Lepidodactylus lugubris (Duméril & Bibron, 1836)

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, Zootaxa 5287 (1), pp. 1-378 : 116-117

Lepidodactylus lugubris (Duméril & Bibron, 1836) — Non-native; Established.

Platydactylus Lugubris A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1836: 304–305 . Lectotype:MNHN-RA 5323, designated by Wells & Wellington (1985: 13). Type locality: “l’île d’Otaïti” (= Tahiti), Polynesia.

Mourning Gecko

( Figure 14B ; Sime Road Forest)

Singapore records.

Lepidodactylus lugubris —Sworder, 1924a: 16, 20 (Pulau Hantu).—L.M. Chou et al., 1980: 71.—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 55.— Denzer & Manthey, 1991: 315.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 150.—K.K.P. Lim, 1993a: 4 (Newton [“boot of car”).—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—J.K.Y. Low et al., 1994: 158.—R. Subaraj, 1995: 33, 36 (Pulau Ubin).— Karns et al., 2002: 488 (Pasir Ris Park Mangroves).—K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 2002: 150.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 82, 160.— P.K.L. Ng et al., 2008: 82.— Das, 2010: 223.—L.L. Grismer, 2011b: 512, 513.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 323.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 82, 160.— Ang et al., 2012: 56 (Hort Park). K.W. Chan, 2013c: 108, 109 (Clementi Central [Clementi Avenue 3]).—L.L. Grismer et al., 2013b: 852.—L.L. Grismer et al., 2014c: 9.—S. Subaraj, 2015: 7 (Night Safari).— Lapwong & Juthong, 2018, 144, 150.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2016: 177 (Pulau Tekong).—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2019: 130, 133 (Kent Ridge Park; National University of Singapore Kent Ridge Campus).—Allain & Goodman, 2020: 217, 218 ( Singapore Botanic Gardens [Rain Forest]).— Mohamad Azlin, 2020: 7 (Hort Park).— Janssen & Sy, 2022: 99, 162.

Remarks. Lepidodactylus lugubris is a parthenogenetic species comprising several genetically distinct diploid and triploid clonal lineages that originated through hybridisation between two species likely at Arno Atoll in the Marshall Islands (Radtkey et al. 1995). Native to several of the Pacific Islands, L. lugubris now boasts a global distribution as it has been transported all over the world via human means, where it can easily establish itself by way of parthenogenesis ( Lapwong & Juthong 2018). The first record of L. lugubris from Singapore was a specimen Sworder (1924a) found under loose bark on a tree at Pulau Hantu. The next record of L. lugubris from Singapore, and the first record for the mainland, came 56 years later ( Table 2 ) when Chou et al. (1980) mentioned it was found in mangroves. Lepidodactylus lugubris again went unreported for another 13 years until one was found in the boot of a car in Newton of May 1993 ( Lim 1993a). Museum records all post-date this specimen. This lead Lapwong & Juthong (2018) to believe that L. lugubris was introduced into Singapore around the early 1990s.

Using photographs from iNaturalist, Lapwong & Juthong (2018) identified the variant occurring in Singapore as “clone A” from Ineich (1988). They also mentioned that clone C also occurs in Singapore referencing Fig. 4.11 in Ang et al. (2012), but suggested that it is not as common as “clone A” since it appears less tolerant of rural areas. A preliminary inspection of assorted photographs shows that both clones occur in Singapore, and that there appears to be no partitioning between the clones in habitat use. Clearly, a detailed studied is required to identify all the clones occurring in Singapore and to assess their relative population sizes. Lepidodactylus lugubris has only been reported eight more times in the literature, leading Baker & Lim (2012) to classify it as rare. As L. lugubris occupies the same niches as Singapore’s other “house” geckos, its perceived uncommonness may be due to it being outcompeted given its smaller size. Nonetheless, we do not find L. lugubris to be rare in Singapore.

Occurrence. Ubiquitous. Common.

Singapore conservation status. Least Concern.

Conservation priority. Lowest.

IUCN conservation status. Least Concern [2021].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Changi : ZRC.2.5072 (Mar-2001) ; Greenbank Park: ZRC.2.3470 (Oct-1995) , ZRC.2.4621 (1997), ZRC.2.4645– ZRC.2.4646 (Dec-1999) , ZRC.2.5259 (29-Sep-2001) , ZRC.2.5634 (10-Feb-2003) ; Kent Ridge [ NUS] : ZRC.2.4772 (16-Dec-1997) , ZRC.2.4771 (Apr-2000) , ZRC.2.5635 (Feb-2003) ; Kranji Marshes: ZRC.2.5724 (15-Jul-2003) ; Newton : ZRC.2.3379 (May-1993) ; Pasir Ris Park Mangroves: ZRC.2.4846– ZRC.2.4847 (27-Dec-2000) ; Pulau Tekong: ZRC.2.6141 (05- Aug-2005) ; St. John’s Island : ZRC.2.6489 (15-Nov-2006) .

Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens.

Singapore localities. Changi—Clementi Avenue 3—Greenbank Park—Hort Park—Kent Ridge Park—Kranji Marshes—Lower Peirce Forest—National University of Singapore Kent Ridge Campus—Newton—Night Safari—Pasir Ris Park Mangroves—Pulau Hantu—Pulau Tekong—Pulau Ubin—Saint John’s Island— Sime Road Forest—Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Family Iguanidae Bell, 1826 (1 species)

Iguanidae Bell, 1826: 204–206 (type genus Iguana Laurenti, 1768 ).

Genus Iguana Laurenti, 1768 (1 species)

Iguana Laurenti, 1768: 47 (type species: Iguana tuberculata Laurenti, 1768 , by subsequent designation by Burt & Burt, 1933: 26; gender feminine).

Figures

FIGURE 4. A) Ichthyophis paucisulcus, B) Duttaphrynus bengalensis, C) Ingerophrynus quadriporcatus, D) Pelophryne ingeri, E) Fejervarya cancrivora, F) Fejervarya limnocharis, G) Limnonectes blythii, and H) Limnonectes malesianus. Photographs by: Cai Yixiong [A], Alex Figueroa [B, D–H], and Kelvin K.P. Lim [C].

FIGURE 14. A) Hemiphyllodactylus typus, B) Lepidodactylus lugubris, C) Iguana iguana, D) Dasia grisea, E) Dasia olivacea, F) Emoia atrocostata, G) Eutropis multifasciatus, and H) Eutropis rugifera. Photographs by: Alex Figueroa [A, G], Holly Siow [B], Kelvin K.P. Lim [C], Law Ing Sind [D, H], Chloe Tan [E], and Nick Baker [F].