Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5757 No. 2: 4 Feb. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-02-04
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5757.2.2
Page range: 123-143
Abstract views: 137
PDF downloaded: 7

Gekko (Gekko) dam, a new dark-colored tokay gecko from the Thai-Malay border (Squamata, Gekkonidae)

Faculty of Science and Technology; Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya; 109 M. 2; Tham Yai Subdistrict; Thung Song District; Nakhon Si Thammarat Province 80110; Thailand.
44/56 Ban Nong Ped Nam; Kok Kruad; Muang; Nakhon Ratchasima 30280; Thailand.
44/56 Ban Nong Ped Nam; Kok Kruad; Muang; Nakhon Ratchasima 30280; Thailand.
EEST Energy Services (Thailand) Limited; Rasa Tower II; Unit No. 2501-2502; 25th Floor; 555; Phaholyothin Rd.; Chatuchak; Bangkok 10900; Thailand.
Faculty of Science and Technology; Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya; 109 M. 2; Tham Yai Subdistrict; Thung Song District; Nakhon Si Thammarat Province 80110; Thailand.
Faculty of Education; Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University; Nakhon Si Thammarat; Thailand.
Faculty of Agricultural Technology and Agro-Industry; Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi; Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Center; Hantra; 60 Moo 3 Asia Road; Hantra Subdistrict; Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District; Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province; Thailand; 13000.
Ranong Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center; 157 Chaloem Phrakiat Rd.; Paknam; Muang; Ranong 85000; Thailand.
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences; Rue Vautier 29; B-1000 Brussels; Belgium.
Reptilia Gekko dam sp. nov. taxonomy karst limestone Thai-Malay Peninsula

Abstract

We describe Gekko dam sp. nov. based on type specimens from a limestone hill in Palian District, Trang Province, southern peninsular Thailand. The new species is also found in Satun Province, southern peninsular Thailand, and in Perlis State, northwestern Peninsular Malaysia. A member of the subgenus Gekko, it differs from all currently recognized Gekko species by the following combination of morphological characters and pattern: maximal known snout-vent length of 149.1 mm, lack of contact between nostrils and rostral, 21–24 interorbital scales between supraciliaries, 72–83 scale rows around midbody, 12–14 dorsal tubercle rows at midbody, 26–28 ventral scale rows at midbody, 22 precloacal pores in males, two postcloacal tubercles on each side of the base of the tail, 14–17 subdigital lamellae on 1st toe and 19–21 on 4th toe, a Y-shaped mark on head, white spots on head, dark grey to black dorsal background with four regular bands of contrasting white spots on dorsum between limb insertions, throat and venter white with orange patches, and a copper iris.

 

