Philippine lizards of the family Gekkonidae comprise 49 species (Taylor, 1915, 1922; Brown and Alcala, 1978) in 10 genera: Gehyra (1), Gekko (13), Hemidactylus (5), Hemiphyllodactylus (2), Lepidodactylus (6), Luperosaurus (8), Ptychozoon (1), Pseudogekko (4), and Cyrtodactylus (9), (Brown et al., 2007, 2010a, 2011; Welton et al., 2009, 2010a, 2010b; Zug, 2011). An amazing percentage of these species are endemic to the Philippines archipelago (roughly 85%; Brown et al., 2011). Several of the recently described gekkonids in the Philippines were discovered only recently as part of ongoing surveys around the archipelago. Recent phylogenetic studies focused on Philippine gekkonids (Siler et al., 2010; Welton et al., 2010a,b) have resulted in the observation of high levels of genetic diversity among populations of widespread species, an indication that the country's gecko diversity may still be greatly underestimated.
The genus Luperosaurus presently contains 13 species (Brown et al., 2000, 2007, 2010b, 2011). Unfortunately, many of these species are known only from a few specimens (Ota et al., 1996; Brown and Diesmos, 2000). In the Philippines, eight species are recognized: Luperosaurus angliit, Luperosaurus corfieldi, Luperosaurus cumingii, Luperosaurus gulat, Luperosaurus joloensis, Luperosaurus kubli, Luperosaurus macgregori, and Luperosaurus palawanensis (Brown et al., 2007, 2010b, 2011; Gaulke et al., 2007). All of the species in the Philippines, as well as the Borneo species, Luperosaurus yasumai and Luperosaurus sorok (Ota et al., 1996; Das et al., 2008) are robust-bodied (Brown et al., 2011). In contrast, Luperosaurus browni (Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo), Luperosaurus brooksii (Sumatra), and Luperosaurus iskandari (Sulawesi) are recognized to have more slender bodies (Brown et al., 2000, 2011). Brown et al. (2000) conducted the only phylogenetic analysis of this unique radiation of gekkonid lizards to date, and found that the robust- and slender-bodied species are supported to be part of two, reciprocally monophyletic clades, respectively.
Luperosaurus species remain rare in collections, with few exceptions, and little is known of their ecology. Coastal forests are the presumed microhabitat for most species (Brown et al., 2011). Unfortunately, much of this microhabitat has been destroyed across the Philippine archipelago, and many species may currently be threatened due to severe habitat loss.
Luperosaurus cumingii can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) medium body size (SVL 61.0–82.7 mm); (2) precloaco-femorals 15–20; (3) internasal scales contacting rostral 1–3; (4) scales contacting nostril 5–6; (5) supralabials 15–17; (6) infralabials 13–15; (7) absence or presence of subrictal tubercles; (8) Toe I scansors 11–14; (9) Toe III scansors 13–16; (10) extent of webbing between Toe III and Toe IV 1/2–3/4; (11) auricular opening oval, moderately small; (12) penultimate scansors deeply notched; (13) dorsal tubercles spinose; (14) ventrolateral body tubercles few, convex; (15) lateral tail tubercles present; (16) ventral scales small, granular, juxtaposed; (17) midbody scales 159–171; (18) anteriormost chin scales small; (19) anterior forelimb expansions present as wide flaps; (20) posterior forelimb expansions present as wide flaps; (21) anterior hind-limb expansions present as narrow folds; (22) posterior hind-limb expansions present as wide flaps. For extensive comparisons between all Luperosaurus species, see Brown et al., 2007:table 1.
Although this species was previously recorded from Negros and Luzon islands, Philippines, a recent taxonomic study restricted the range of L. cumingiito the Bicol Peninsula of southeastern Luzon Island (Brown et al., 2011).
Luzon Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complexes (PAIC; Brown and Diesmos, 2002).
Luperosaurus cumingii most closely resembles L. angliit.
Eggs have been observed attached to leaves on the forest floor (Brown and Alcala, 1978), presumably having fallen from a nearby tree.
SVL 61.0–82.7 mm
Philippines; type in British Museum; syntypes (BMNH 1946.8.22.41-42)
Luperosaurus cumingii, also known commonly as Cuming's flapped-legged gecko and the Philippine wolf gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to southern Luzon in the Philippines.[2]
The specific name, cumingii, is in honor of English naturalist Hugh Cuming.[3]
The preferred natural habitat of L. cumingii is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 700 m (2,300 ft).[1]
L. cumingii is arboreal, living in the forest canopy.[1]
Luperosaurus cumingii, also known commonly as Cuming's flapped-legged gecko and the Philippine wolf gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to southern Luzon in the Philippines.
Luperosaurus cumingii Luperosaurus generoko animalia da. Narrastien barruko Gekkonidae familian sailkatuta dago.
Luperosaurus cumingii Luperosaurus generoko animalia da. Narrastien barruko Gekkonidae familian sailkatuta dago.
Luperosaurus cumingii est une espèce de geckos de la famille des Gekkonidae[1].
Cette espèce est endémique de Luçon aux Philippines[1].
Cette espèce est nommée en l'honneur de Hugh Cuming[2].
Luperosaurus cumingii est une espèce de geckos de la famille des Gekkonidae.
Luperosaurus cumingii là một loài thằn lằn trong họ Gekkonidae. Loài này được Gray mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1845.[1]
Luperosaurus cumingii là một loài thằn lằn trong họ Gekkonidae. Loài này được Gray mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1845.
.png){kind=small}
