniyagala, 1944 ; Dwarf Daygecko (E) ; Kuda Divasarihuna (S) Endemic
Cnemaspis pulchra Manamendra-Arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007 Endemic
Cnemaspis punctata Manamendra-Arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007 Endemic
Cnemaspis retigalensis Wickramasinghe & Munindradasa, 2007 ; Retigala day gecko (E) ; Retigala diva Huna (S) Endemic
Cnemaspis samanalensis Wickramasinghe & Munindradasa, 2007 ; Samanala day gecko (E) ; Samanala kandu diva huna (S) Endemic
Cnemaspis scalpensis (Ferguson, 1877) ; Jerdon’s Daygecko (E) ; Jerdonge Divasarihuna (S) Endemic
Cnemaspis silvula Manamendra-Arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007 Endemic
Cnemaspis tropidogaster (Boulenger, 1885) ; Rough-belly Daygecko (E) ; Ralodara Divasarihuna (S) Endemic
Cnemaspis upendrai Manamendra-Arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007 Endemic

Genus Calodactylodes Strand, 1926

The only member of this genus in the country is the endemic Sri Lankan Golden Gecko (Calodactylodes illingworthorum) which is distributed in few widely separated locations in the southeast dry zone of the country. It inhabits large boulder-dominant rock faces and caves. It’s a social gecko usually found in groups of 3-11 animals, and is nocturnal in behavior. Communal nesting places are used and several females revisit them each season.

Calodactylodes illingworthorum Deraniyagala, 1953 ; Sri Lanka Golden Gecko (E) ; Mahagal huna (S) Endemic

Genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827

Till 2005 this genus was considered to be represented in Sri Lanka by only one species, the endemic Great Forest Gecko (Cyrtodactylus fraenatus), which was the second largest gecko species in the country attaining lengths of approximately 200 mm (the largest gecko is Hemidactylus maculatus hunae at around 230 mm). Now the species have been split in to six (with five new species) and they have restricted distributions i.e. C. cracens and C. subsolanus in Sinharaja, C. edwardtaylori from Namunukula, C. ramboda in north-western slopes of the central hills and C. soba in Knuckles range. The earlier C. fraenatus is distributed in the hills around Kandy. They inhabits a wide range of habitats including houses, caves, large trees, wall crevices etc. These nocturnal geckos are comparatively slow and inactive in behavior. Three to six hard-shelled eggs are buried in the ground. It has been observed in captivity to feed on small chicks and pink mice.

Cyrtodactylus fraenatus (Günther, 1864); Bridled Bent-toed Gecko (E) ; Mahakele huna (S) Endemic
Cyrtodactylus cracens (Batuwita & Bahir, 2005); Sinharaja Bent-toed Gecko (E); Sinharaja wakniya huna (S) Endemic
Cyrtodactylus subsolanus (Batuwita & Bahir, 2005); Rakwana Bent-toed Gecko (E); Rakwana wakniya huna (S) Endemic
Cyrtodactylus edwardtaylori (Batuwita & Bahir, 2005); Taylor's Bent-toed Gecko (E); Taylorge wakniya huna (S) Endemic
Cyrtodactylus ramboda (Batuwita & Bahir, 2005); Ramboda Bent-toed Gecko (E); Ramboda wakniya huna (S) Endemic
Cyrtodactylus soba (Batuwita & Bahir, 2005); Knuckles Bent-toed Gecko (E); Dumbara wakniya huna (S) Endemic

Genus Geckoella Gray, 1867

These are nocturnal, ground dwelling species. The Spotted Bow-finger Gecko (Geckoella triedra) is mainly restricted to the wet zone rain forests. However, we have also discovered specimens in the vicinity of human settlements and anthropogenic vegetation. Favorite niches are leaf litter and tree buttresses. Usually two eggs are stuck to the underside of large rocks. Geckoella yakhuna is the only endemic gecko restricted to the dry zone of the country. It’s a slow mowing, terrestrial species inhabiting damp, rotten timber and heaps of dead leaves. Body colour pattern largely varies among individuals. The status of the other species of the genus, Geckolla collegalensis, is doubtful as some herpetologists have considered it to be a colour variety of G. yakhuna. Das & De Silva (2005) have not included this species in their checklist.

