Geographic variation in <i>Sphaerodactylus notatus</i> Baird

Abstract

Seven nominal species of geckos of the genus Sphaerodactylus are known form the Bahama Islands. Of these, two (decoratus Garman and anthrocinus Cope) differ from the remaining five in having combinations of characters which differentiate them from the balance of the species, all of which have a certain community of characters. The affinities of anthracinus are with Hispaniolan and Cuban members of the genus (SCHWARTZ, 9), whereas decoratus has two Cuban subspecies (SCHWARTZ, 8). The remaining five forms (notatus Baird, corticolus Garman, mariguanae Cochran, inaguae Noble and Klingel, caicosensis Cochran) are alike in that they all possess large, keeled, imbricating dorsals and smooth ventrals; corticolus, mariguanae, and caicosensis have keeled gular scales while notatus and inaguae have these scales smooth. At least mariguanae and corticolus are large forms (snout-vent lengths up to 40 mm); caicosensis is somewhat smaller (snout-vent length 31 mm). Of the seven Bahaman species, I have collected all but corticolus, and through the efforts of Dennis R. Paulson, I have seen specimens of this species very freshly preserved. The present paper will deal exclusively with the two species notatus and inaguae, which have keeled and imbricating dorsals, smooth gulars, and smooth ventrals.