Gekko cf. kuhli (Stejneger, 1902)

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 : 108-109

Gekko cf. kuhli (Stejneger, 1902) — Native.

Lacerta homalocephala Creveld, 1809: 267–274 , pl. 8; preoccupied by Lacerta homalocephala Suckow, 1798 ; Ptychozoon kuhli Stejneger, 1902 , is a replacement name.

Ptychozoon kuhli Stejneger, 1902: 37 . Type material: None designated; type material apparently lost, according to de Lisle et al. (2021: 492). Type locality: None stated/traced.

Kuhl’s Gliding Gecko

( Figure 13B )

Singapore records.

Ptychozoon homalocephalum (part)— Ģnther, 1864: xiv, 105.— Boulenger, 1885 a: 190.

Ptychozoon homalocephalum — Flower, 1899: 615.—Ridley, 1899: 206.

Ptychozoon kuhli — Manthey & Grossmann, 1997: 246.—Chan-ard et al., 1999: 25.—N. Lim, 2006: 4 (Pulau Tekong).—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 83, 160.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2008: 171, 265.—L.L. Grismer, 2011b: 524, 530.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 323.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 83, 160.— L.K. Wang et al., 2012: 186.—Chan-ard et al., 2015: 77.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2016: 177 (Pulau Tekong).—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2019: 288–289.

Gekko kuhli —Roomaaker, 2021: 157.— Janssen & Sy, 2022: 88, 160.

Remarks. Gekko cf. kuhli was thought to have been first discovered in Singapore on 18 October 2002 when it was found on PT ( Lim 2006), but new evidence presented by Lim et al. (2019) pushed the date of discovery back to 1868 when Spooner collected specimen MNHN-RA-0.1692. Presumably, specimen MNHN-RA-1868.246 was also collected by Spooner as it is dated 9 December 1868 (Roomaaker 2021). The specific locality for both specimens are unknown; thus, it remains uncertain if G. cf. kuhli ever existed on mainland Singapore. Flower (1899b) alluded to G. cf. kuhli on mainland Singapore, possibly BTNR, when he compared the presence of several higher elevation species from Peninsular Malaysia also occurring in Singapore, but it is unknown whether he was referring to his own observations, Spooner’s specimen, or some other source. Lim et al. (2016) stated that the encounter rate for G. cf. kuhli on Pulau Tekong is 2.71 individuals per km-1. Molecular analyses revealed high genetic structuring suggesting G. cf. kuhli is a species complex comprising five to nine species with populations from Peninsular Malaysia split into three divergent clades ( Brown et al. 2012). It is likely that Singapore’s population on PT will be associated with the southeastern Peninsular Malaysia and Seribuat Archipelago clade.

Occurrence. Restricted to PT, also known from one specimen from Singapore Island predating 1868. Uncommon.

Singapore conservation status. Critically Endangered.

Conservation priority. Highest.

IUCN conservation status. Least Concern [2021].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality) : BMNH 1860.3 .19.1005 (no date); Pulau Tekong : ZRC.2.5529 (18-Oct-2002) , ZRC.2.6992 (17-Nov-2012) .

Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): MNHN.

Singapore localities. Pulau Tekong.

Figures

FIGURE 13. A) Gekko horsfieldii, B) Gekko hulk, C) Gekko kuhli, D) Gekko monarchus, E) Hemidactylus brookii, F) Hemidactylus craspedotus, G) Hemidactylus frenatus, and H) Hemidactylus platyurus. Photographs by: Evan S.H. Quah [A], Francis L.K. Lim [B], Kelvin K.P. Lim [C, G], Alex Figueroa [D, H], Joys Tan [E], and Holly Siow [F].