Cyrtodactylus deccanensis (Günther, 1864)

Species Nomenclature

This species, Cyrtodactylus deccanensis (Günther, 1864), has a rather large, oviform head.

Head Structure

Its snout is longer than the diameter of the orbit, or the distance between the eye and the ear-opening; the forehead and loreal region are concave. The ear-opening is suboval, vertical, and about one third the diameter of the eye.

Body Shape

The body is moderately elongate and depressed.

Limb and Digit Structure

Limbs are rather long, and digits are moderately elongate, cylindrical in the basal portion and compressed in the distal portion. The plates under the basal phalanx are very small, only slightly larger than the surrounding tubercles.

Head Scales

The head is covered with convex granules, which are largest on the snout and temples. The rostral is quadrangular, not quite twice as broad as deep, with a median cleft above.

Nostril and Labials

The nostril is pierced between the rostral, the first labial, and three nasals. There are 9 to 11 upper labials and the same number of lower labials.

Mental and Chin-shields

The mental is triangular or pentagonal, with a pair of large chin-shields that form a long suture behind the point of the mental, and contact two smaller pairs externally and posteriorly.

Dorsal Tubercles

The upper surface of the body is covered with large, juxtaposed, subequal tubercles arranged in more or less regular transverse series; these tubercles are flat or very slightly keeled, and generally have a small raised point in the centre.

Abdominal Scales

Abdominal scales are round, smooth, sub-imbricate, and much smaller than dorsal scales.

Male Secondary Characters

Males have enlarged preanal and femoral scales, but lack pores.

Tail Structure

The tail is cylindrical and tapering, covered with uniform smooth scales arranged in rings.

Dorsal Coloration

The species is reddish brown above, with narrow white, black-edged cross bars; the first bar is semicircular, extending from one eye to the other across the nape. There is a second bar on the scapular region, two on the body, and a fifth on the sacrum.

Ventral and Tail Coloration

Similar bands form annuli around the tail, and lower surfaces are whitish.

Size Measurements

From snout to vent the species measures 2.5 inches, and the tail measures 2.25 inches.

Type Locality

The type locality is "Deccan", Bombay Presidency.

Original Taxonomic Description

Günther originally described this species as Gymnodactylus (Geckoella) deccanensis in 1864, based on a single specimen collected in the Deccan.

Habitat and Diet

This is a nocturnal forest-dwelling species that lives on forest floors, is insectivorous, and is rarely encountered.

Distribution Range

It is common in the Northern Western Ghats, and has been reported in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Matheran, Khandala, Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, and Tamhini Ghat. It has recently been reported from Saputara Hills, in the Dang District of Gujarat.

Taxonomic Note

Some taxonomic authorities still place this species in the genus Geckoella.