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| Hoplodactylus tohu Scarsbrook, Walton, Rawlence & Hitchmough, 2023 |
Abstract
The New Zealand endemic gecko genus Hoplodactylus is revised. Two species are recognized: Hoplodactylus duvaucelii (Duméril & Bibron, 1836) from the North Island and some near-shore islands, and Hoplodactylus tohu n. sp., which was formerly widespread throughout the South Island but is presently restricted to some islands in the Cook Strait region. H. delcourti (Bauer & Russell, 1986) is retained in Hoplodactylus sensu lato in the interest of taxonomic stability, pending further research, but is probably neither congeneric nor from New Zealand.
Keywords: Reptilia, Diplodactylidae, Systematics, Taxonomy, Squamata
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| Hoplodactylus tohu n. sp. Brothers Islands (Cook Strait); Photographs: Nicholas Harker (Auckland, New Zealand). |
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| te mokomoko a Tohu (left) and Duvaucel’s gecko (right). photos: Nick Harker |
Hoplodactylus tohu n. sp.
Etymology.— The specific epithet was proposed by Dr Sharon Barcello-Gemmel, Rangatira of Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui Trust, in recognition of the tupuna [ancestor] Tohu Kākahi. Tohu Kākahi was one of the two Parihaka prophets with whakapapa [genealogical] connections to Te Ātiawa – the iwi [tribe] with mana whenua [authority] over Ngāwhatu Kai Ponu [The Brothers], where the largest extant population occurs. Name used as noun in apposition.
Lachie Scarsbrook, Kerry Walton, Nicolas J. Rawlence and Rodney A. Hitchmough. 2023. Revision of the New Zealand Gecko Genus Hoplodactylus, with the Description of A New Species. Zootaxa. 5228(3); 267-291. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5228.3.3
