Species Hemidactylus frenatus Duméril & Bibron, 1836
House Gecko
- Hemidactylus frenatus Duméril, A.M.C. & Bibron, G. 1836. Erpétologie Générale ou Histoire Naturelle Complète des Reptiles. Paris : Roret Vol. 3 iv 517 pp. [366].
Type data:
Syntype(s) MNHP 5135 2 specimens, Java, Indonesia; RMNH (see Smith, H.M. & Taylor, E.H. 1950. An annotated checklist and key to the reptiles of Mexico exclusive of the snakes. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 199: i–iv 1–253).Type locality references:
Loveridge, A. 1947. Revision of the African lizards of the family Gekkonidae. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 8: 1-469. - Hemidactylus (Pnoepus) bojeri Fitzinger, L.J. 1843. Systema Reptilium. Fasciculus Primus. Amblyglossae. Vienna : Braümüller et Seidel i-vi, 106 pp. [106].
Type data:
Syntype(s) MNHP, Cape of Good Hope; RMNH, Africa; BMNH, Madagascar; NHMW, Mauritius.Type locality references:
Wermuth, H. 1965. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Xantusiidae. Das Tierreich 80(1–22): 1-246. - Hemidactylus (Pnoepus) javanicus Fitzinger, L.J. 1843. Systema Reptilium. Fasciculus Primus. Amblyglossae. Vienna : Braümüller et Seidel i-vi, 106 pp. [106].
Type data:
Syntype(s) MNHP, restricted to Java by Loveridge (1947); NHMW; BMNH; RMNH.Type locality references:
Loveridge, A. 1947. Revision of the African lizards of the family Gekkonidae. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 8: 1-469.Secondary source:
Wermuth, H. 1965. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Xantusiidae. Das Tierreich 80(1–22): 1-246. - Hemidactylus vittatus Gray, J.E. 1845. Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum xxviii 289 pp. [155] [the original description is often erroneously cited as an illustration (pl. 15 fig. 5) in either Günther, A. 1875. Reptiles. A list of saurians of Australia and New Zealand. In, Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Erebus and Terror. Vol. 2. London : E.W. Janson. or Gray, J.E. 1845. Reptiles of the Voyage of H.M.S. Erebus and Terror. London : E.W. Janson Vol. 2 8 pp. with type specimens from Borneo and Port Essington, NT; this illustration was first published in 1867 in Gray, J.E. 1867. The Lizards of Australia and New Zealand in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum 7 pp.].
Type data:
Syntype(s) BMNH 2 specimens, Borneo.Secondary source:
Gray, J.E. 1845. Reptiles of the Voyage of H.M.S. Erebus and Terror. London : E.W. Janson Vol. 2 8 pp.; Gray, J.E. 1867. The Lizards of Australia and New Zealand in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum 7 pp.; Günther, A. 1875. Reptiles. A list of saurians of Australia and New Zealand. In, Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Erebus and Terror. Vol. 2. London : E.W. Janson.; Wermuth, H. 1965. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Xantusiidae. Das Tierreich 80(1–22): 1-246. - Hemidactylus punctatus Jerdon, T.C. 1853. Catalogue of reptiles inhabiting the peninsula of India. Bulletin du Musée Royal d'Histoire Naturelle du Belgique 22: 462-479 [467].
Type data:
Holotype whereabouts unknown (specimen lost), Tellicherry, Malabar, India.Secondary source:
Wermuth, H. 1965. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Xantusiidae. Das Tierreich 80(1–22): 1-246. - Hemidactylus inornatus Hallowell, E. 1861. Report upon the Reptilia of the North Pacific Exploring Expedition, under command of Capt. John Rogers, U.S.N. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 1860: 480-510 [492].
Type data:
Syntype(s) USNM 7429 3 specimens, Ryukyu Ils, Japan.Secondary source:
Cochran, D.M. 1961. Type specimens of reptiles and amphibians in the United States National Museum. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 220: 1-291; Wermuth, H. 1965. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Xantusiidae. Das Tierreich 80(1–22): 1-246. - Hemidactylus pumilis Hallowell, E. 1861. Report upon the Reptilia of the North Pacific Exploring Expedition, under command of Capt. John Rogers, U.S.N. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 1860: 480-510 [502].
Type data:
Holotype USNM (see Smith, M.A. 1935. The Fauna of British India; including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II. Sauria. London : Taylor & Francis xiv 440 pp., specimens lost), Hong Kong.Secondary source:
Wermuth, H. 1965. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Xantusiidae. Das Tierreich 80(1–22): 1-246. - Gecko caracal Tytler, R.C. 1865. Observations on a few species of geckos alive in the possession of the author. Bulletin du Musée Royal d'Histoire Naturelle du Belgique 33: 535-548 [547].
Type data:
Holotype whereabouts unknown (not found), Rangoon, Burma.Secondary source:
Wermuth, H. 1965. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Xantusiidae. Das Tierreich 80(1–22): 1-246. - Gecko chaus Tytler, R.C. 1865. Observations on a few species of geckos alive in the possession of the author. Bulletin du Musée Royal d'Histoire Naturelle du Belgique 33: 535-548 [547].
