Bavayia Roux, 1913

Bauer, Aaron M., Jackman, Todd R., Sadlier, Ross A. & Whitaker, Anthony H., 2012, Revision of the giant geckos of New Caledonia (Reptilia: Diplodactylidae: Rhacodactylus), Zootaxa 3404, pp. 1-52 : 15

Bavayia Roux, 1913

Content. Bavayia cyclura ( Günther, 1872) , B. sauvagii ( Boulenger, 1883) , B. montana Roux, 1913 , B. crassicollis Roux, 1913 , B. ornata Roux, 1913 , B. septuiclavis Sadlier, 1989 , B. exsuccida Bauer, Whitaker & Sadlier, 1998 , B. pulchella Bauer, Whitaker & Sadlier, 1998 ( Fig. 3 C), B. geitaina Wright, Bauer & Sadlier, 2000 , B. robusta Wright, Bauer & Sadlier, 2000 , B. goroensis Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier, Shea & Whitaker, 2008 , Bavayia nubila Bauer, Sadlier, Jackman & Shea, 2012 .

Type species. Peripia cyclura Günther, 1872 by original designation.

Diagnosis. Bavayia may be distinguished from all other New Caledonian diplodactylid geckos by the following combination of character states: body size small to moderate (47–86 mm SVL); head small to large; tail 85–112% of SVL; dorsal scalation granular, homogeneous; body without extensive skin webs or flaps; expanded subdigital lamellae under all toes; lamellae under digits II–V divided, at least distally; claw of digit I of manus and pes in a groove in the apical lamella between a larger medial scansor and a smaller lateral scansor or lateral to an unpaired apical scansor; precloacal pores in one or two rows in males, not extending onto thighs (7–40 pores in total); dorsal color pattern brown usually with chevrons or transverse bands or blotches (except in B. pulchella and B. septuiclavis , in which longitudinal stripes or series of small dots may be present or which may be virtually patternless); venter cream, grayish, or yellow.

Distribution. Bavayia is the most widespread genus of New Caledonian diplodactylids. On the Grand Terre it occurs island-wide. It is also present on the Îles Belep, the Île des Pins, the Loyalty Islands, and probably all smaller satellite islands.

Remarks. See Bauer and Henle (1994) and Bauer and Sadlier (2000) for detailed information on members of this genus. Many additional cryptic taxa from throughout the Grande Terre have been identified on genetic grounds and await description (Jackman & Bauer 2006).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Representatives of each of the eight genera of endemic New Caledonian diplodactylid geckos. A. Oedodera marmorata. B. Dierogekko nehoueensis. C. Bavayia pulchella. D. Paniegekko madjo. E. Eurydactylodes occidentalis. F. Rhacodactylus leachianus. G. Correlophus belepensis sp. nov. H. Mniarogekko jalu sp. nov. Photos A, E, G – H by A. H. Whitaker, photo B by A. M. Bauer, photos C – D by R. A. Sadlier. Photo F courtesy of Mark O’Shea.