Hemidactylus boavistensis boavistensis, boavistensis, 2020

Vasconcelos, Raquel, Köhler, Gunther, Geniez, Philippe & Crochet, Pierre-André, 2020, A new endemic species of Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from São Nicolau Island, Cabo Verde, Zootaxa 4878 (3), pp. 501-522 : 518

Hemidactylus boavistensis boavistensis comb. nov. Boulenger, 1906

Name-bearing types. The description is based on several specimens from Boavista, from sea level to 600 m high (although the maximum elevation of Boavista is circa 360 m) collected by L. Fea and sent to the NHMUK . The following six specimens in the NHMUK collection were all collected by Fea on Boavista and are thus all syntypes: NHMUK 1946.8.25.68-73.

Type locality. Boavista Island , Cabo Verde Archipelago .

Diagnosis. Very similar to H. b. chevalieri , but usually with four to five lamellas under the first finger according to Angel (1935). Angel (1935) also claims that the transverse bands on the head and nape are usually more marked, but we found this to be highly variable and of little use for identification (see Fig. 7 ). Even though dorsal colouration is highly variable, Boavista individuals are usually lighter than Sal ones.

Distribution. Boavista Island and adjacent islets.

Conservation status. Not Evaluated. Threatened by ongoing touristic development on Boavista such as beach resorts, as the favourable habitat of this gecko is coastal areas with sand and dunes, and it seems avoiding urban and heavily-developed areas ( Vasconcelos 2013a). Other authors ( López-Jurado et al. 1999) reported disappearance of this gecko in areas where the introduced house gecko Hemidactylus angulatus occurs. This exotic gecko is widespreading and now it also occurs, apart from anthropogenic habitats, in natural areas on Boavista, posing a threat to the endemic Hemidactylus ( Vasconcelos et al. 2013) . In addition, climate change may worsen the ongoing drought conditions in this island, negatively affecting Boavista leaf-toed geckos ( Vasconcelos 2013a).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Photos of live specimens of Hemidactylus boavistensis boavistensis (top left, A–C) versus H. b. chevalieri (top right, D–F), and H. bouvieri (bottom left, G–I) versus H. nicolauensis (bottom right, J–L). All photos by PG, GK, RV and PAC. A) Adult female from 1 km E of Sal Rei, Boavista (PGe.1479); B) adult male from 3 km E of Sal Rei, Boavista (PGe.1485); C) subadult female from 1 km E of Sal Rei, Boavista (PGe.1481); D) adult from 1 km SE Santa Maria, Sal (PGe.1499); E) adult from Buracona, Sal (PGe.1507); F) adult from 1 km ESE Santa Maria, Sal (PGe.1500); G) adult from Chã do Castelo, Raso (H28; PGe.1476); H) adult from Praia Grande, Calhau, São Vicente (Hrv3); I) adult from Lombo de Diogo, Santo Antão (Hrv1); J) adult female from Cachaço, São Nicolau (H06; BEV.T5651); K) adult female from Cachaço, São Nicolau (H07; BEV.T5652); L) adult female from Ribeira Funda, São Nicolau (UCV2018/004, paratype).