Hemidactylus acanthopholis explained

Hemidactylus acanthopholis is a species of house geckos from the Tirunelveli in southern Tamil Nadu. Bearing a superficial resemblance to Hemidactylus maculatus,^[1] the species is usually found on large rocks or boulders.^[2] Growing 20cm-23cmcm (10inches-09inchescm) in length, the species is an overall brown color, but has dark stripes on its back. It takes its name from the warty protuberances running along its dorsal surface.In the 1800s, Colonel R. H. Beddome had a collection of these specimens. Due to new agricultural practices, the preferred habitat of Hemidactylus acanthopholis has been destroyed. This species can be found during the dry season in the Kalakkad Mundanthirai Tiger Reserveand Tirunelveli. ^[3]

Notes and References

1. Mirza . Zeeshan A. . Sanap . Rajesh V. . 2014 . A new Cryptic species of Gecko of the genus Hemidactylus Oken, 1817 (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from Southern India . Taprobanica: The Journal of Asian Biodiversity . Taprobanica Private Limited and the Research Centre for Climate Change . 6 . 1 . 12–20 . 10.4038/tapro.v6i1.7056 . 31 July 2014 . SLJOL . free .
2. Web site: Mumbai researcher duo discover two species of lizard in Ghats . Ateeq Shaikh . 29 July 2014 . . 31 July 2014 .
3. Mirza, Z. A., & Sanap, R. V. (2014). A NEW CRYPTIC SPECIES OF GECKO OF THE GENUS Hemidactylus Oken, 1817 (REPTILIA: GEKKONIDAE) FROM SOUTHERN INDIA. Taprobanica. The Journal of Nature Conservation, 6(1), 12–20. https://doi.org/10.47605/tapro.v6i1.122