Geckoella collegalensis (Beddome, 1870) ; Collegal Rockgecko (E) ; Collegalge Vakaniyahuna (S)
Geckoella triedra (Günther, 1864) ; Spotted Bowfinger Gecko (E) ; Pulli Vakaniyahuna (S) Endemic
Geckoella yakhuna (Deraniyagala, 1945) ; Blotch Bowfinger Gecko (E) ; Lapavan Vakaniyahuna (S) Endemic

Genus Hemidactylus Oken, 1817

The name ‘Hemidactylus’ meaning ‘Half fingered’ (Hemi=half , daktylos=toe) is due to the longitudinally bi-divide lamella in the proximal half of the fingers. It is the largest gecko genus in the country and is represented here by eight species, of which three taxa are endemic to the island. All Hemidactylus species in the country can produce sound which differs according to the species. Other than for Hemidactylus scabriceps and Hemidactylus platyurus whose status is unclear, all other species in the country have been found inside or within human habitations. The first record of a Hemidactylus species preying on a snake (Lycodon sp.) has been documented (Somaweera, 2004). The current distribution of Sri Lanka’s Hemidactylus gecko fauna was assessed, based on 2000–2005 field work by me and my co-worker Menids Wickramasinghe where six out of the eight species were recorded. The results conclude that two species have been subjected to extensions in their distribution ranges, while a single species has met a probable long-term range reduction, all due to anthropogenic activities. In three others, no prominent change in the distribution range has taken place although the two species seem to increase in abundance, again due to human activities (Wickramasinghe & Somaweera, 2006). In their recent paper, Carranza and Arnold (2006) assigned Cosymbotus platyurus into the Hemidactylus genus, and redefined it as Hemidactylus platyurus. It's only known from Sri Lanka by two specimens sent to the British Museum by Kelaart in 1855. Deraniyagala (1932 & 1953) doubts the collection location and states that they may be not from Sri Lanka at all. Taylor (1953) mentions that he saw no specimens and according to Das & De Silva (2005) there are no recent records of this species from Sri Lanka. Hence it is felt that further studies are needed to confirm its status.

Hemidactylus brookii parvimaculatus Deraniyagala, 1953 ; Spotted House Gecko (E) ; Pulli Gehuna (S) Endemic sub-species
Hemidactylus depressus Gray, 1842 ; Kandyan Gecko (E) ; Halege huna (S) Endemic
Hemidactylus frenatus Schlegel, 1836 ; Common House Gecko (E) ; Sulaba Gehuna (S)
Hemidactylus leschenaultii Dumeril & Bibron, 1836 ; Bark Gecko (E) ; Kimbul Huna (S)
Hemidactylus maculatus hunae Deraniyagala, 1937 ; Spotted Giant Gecko (E) ; Davantha Tit Huna (S) Endemic sub-species
Hemidactylus platyrus (Schneider, 1792) ; Frill-tailed Gecko (E) ; Nagutavakarali huna (S)
Hemidactylus scabriceps (Annandale, 1906) ; Scaly Gecko (E) ; Korapothu Huna (S)
Hemidactylus triedrus lankae Deraniyagala, 1953 ; Termite-hill Gecko (E) ; Humbas Huna (S) Endemic sub-species

Genus Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860

The Slender Gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus typus) is an eccentric species that can be easily identified by its lean appearance. The species can be considered rare in the wild, but though uncommon occurs also inside houses mainly in the lowland wet zone. Unlike the adults, which are dull in colour, the juveniles are very colorful and have a purple colour body and an orange tail.

Hemiphyllodactylus typus Bleeker, 1860 ; Slender Gecko (E) ; Sihin huna (S)

Genus Lepidodactylus Fitzinger, 1843

The Scaly-Fingered Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris) is a buff-yellow colored gecko, which moves comparatively very slow when compared with the other species, even when handling. It is often seen with its tail curled, as in the picture. Lepidodactylus lugubris consists of many unisexual lineages. The all-female populations reproduce by parthenogenesis (the females are capable to produce young without male fertilization).

Lepidodactylus lugubris (Dumeril & Bibron, 1836); Scaly-finger Gecko (E) ; Salkapa Huna (S).

Genus Gehyra Gray, 1834

The four-clawed gecko (Gehyra mutilata) is a soft-bodied gecko found in houses almost everywhere in Sri Lanka and can be easily identified by the flat tail in the shape of a ‘carrot’. Gehyra mutilata can self-mutilate it self by loosening the skin when caught, which gives it a dead appearance.

Gehyra mutilata (Wiegmann, 1834) ; Fourclaw Gecko (E) ; Chaturanguli huna (S)