Lepidodactylus lugubris (Dumeril and Bibron, 1836)
Family: Gekkonidae Mourning Gecko Status: Indiginous Description: The mourning gecko is a small to medium sized gecko. On Guam adults reach up to 45 mm SVL (Sabath 1981) and this is probably true for the rest of the Mariana Islands. Coloration is usually a shade of brown and the lateral surfaces are generally darker than the dorsum. There is a series of darker irregularly shaped crossbars down the back often likened to chevrons or a “W”. As in most other geckos of the region, L. lugubris is capable of undergoing considerable changes in color tone and patterning. Individuals encountered during the day can be very dark, especially laterally, with a bold pattern while those seen at night are generally pale and the patterning is light to nonexistent. Regardless of the intensity of the pattern there is invariably a pair small black spots on the back between the hind limbs. The tail of adults can be very fat and have a flattened appearance. Biology: This is an all-female species of lizard that reproduces asexually. Eggs are adhesive shelled and are generally laid in pairs (Sabath 1981). It occurs in all habitats and can be commonly encountered on buildings in the vicinity of lights. On Guam, Sabath (1981) found this to be the most common species of gecko in open grasslands. Recent observations by the author seem to confirm this. This species becomes active earlier in the day than the other geckos in the area and individuals can be observed in the evening while it is still light out. On Rota, Wiles et al. (1990) found L. lugubris and G. oceanica to be the most common species of gecko in native forest. However, the two rarely overlapped in microhabitat choice with mourning geckos restricting itself to smaller diameter perches on smaller trees. This seems to be true on other islands as well where L. lugubris is seen on leaf surfaces and thin twigs much more commonly than other geckos. In addition to small invertebrates, L. lugubris will also consume nectar. It is not shy and it will often come out of hiding to sip at drops of soda or other sweets. Distribution: The mourning gecko has a large range occurring throughout southern Asia and on most of the pacific island groups. Extralimital populations have become established in western Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, the Galapagos Islands, Chile, Colombia, Suriname, Hawaii and the Seychelles Islands (the reptile database). This species’ ability to reproduce asexually and thrive in wide variety of habitats, make it a very capable colonizer. In the Mariana Islands it occurs on most of the islands (Vogt 2004) including the small fringing isletes (Perry et al. 1998) Perry G, G.H. Rodda, T.H. Fritts, and T.R. Sharp. 1998. The lizard fauna of Guam’s fringing islets: Island biogeography, phylogenetic history, and conservation implications. Global Ecology and Biogeography Letters. 7: 352-365 Sabath M. D. 1981. Gekkonid Lizards of Guam, Mariana Islands: Reproduction and Habitat Preference. Journal of Herpetology 15(1): 71-75. Vogt, S. and L. Williams. 2004. Common Flora and Fauna of the Mariana Islands. Wiles G. J., G.H. Rodda, T.H. Fritts, and E. Taisacan. 1990. Abundance and Habitat Use of Reptiles on Rota, Mariana Islands. Micronesica 23(2): 153-156 |