References

  1. Amanda, F., Riyanto, A. & Mumtazah, D.F. (2021) Dua kelompok besar spesies Gekko di Indonesia berdasarkan spesimen museum Zoologicum Bogoriense Puslit Biologi Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI). Jurnal Pendidikan Biologi Undiksha, 8 (2), 70–82.
  2. Aowphol, A., Yodthong, S., Rujirawan, A. & Thirakhupt, K. (2019) Mitochondrial diversity and phylogeographic patterns of Gekko gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Thailand. Asian Herpetological Research, 10 (3), 158–169. https://doi.org/10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.180087
  3. Bauer, A.M., Sumontha, M. & Pauwels, O.S.G. (2008) A new red-eyed Gekko (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. Zootaxa, 1750 (1), 32–42. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1750.1.3
  4. Bourret, R. (2009) Les lézards de l’Indochine. Publication fondée sur le manuscrit original de 1937–1947 déposé par l’auteur au Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle de Paris. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt-am-Main, 624 pp.
  5. Chan-ard, T., Grossmann, W., Gumprecht, A. & Schulz, K.-D. (1999) Amphibians and reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand. An illustrated checklist. Amphibien und Reptilien der Halbinsel Malaysia und Thailands. Eine illustrierte Checkliste. Bushmaster Publications, Wuerselen, 240 pp.
  6. Chan-ard, T. & Makchai, S. (2011) An inventory of reptiles and amphibians on the Koh Man Islands and in the Coastal Prasae Estuaries, Rayong Province, South-eastern Thailand. The Thailand Natural History Museum Journal, 5 (1), 25–37.
  7. Chandramouli, S.R., Gokulakrishnan, G., Sivaperuman, C. & Grismer, L.L. (2021) A new species of the genus Gekko Laurenti, 1768 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Nicobar Archipelago, with an overview of congeners from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, 15 (1), 108–125.
  8. Gaulke, M. (2010) Gekko gecko. Reptilia, Münster, 15 (81), 47–50.
  9. Gogoi, M., Kundu, S., Goswami, J., Saikia, D. & Pandey, N. (2018) First record of tail bifurcation in Tokey [sic] Gecko (Gekko gecko) from the Kaziranga, Assam, India: a field observation. International Journal of Experimental Research and Review, 15, 5–8. https://doi.org/10.52756/ijerr.2018.v15.002
  10. Grismer, L.L. (2011) Lizards of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and their adjacent archipelagos. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, 728 pp.
  11. Grismer, L.L., del Pinto, L., Quah, E.S.H., Anuar, S., Cota, M., McGuire, J.A., Iskandar, D.T., Wood, P.L.Jr & Grismer, J.L. (2022) Phylogenetic and multivariate analyses of Gekko smithii Gray, 1842 recover a new species from Peninsular Malaysia and support the resurrection of G. albomaculatus (Giebel, 1861) from Sumatra. Vertebrate Zoology, 72, 47–80. https://doi.org/10.3897/vz.72.e77702
  12. Grossmann, W. (1987) Über einen ungewöhnlich gefärbten Tokeh aus Thailand—ein Gekko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758)? Sauria, 9 (4), 19–20.
  13. Grossmann, W. (2006) Der Tokeh, Gekko gecko. Natur und Tier Verlag, Münster, 64 pp.
  14. Grossmann, W. & Simon, G. (2014) Tokeh-Morphen, Gekko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758) sensu lato im Terrarium. Teil 2: “Blauköpfige Grüne”. Sauria, 36 (2), 21–35.
  15. Grossmann, W. & Ulber, T. (1990) Ein neuer Gecko aus Zentral-Thailand: Gekko siamensis sp. nov. (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae). Sauria, 12 (3), 9–18.
  16. Ho, S.-K., Chan, H.-K. & Karraker, N.E. (2023) The identity of Tokays (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Gekko) from Hong Kong. Zootaxa, 5297 (2), 282–290. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.2.7
  17. Koch, A., McGuire, J.A., Arida, E., Riyanto, A. & Hamidy, A. (2009) First record of Gekko smithii Gray, 1842 (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Salamandra, 45 (3), 172–176.
  18. Leaché, A.D. & Reeder, T.W. (2002) Molecular systematics of the eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus): a comparison of parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian approaches. Systematic Biology, 51 (1), 44–68. https://doi.org/10.1080/106351502753475871
