Cyrtodactylus pulchellus (Malayan Bent-toed Gecko)
The common name of this Gecko Lizard in English is commonly called Malayan Bent-toed Gecko, Malayan Forest Gecko, Banded Bent-toed Gecko and Thai name called ตุ๊กกายปีนัง (Tukgai Penang), ตุ๊กกายป่าปีนัง (Tukgae Pa Penang).
ตุ๊กกายปีนัง : Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Gray, 1827
Cyrtodactylus pulchellus is a species of the Bent-toed Gecko Genus (Cyrtodactylus) within the Gecko Lizard Family (Gekkonidae), Superfamily Gekkota, in the Lizard and Snake Order (Squamata), in the Reptile Class (Reptilia), in the Chordate Phylum (Chordata) in the Animal Kingdom (Animalia).
Published in Gray, J. E. A Synopsis of the Genera of Saurian Reptiles in which some new Genera are indicated, and the others reviewed by actual Examination. Philos. Mag., London, 2 (2): 54-58. (1827).
The taxonomic history of Cyrtodactylus pulchellus is summarized by Grismer et al. (2016). This species was described from Pulau Penang based on a small number of characters by Cantor (1847), and the name was subsequently widely applied for populations on nearby islands and the Malay Peninsula (Grismer et al. 2016).
Over the past decade, subpopulations outside Penang have been described as distinct species (summarized in Grismer et al. 2016), restricting C. pulchellus sensu stricto to this island.
Etymology: Named after Latin “pulchellus” = pretty.
Geographic Range
This species is endemic to Pulau Penang, Penang, Peninsular Malaysia (Grismer et al. 2012). This species is now only found on the hills and the western half of the island where forest remains (L. Grismer and E. Quah pers. comm. 2017).
Habitat and Ecology
This nocturnal and scansorial species inhabits granite rock-forest (Grismer et al. 2012). Occasionally animals will opportunistically utilize nearby vegetation and the outer walls of buildings (L. Grismer and E. Quah pers. comm. 2017).
This species is commonly seen in the pet trade (L. Grismer and E. Quah pers. comm. 2017, Auliya 2003). Following taxonomic changes it is not clear whether all of these records represent true Cyrtodactylus pulchellus, although the species is believed to be widely kept in captivity (E. Quah pers. comm. 2017).
Synonym
- Cyrtodactylus pulchella Gray 1827: 56
- Cyrtodactylus puchellus Hardwicke & Gray 1835 (In Error)
- Gymnodactylus pulchellus Duméril & Bibron 1836: 423
- Gymnodactylus pulchellus Stoliczka 1873
- Gymnodactylus pulchellus Boulenger 1885: 46
- Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Taylor 1963: 714
- Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Kahl et al. 1980: 139
- Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Manthey & Grossmann 1997: 226
- Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Cox et al. 1998: 86
- Gonydactylus pulchellus Darevsky et al. 1998
- Cyrtodactylus (Cyrtodactylus) pulchellus Rösler 2000: 67
- Cyrtodactylus abrae Wells 2002 (Fide Glen Shea, Pers. Comm. 19 March 2013)
- Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Grismer 2011
- Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Grismer & Quah 2019