Subfamily GEKKONINAE - "True" Geckos

Family GEKKONIDAE

Genus HAEMODRACON - Socotran Geckos

A small genus (two species), both from Socotra Island (Yemen). Neither species is seen much in captivity.

Originally these two species were assigned to the genus Phyllodactylus, but the analysis by Bauer et al (see Bibliography) removed most of the Old World species of the genus into separate genera. Bauer et al give the characteristics of the species as follows: digits bearing a single pair of enlarged terminal scansors; dorsal scalation without tubercles; scales on snout smaller than those on dorsum of body (enlarged co-ossified snout scales present in H. trachyrhinus); enlarged chinshields present; rostral entire or completely divided; 1^st supralabial enters nostril; margins of pupil crennelate in preserved specimens; preanal pores absent; subcaudal scales not tranversely enlarged, tail without terminal scansorial pad; no sexual dichromatism; nasal bones fused; parietals paired; premaxillary with short triangular nasal projection; frontal broad, not strongly constricted over orbits, with extensive maxillary contact; 25-30 maxillary tooth loci in adults; postfrontal bones with longer posterior and anterior projection, without pronounced lateral spine; stapes imperforate; coronoid bone raised well above the level of dentary tooth row; 2^nd ceratobranchial arch of hyoid present; neural arches of atlas paired; 26 presacral vertebrae, 1 lumber vertebra; 3 cervical ribs, 3 sternal ribs, 1-2 mesosternal ribs; 1 pair of clavicular fenestrae; interclavicle cruciform; union of scapula and precoracoid ray of epicoracoid cartilaginous; phalangeal formulae unreduced (2-3-4-5-3 manus, 2-3-4-5-4 pes); cloacal sacs and bones absent.

Scientific Name	Common Name	Distribution	Size	Notes
Haemodracon
H. riebeckii		Yemen (Socotra Island)	TL 8cm	Description: digital expansion with straight anterior border; seven transverse lamellae under the middle toe. Ear-opening a crescent-shaped slit, the convexity postero-inferior. The fore limb reaches the end of the snout; the hind limb reaches the shoulder. Scalation details: Head covered with fine granules much larger than the dorsal scales. Rostral four-sided, almost twice as broad as high; nostril pierced between the rostral, the first labial, and three nasals; eleven upper and ten lower labials ; mental once and a half the width of the first infralabial, its posterior obtuse angle between two elongate pentagonal chinshields, on each side of which there are three others rapidly decreasing in size. Dorsal scales flat, slightly larger than the ventrals. Coloration: grey above, with blackish-brown spots arranged in cross bands on the back, in longitudinal lines on the nape ; broad cross bands on the tail ; yellowish grey inferiorly, the throat spotted and marbled with black.
H. trachyrhinus		Yemen (Socotra Island)	TL 9.5 cm	Description: Snout short, broadly rounded, covered with large subconical tubercles adherent to the skull; forehead convex; ear-opening small, round, its distance from the eye equal to the length of the snout. Limbs rather short; digits short depressed, with well-developed distal expansions, and a series of transversely enlarged lamellar scales on the lower surface. Scalation details: scales on the head much larger than on the body, gradually decreasing in size on the occiput; rostral completely divided into two shields, which are not larger than the adjacent labials; nostril between the first labial and two small nasals; 8-10 upper and 9 lower labials; symphysial small, trapezoid, not larger than the adjacent labials; a series of small shields bordering the symphysial and the anterior lower labials. Body covered, above and below, with uniform, flat, smooth, juxtaposed granules, smallest on the sides. Tail: thick, cylindrical, prehensile, covered with uniform flat granules arranged in rings. Coloration: pale brownish above, with blackish marblings ; a black streak on each side of the head, passing through the eye; white beneath [SOURCE: Boulenger 1899]

Bibliography