Hemitheconyx caudicinctus (Duméril, 1851)

This is the only eublepharid gecko occurring in the region. It is widespread, chiefly in savanna areas from Senegal to Nigeria (Loveridge 1947). Dunger (1968), who provided numerous localities for H. caudicinctus in Nigeria, considered it widespread across the Guinea Savanna. Both Loveridge (1947) and Grandison (1956) explicitly stated that the range of the species included Bénin, but apparently only on the basis of localities originally reported by Chabanaud (1917). This species is common in the pet trade and commercially purchased specimens from Bénin have also been used in laboratory studies, accounting for numerous museum specimens without specific locality data.

Localities

Kétou, Département du Plateau: CAS 165588; Diho (=Idiho), Département des Collines (8°05’N, 2°31’E): USNM 199564­65; Agougon (=Agouagon), Département des Collines: Chabanaud (1917); Haute­Dahomey: Chabanaud (1917); no specific locality: FMNH 170554 ­55; MCZ R 104068­69; YPM 8126 (3 specimens), 8129, 8171 (12 specimens), 8416.