  19. Manzili, S., Ibrohim & Hamidy, A. (2020) Study of morphological variations of Gekko gecko (Linnaeus 1758) population in Indonesia. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2231, 040062. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0002491
  20. Meesook, W., Sumontha, M., Donbundit, N. & Pauwels, O.S.G. (2021) A new cave-dwelling Gekko (Gekko) from Lopburi Province, central Thailand (Squamata, Gekkonidae). Zootaxa, 4969 (2), 318–330. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4969.2.5
  21. Mertens, R. (1955) Über eine eigenartige Rasse des Tokehs (Gekko gecko) aus Ost-Pakistan. Senckenbergiana Biologia, 36, 21–24.
  22. Ota, H., Hikida, T. & Matsui, M. (1991) Re-evaluation of the status of Gecko verreauxi Tytler, 1864, from the Andaman Islands, India. Journal of Herpetology, 25, 147–151. https://doi.org/10.2307/1564641
  23. Ota, H. & Nabhitabhata, J. (1991) A new species of Gekko (Gekkonidae: Squamata) from Thailand. Copeia, 1991, 503–509. https://doi.org/10.2307/1446598
  24. Padial, J.M., Miralles, A., De la Riva, I. & Vences, M. (2010) The integrative future of taxonomy. Frontiers in Zoology, 7, 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-9994-7-16
  25. Panitvong, N., Sumontha, M., Konlek, K. & Kunya, K. (2010) Gekko lauhachindai sp. nov., a new cave-dwelling gecko (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from central Thailand. Zootaxa, 2671 (1), 40–52. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2671.1.4
  26. Patawang, I. & Tanomtong, A. (2015) The variation of Tokay Gecko, Gekko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758) between two populations in southern China and Indochinese Peninsula. Srinakharinwirot Science Journal, 31 (2), 175–186.
  27. Pauwels, O.S.G., Meesook, W., Donbundit, N., Jindamad, T., Topai, N. & Sumontha, M. (2025) Gekko (Gekko) shiva, a new limestone-dwelling gecko from Sa Kaeo Province, eastern Thailand (Squamata, Gekkonidae). Zootaxa, 5588 (2), 305–322. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5588.2.6
  28. Qin, X.-M., Li, H.-.M, Zeng, Z.-H., Zeng, D.-L. & Guan, Q.-X. (2012) Genetic variation and differentiation of Gekko gecko from different populations based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences and karyotypes. Zoological Science, 29 (6), 384–389. https://doi.org/10.2108/zsj.29.384
  29. Qin, X., Zeng, Z. & Liang, Y. (2007) Genetic variation and differentiation of Gekko gecko from different population. Zoological Research, 28, 286–290. [in Chinese]
  30. Rai, T.P. (2021) Tail bifurcation in a Tokay Gecko, Gekko gecko (Linnaeus 1758), with notes on the natural history of the species in Ilam, Nepal. Reptiles & Amphibians, 28 (2), 312–313. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v28i2.15584
  31. Rösler, H. (2001) Studien am Tokeh: 1. Gekko gecko azhari Mertens, 1955 (Sauria: Gekkonidae). Gekkota, 3, 33–46.
  32. Rösler, H. (2005) Studien am Tokeh: 2. Intraspezifische Variation der südostasiatischen Populationen von Gekko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758). Gekkota, 5, 65–149.
  33. Rösler, H., Bauer, A.M., Heinicke, M.P., Greenbaum, E., Jackman, T., Nguyen, T.Q. & Ziegler, T. (2011) Phylogeny, taxonomy, and zoogeography of the genus Gekko Laurenti, 1768 with the revalidation of G. reevesii Gray, 1831 (Sauria: Gekkonidae). Zootaxa, 2989 (1), 1–50. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2989.1.1
  34. Saijuntha, W., Sedlak, S., Agatsuma, T., Jongsomchai, K., Pilap, W., Kongbuntad, W., Tawong, W., Suksavate, W., Petney, T.N. & Tantrawatpan, C. (2019) Genetic structure of the Red-spotted Tokay Gecko, Gekko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from mainland Southeast Asia. Asian Herpetological Research, 10 (2), 69–78. https://doi.org/10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.180066
  35. Shahrudin, S. (2013) Notes on Gekko smithii Gray, 1842 (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from Sungai Sedim, Kedah, Malaysia. Herpetology Notes, 6, 83–84.
