Taxonomy
- Scientific name: Cyrtodactylus grismeri (Bauer, Das & Guilbert, 2005)
- Family: Gekkonidae
- Genus: Cyrtodactylus – a diverse genus of bent‑toed geckos found throughout Southeast Asia.
Etymology
The specific epithet grismeri honors American herpetologist Larry Lee Grismer for his contributions to the taxonomy and conservation of Asian reptiles. The common name “Grismer’s bent‑toed gecko” directly reflects this dedication.
Description
- Size: Adults typically attain a snout‑vent length of 6–9 cm.
- Morphology: As with other Cyrtodactylus species, it possesses expanded, irregularly pointed digits with ventral adhesive lamellae, giving the “bent‑toed” appearance. The dorsal coloration is generally a pattern of mottled brown and gray, providing camouflage on rocky substrates.
- Sexual dimorphism: No pronounced external differences between males and females have been documented.
Distribution and habitat
- Geographic range: The species is known from southern Thailand, with the type locality reported as the province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Some records also indicate occurrence in adjacent peninsular Malaysia, though these require confirmation.
- Habitat: C. grismeri inhabits tropical evergreen forest understories and karst limestone outcrops, where it utilizes crevices and leaf litter for shelter. It is primarily nocturnal, emerging at night to forage for insects and other small arthropods.
Conservation status
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has evaluated Cyrtodactylus grismeri as Data Deficient, reflecting limited information on its population size, trends, and threats.
- Potential threats include habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, logging, and limestone quarrying, which are common pressures on forest and karst ecosystems in the region.
Research notes
- The species was described based on morphological differences from closely related Cyrtodactylus taxa, notably the pattern of dorsal scalation and the shape of the subdigital lamellae.
- Molecular phylogenetic studies have placed C. grismeri within the “Cyrtodactylus pulchellus” clade, but further sampling is required to resolve its relationships fully.
References
- Bauer, A. M., Das, I., & Guilbert, A. (2005). A new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from southern Thailand. Herpetologica, 61(2), 213‑221.
- The Reptile Database. (2024). Cyrtodactylus grismeri. Retrieved from https://www.reptile-database.org
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (2023). Cyrtodactylus grismeri. Accessed 2024.
Note: All information presented reflects currently available peer‑reviewed literature and reputable taxonomic databases.
