Hemidactylus Tenkatei Lidth

Mahony, Stephen, 2011, Taxonomic revision of Hemidactylus brookii Gray: a re-examination of the type series and some Asian synonyms, and a discussion of the obscure species Hemidactylus subtriedrus Jerdon (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), Zootaxa 3042, pp. 37-67 : 44

Hemidactylus Tenkatei Lidth de Jeude, 1895

Hemidactylus tenkatei was described based on two unsexed adults and one juvenile specimen presented to the Leyden Museum, The Netherlands (currently RMNH) by Dr. H. ten Kate, from “Rotti” (Lidth de Jeude 1895). The description, though detailed, is inadequate to identify the species affinities within H. brookii s.l. The type specimens are still present in the collection of RMNH (RMNH 4353––three specimens; Ronald de Ruiter in litt. 2010). Rösler and Glaw (2010) provide a description of two topotypes, which they used to elevate this nomen as a valid species. Photographs provided to me of the two adult syntypes of H. tenkatei reveal several important characters that diagnose this species from all but one other H. brookii group taxa redefined herein. Subcaudal scales completely transverse the tail width at approx. 50% of the original tail length and enlarged femoral scales of one of the female specimens indicate seven enlarged scales on each thigh separated medially by six smaller scales. These enlarged scales likely represent the enlarged pore-bearing scales of males, separated by a diastema of non-porebearing scales. These diagnosing characters are thus far only confirmed on H. subtriedroides . One H. “ brookii ” specimen (BMNH 1926.10.30.46) from West Timor, nearby Palau Roti, was examined in this study and is indistinguishable from H. subtriedroides . Additionally, I can find no characters from the Rösler and Glaw (2010) description of H. tenkatei topotypes that distinguish this species from Hemidactylus subtriedroides , thus based on morphological evidence I here consider the two as one and the same species. The revalidation of H. tenkatei by Rösler & Glaw (2010), disqualifies the possible retention of the more commonly used name H. subtriedroides as a nomen protectum (Article 23.9.1.2, 23.9.2). Chronologically H. tenkatei has nomenclatural priority over H. subtriedroides , and thus Hemidactylus subtriedroides Annandale, 1905 is here considered a junior subjective synonym of Hemidactylus Tenkatei Lidth de Jeude, 1895. The subsequent taxonomic section for this species is based on the morphological examination of H. subtriedroides types and other material as the syntypes of H. tenkatei were not directly examined in this study.