Type data:
Syntype(s) Moulmein and Rangoon, Burma.Type locality references:
Loveridge, A. 1947. Revision of the African lizards of the family Gekkonidae. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 8: 1-469.Secondary source:
Wermuth, H. 1965. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Xantusiidae. Das Tierreich 80(1–22): 1-246. - Hemidactylus hexaspis Cope, E.D. 1869. Observations on reptiles of the Old World. Article II. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 1868: 316-323 [320].
Type data:
Syntype(s) MCZ 5732, Madagascar.Secondary source:
Wermuth, H. 1965. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Xantusiidae. Das Tierreich 80(1–22): 1-246. - Hemidactylus longiceps Cope, E.D. 1869. Observations on reptiles of the Old World. Article II. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 1868: 316-323 [320].
Type data:
Holotype MCZ 5730, Manilla, Luzon, Philippine Ils.Secondary source:
Wermuth, H. 1965. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Xantusiidae. Das Tierreich 80(1–22): 1-246. - Peripia papuensis Macleay, W. 1877. The lizards of the Chevert Expedition. Second paper. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 2: 97-104 [1878 on title page] [97].
Type data:
Holotype AM R29939 (ex MMUS MR800), Mawatta, Binaturu River (as Katow), Papua New Guinea. - Hemidactylus tristis Sauvage, H.E. 1878. Notice sur quelques reptiles nouveaux ou peu connus de la Nouvelle-Guinee. Bulletin de la Société Philomathique de Paris 7 3: 47-61 [49].
Type data:
Syntype(s) MNHP 5258, New Guinea; MNHP 3550. - Hemidactylus fragilis Calabresi, E. 1915. Contributo alla conoscenza dei rettili della Somalia. Monitore Zoologico Italiano 26: 234-247 [236, figs 1a-b].
Type data:
Status unknown, Bur Meldac, Italian Somaliland.Secondary source:
Wermuth, H. 1965. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Xantusiidae. Das Tierreich 80(1–22): 1-246. - Hemidactylus punilis Okada, Y. 1936. Studies on the lizards of Japan. Contribution I. Gekkonidae. Science Reports of the Tokyo Kyoiku Daigaku. Section B b 2: 233-289 [270] [errore for Hemidactylus pumilis Hallowell, 1861].
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- Wermuth, H. 1965. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Xantusiidae. Das Tierreich 80(1–22): 1-246
- Cogger, H.G., in Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. & Cogger, H.M. 1983. Amphibia and Reptilia. 313 pp. in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1 vi + 313 pp. [91]
Distribution
States
Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia
Extra Distribution Information
Ashmore Islands.
Introduced from South and/or South-east Asia.
IBRA
NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)
Other Regions
Christmas Island terrestrial & freshwater, Cocos (Keeling) Islands terrestrial & freshwater, Territory of Ashmore & Cartier Islands
Ecological Descriptors
Arboreal, nocturnal, oviparous.
Extra Ecological Information
Usually closely associated with man-made structures.
General References
Bustard, H.R. 1970. Activity cycle of the tropical house gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus. Copeia 1970: 173-176
Frankenberg, E. & Werner, Y.L. 1981. Adaptability of the daily activity pattern to changes in longitude, in a colonizing lizard Hemidactylus frenatus. Journal of Herpetology 15: 373-376
Fyfe, G. 1981. Range extension for Hemidactylus frenatus, the Asian house gecko. Herpetofauna 13: 333 (distribution)
King, M. 1978. A new chromosome form of Hemidactylus frenatusdae (Duméril and Bibron). Herpetologica 34: 216-218
Marcellini, D.L. 1976. Some aspects of the thermal ecology of the gecko Hemidactylus frenatus. Herpetologica 32: 341-345
Marcellini, D.L. 1977. The function of a vocal display of the lizard. Hemidactylus frenatus (Sauria: Gekkonidae). Animal Behaviour 25: 414-417
Schwaner, T.D. 1980. Reproductive biology of lizards on the American Samoan islands. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural History of the University of Kansas 86: 1-53 (reproduction)
Snyder, G.K. & Weaters, W.W. 1976. Physiological responses to temperature in the tropical lizard, Hemidactylus frenatus Sauria: Gekkonidae. Herpetologica 32: 252-256
Common Name References
CAVS 2006. Census of Australian Vertebrate Species. Australian Biological Resources Study. (House Gecko)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07-Feb-2024 | GEKKONIDAE | 20-Dec-2021 | MODIFIED | |
| 07-Feb-2024 | 22-Feb-2013 | MODIFIED | ||
| 07-Feb-2024 | 16-Dec-2011 | MOVED | ||
| 07-Feb-2024 | 07-Dec-2011 | MODIFIED | ||
| 08-Mar-2011 | 08-Mar-2011 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |