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Issue: Vol. 5802 No. 2: 4 May 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-05-04
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5802.2.2
Page range: 248-260
Abstract views: 96
PDF downloaded: 3

A new species of Gehyra (Gekkonidae) from the Solomon Islands formerly confounded with the regionally sympatric Gehyra oceanica Lesson, 1830

School of Environment and Science; Griffith University; 170 Kessels Rd; Brisbane; Queensland; 4121; and Biodiversity and Geosciences Program; Queensland Museum; South Brisbane; Queensland; 4101; Australia.
Herpetology Department; South Australian Museum; North Terrace; Adelaide; South Australia; 5000; Australia.
Reptilia cryptic species gecko lizard Greater Bukida overwater dispersal sympatry

Abstract

The Solomon Islands Archipelago comprises a complex array of islands that have never been connected by land with any other region, nonetheless they have a diverse and endemic biota. Here we describe a new species of gecko in the genus Gehyra that appears to be endemic to eastern portions of the paleo-island of Greater Bukida – the contemporary islands of Choiseul, Santa Isabel and Nggela Sule. Gehyra mccoyi sp. nov. was formerly confused with Gehyra oceanica, a species complex that occurs widely across the tropical Pacific including the Solomon Islands but can be distinguished by several aspects of scalation and by having a more depressed habitus. Gehyra mccoyi sp. nov. is the first species of Gehyra recognised that is endemic to the Solomon Islands, partially filling a gap between island systems to the east (Vanautu and Fiji) and west (Admiralty Islands) that are known to support endemic species in this genus.

 

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How to Cite

Oliver, P.M. & Richards, S.J. (2026) A new species of Gehyra (Gekkonidae) from the Solomon Islands formerly confounded with the regionally sympatric Gehyra oceanica Lesson, 1830. Zootaxa, 5802 (2), 248–260. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5802.2.2