  36. Shahrudin, S. (2016) An unusual oviposition site for Gekko smithii (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from peninsular Malaysia. Phyllomedusa, 15 (2), 187–189. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v15i2p187-189
  37. Simon, G. & Grossmann, W. (2013) Tokeh-Morphen, Gekko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758) sensu lato im Terrarium. Teil 1: "Calico"-Tokehs. Sauria, 35 (4), 37–52.
  38. Singh, B. & Choudhury, P. (2016) Habitat preference of Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) in Barak Valley of Assam, India. Journal of Bioresources, 3 (1), 53–59.
  39. Sites, J.J.W. & Marshall, J.C. (2003) Delimiting species: a renaissance issue in systematic biology. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 18, 462–470. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-5347(03)00184-8
  40. Smith, M.A. (1935) The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II. Sauria. Taylor and Francis, London, xiii + 440 pp., 1 pl., 2 folding maps.
  41. Stanner, M., Thirakhupt, K., Werner, N. & Werner, Y.L. (1998) Observations and comments on the tokay in Thailand and China as predator and as prey (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae: Gekko gecko). Dactylus, 3, 69–84.
  42. Tamura, K., Stecher, G. & Kumar, S. (2021) MEGA11: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis version 11. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 38 (7), 3022–3027. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msab120
  43. Taylor, E.H. (1963) The lizards of Thailand. University of Kansas Science Bulletin, 44, 687–1077.
  44. ter Borg, J. (2004) De tokkeh, Gekko gecko -een eenvoudige handleiding. Lacerta, 62 (6), 256–260.
  45. Thompson, J.D., Higgins, D.G. & Gibson, T.J. (1994) CLUSTAL W: improving the sensitivity of progressive multiple sequence alignment through sequence weighting, position-specific gap penalties and weight matrix choice. Nucleic Acids Research, 22, 4673–4680. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/22.22.4673
  46. Wang, G., Peng, Q., Wu, L., Wang, T., Peng, R., Li, L., Zeng, X. & Zou, F. (2012) Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA reveals significant intraspecific differentiation of tokay gecko in southern China and northern Vietnam. Journal of Zoology, 287, 215–223. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00906.x
  47. Wood, P.L., Guo, X., Travers, S.L., Su, Y.-C., Olson, K.V., Bauer, A.M., Grismer, L.L., Siler, C.D., Moyle, R.G., Andersen, M.J. & Brown, R.F. (2020) Parachute geckos free fall into synonymy: Gekko phylogeny, and a new subgeneric classification, inferred from thousands of ultraconserved elements. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 146, 106731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106731
  48. Yu, X., Peng, Y., Aowphol, A., Ding, L., Brauth, S.E. & Tang, Y.Z. (2011) Geographic variation in the advertisement calls of Gekko gecko in relation to variations in morphological features: implications for regional population differentiation. Ethology, Ecology & Evolution, 23, 211–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2011.566581
  49. Zhang, Q.Q, Tang, Y.Z., Huang, Y.C. & Zeng, F.H. (1997) Investigation on the geographical variance of the tokay, Gekko gecko. Chinese Journal of Zoology, 32, 44–46. [in Chinese]
  50. Zhang, Y., Chen, C., Li, L., Zhao, C., Chen, W. & Huang, Y. (2014) Insights from ecological niche modeling on the taxonomic distinction and niche differentiation between the black-spotted and red-spotted tokay geckoes (Gekko gecko). Ecology and Evolution, 4 (17), 3383–3394. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.1183
  51. Zhang, Y.Y., Mo, X.C., Zeng, W.M. & Hu, D.N. (2006) A molecular phylogeny of red tokay and black tokay (Gekko gecko) based on mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene sequences. Guangxi Medical Journal, 28, 793–796.

How to Cite

Meesook, W., Jindamad, T., Toprai, N., Chotjuckdikul, N., Supmee, V., Suppapan, J., Donbundit, N., Sumontha, M. & Pauwels, O.S.G. (2026) Gekko (Gekko) dam, a new dark-colored tokay gecko from the Thai-Malay border (Squamata, Gekkonidae). Zootaxa, 5757 (2), 123–143. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5757.2.2