Holodactylus africanus Boettger, 1893

Kirchhof, Sebastian, Wasonga, Victor, Mazuch, Tomáš, Spawls, Stephen & Malonza, Patrick Kinyatta, 2023, An annotated checklist of the herpetofauna of the Sibiloi National Park in northern Kenya based on field surveys, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 324) 17 (1 / 2), pp. 1-18 : 6

Holodactylus africanus Boettger, 1893

Vouchers: NMK-390L/1–3 (field nos. SK16 1080, SK16 1081, SK16 1083)

Distribution: KA ( R), IL ( R), TBI

Remarks: Very little is known about this nocturnal terrestrial eyelid gecko and only occasional records exist. It is assumed to occur throughout dry savannas and semi-deserts from southeastern Ethiopia, northern Somalia through Kenya and into northeastern Tanzania at low elevations of 200–1,000 m ( Spawls et al. 2018). We found seven individuals in November, December, and April in dry sandy river beds at KA and at TBI near the water reservoir. The species’ occurrence seems to be associated with high groundwater and/or dense vegetation as all individuals were found at night in the riverbed at the edge of the vegetated slope. Three different color morphs were found, including yellowish, slightly pink, and darker brown ( Fig. 4D ). These are the first Kenyan records from the eastern side of Lake Turkana.

Figures

Fig. 4. Reptile species recorded during the surveys: (A) Crocodylus niloticus; (B) Agama lionotus; (C) Agama rueppelli; (D) Holodactylus africanus; (E) Hemidactylus angulatus; (F) Hemidactylus barbierii; (G) Hemidactylus lanzai; (H) Hemidactylus ruspolii; (I) Homopholis fasciata; (J) Lygodactylus somalicus; (K) Stenodactylus sthenodactylus; (L) Heliobolus spekii; (M) Latastia longicaudata; (N) Philochortus rudolfensis; (O) Chalcides bottegi; (P) Mochlus sundevallii; (Q) Trachylepis striata; (R) Varanus albigularis; (S) Eryx colubrinus; (T) Platyceps brevis; (U) Psammophis cf. tanganicus; (V) Psammophis punctulatus; (W) Rhamphiophis rostratus; (X) Naja pallida; (Y) Bitis arietans; and (Z) Echis pyramidum.