Lepidodactylus lugubris: Mourning Gecko

Mourning Gecko - Lepidodactylus lugubris
( Duméril & Bibron, 1836 )

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Subspecies:	Unknown
Est. World Population:

CITES Status:	NOT LISTED
IUCN Status:	Least Concern
U.S. ESA Status:	NOT LISTED

Body Length:
Tail Length:
Shoulder Height:
Weight:

Top Speed:
Jumping Ability:	(Horizontal)

Life Span:	in the Wild
Life Span:	in Captivity

Sexual Maturity:	(Females)
Sexual Maturity:	(Males)
Litter Size:
Gestation Period:

Habitat:

This species inhabits a wide range of habitats including lowland rainforest, coastal and magrove forest. It also thrives in modified habitats such as urban areas, rural gardens and plantations. It has also been found in banana tree leaves (D. Iskandar pers. comm. 2017), and in crevices beneath tree bark (Shang et al. 2009). In Malaysia and Singapore, on the larger islands such as Tioman where there are many other species of geckos, this species is restricted to or is most common in coastal areas (Baker and Lim 2008, Grismer 2011). It is most often observed in crowns of palms, mangoes and other low trees and buildings. During the day, it has been found on vegetation and rocks along the coast, and beneath exfoliating bark, in rock cracks, and beneath boards and rocks during the night (Grimer 2011). On very small islands, individuals have been found at night clumped together around freshwater-filled depressions in the granite boulders and taking refuge in cracks and fissures during the day (Grismer 2011). It is a nocturnal, arboreal gecko with a diet consisting of arthropods, nectar, and plant juice. It is a parthenogenic species in which very few males have ever been recorded. In Malaysia, its reproductive season last throughout much of the dry season from approximately May through September (Grismer 2011). In many parts of its range, the species is comprised of only all-female parthenogenic subpopulations (Radtkey et al. 1995), but in the Seribuat Archipelago, Mariana Islands, Hawaiian Islands and the Ryukyu Archipelago, males are also present (Grismer 2011). Females lay two unfertilized eggs under exfoliating bark or in rock cracks (Grismer 2011) and leaves, and also in the ceilings of houses, which develop into reproductive females. This species lays its eggs in communities (Cameron and Cogger 1992, McCoy 2006, Das 2010). It has been recorded from sea level up to 1,100 m asl (J. McGuire and D. Iskandar pers. comm. 2017).

Range:

This species has a wide range extending from India and Sri Lanka through East and Southeast Asia to the Pacific. In China records exist only from the lowlands of Taiwan, and it appears to be absent from the southern Chinese mainland and from Hainan (Shang et al. 2009, G. Shang pers. comm. 2018). It has also been introduced to several countries in Central and South America. It has been recorded from Sri Lanka, India, islands of the Indian Ocean, Philippines, Japan, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, New Guinea and adjacent island archipelagos, Solomon islands, northern Australia, most of tropical Oceania including Easter Island in Chile, where it is considered that arrived by rafting from other Polynesian islands (Donoso-Barros 1966), although it is not clear if it should be considered as native (Donoso-Barros 1966) or a as an introduced species. It has also been introduced to west Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Galapagos islands in Ecuador, Colombia, Suriname, Venezuela, Hawaii, and Seychelles (McCoy 2006). It has been recently found in Belem, Brazil (T. Avila-Pires pers. comm. 2014). In Malaysia, it occurs in the west coast islands of the peninsula in Penang, Penang (Cantor 1847) and Jarak, Perak, and is also widely distributed throughout the Seribuat Archipelago, where it has been recorded from Cebeh, Jahat, Mawar, Mentigi, Nangka Kecil, Papan, Sepoi, Tengah, Tokong Sanggol, Sibu, Sibu Hujung and Tunas Selatan, Johor and Tioman, Pahang, and Susu Dara Kecil, Terengganu (Grismer 2011a). It has also been found in Enggano Island, Sumatra (J. McGuire pers. comm. 2017), and Java (D. Iskandar pers. comm. 2017). Its origin in Australia is not clear; it may be native and it has been known in Australia for at least 50 years (A. Amey pers. comm. 2017). There is however evidence of recent and ongoing range expansion along the Queensland coast, where it is presently known to occur as far south as the Sunshine Coast (C. Hoskin pers. comm. 2017), which may suggest a comparatively recent introduction.

Conservation:

There are no known species-specific conservation measures in place for this species. This species occurs in a large number of protected areas across its range (D. Iskandar and J. McGuire pers. comm. 2017). I

t is listed in the "List of Beneficial or of Important Economic or Scientific Value Terrestrial Wild Animals under States Protection", under the protection of the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Wildlife" (G. Shang and B. Cai pers. comm. 2018).

References:

McKeown, Sean. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians in the Hawaiian Islands. Diamond Head Publishing Company, 1996