Loading...
First records of the mourning gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris Duméril and Bibron, 1836), common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus in Duméril, 1836), and Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko Linnaeus, 1758) on Curaçao, Dutch Antilles, and remarks on their Caribbean distributions
Behm, Jocelyn E. Buurt, G. van (Gerard) DiMarco, Brianna M. Ellers, Jacintha Irian, Christian G. Langhans, Kelley E. McGrath, Kathleen
Behm, Jocelyn E.
Buurt, G. van (Gerard)
DiMarco, Brianna M.
Ellers, Jacintha
Irian, Christian G.
Langhans, Kelley E.
McGrath, Kathleen
Citations
Altmetric:
Genre
Journal article
Date
2018-10-16
Advisor
Committee member
Department
Biology
Permanent link to this record
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2019.8.1.04
Abstract
Globally, geckos (Gekkonidae) are one of the most successful reptile families for exotic species. With the exception of the widespread invader, Hemidactylus mabouia, however, introductions of exotic gecko species are a more recent occurrence in the Caribbean islands despite extensive introductions of exotic geckos in the surrounding Caribbean region. Here we report three new exotic gecko species establishments on the mid-sized Caribbean island of Curaçao (Leeward Antilles). Of the three new exotic species, the mourning gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris (Duméril and Bibron, 1836) has the largest distribution on Curaçao and has likely been established for the longest time. The common house gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus (in Duméril, 1836) has a limited distribution and was likely a more recent introduction. Finally, the Tokay gecko, Gekko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758), escaped from captivity and is known from a single locality. Both L. lugubris and H. frenatus have had widespread distributions in the greater Caribbean region for over 70 years yet have only been reported from Caribbean islands within the past decade. Comparatively, the scope of G. gecko introductions on Caribbean islands is similar to L. lugubris and H. frenatus but introduced populations of G. gecko in the greater Caribbean region are virtually absent. These patterns indicate that different introduction pathways (intentional vs passive) may affect the size of exotic geographic ranges, and that the rate of exotic gecko introductions to Caribbean islands may now be increasing.
Description
Citation
Behm JE, van Buurt G, DiMarco BM, Ellers J, Irian CG, Langhans KE, McGrath K, Tran TJ, Helmus MR (2019) First records of the mourning gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris Duméril and Bibron, 1836), common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus in Duméril, 1836), and Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko Linnaeus, 1758) on Curaçao, Dutch Antilles, and remarks on their Caribbean distributions. BioInvasions Records 8(1): 34–44, https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2019.8.1.04
Citation to related work
Regional Euro-Asian Biological Invasions Centre (REABIC)
Has part
BioInvasions Records, Vol. 8, Issue 1
ADA compliance
For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation, including help with reading this content, please contact scholarshare@temple.edu