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Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk).
Latest update: December 31st, 2022.


Taxonomy of the family Diplodactylidae
Bibliography of the genus Rhacodactylus
Biodiversity of the family Diplodactylidae








Genus
Rhacodactylus

New Caledonian Knob-headed Giant Geckos

Neukaledonische Riesengeckos, Lappenfinger

Nycaledoniske Kæmpegekkoer

1843 Rhacodactylus Fitzinger (type species: Ascalabotes leachianus Cuvier 1829)
1873 Ceratolophus Bocage (type species: Ceratolophus hexaceros Bocage 1873; syn. Bauer 1994)
1878 Chameleonurus Boulenger (type species: Chameleonurus trachycephalus Boulenger 1878; syn. Bauer 1994)
Contents: 4 species, all of which are endemic.
Endemism: 0% 100%
Remarks: Previously included Correlophus and the species now placed in Mniarogekko. Bauer (1990, 1994) regarded the Australian genus Pseudothecadactylus as a subgenus of Rhacodactylus, but this has not been followed in subsequent works (e.g., Wilson & Swan 2010; Cogger 2014).
Distribution: New Caledonia (incl. Grande Terre, Isle of Pines, Moro Islet).

Rhacodactylus auriculatus

Knob-headed Giant Gecko, Gargoyle Gecko

Höckerkopfgecko

Knophovedet Kæmpegekko

1869 Platydactylus auriculatus Bavay
Rhacodactylus auriculatus Boulenger 1883
1873 Ceratolophus hexaceros Bocage (Bauer 1994)

Distribution: New Caledonia (Grande Terre).


Rhacodactylus auriculatus
© Rune Midtgaard

Rhacodactylus leachianus

Grande Terre Giant Gecko, (Leach's Giant Gecko)

Grande Terre-Riesengecko

Grande Terre-kæmpegekko

1829 Ascalabotes leachianus Cuvier
Pteropleura leachianus Gray 1831
Lomatodactylus leachianus van der Hoeven 1833
Platydactylus leachianus Wiegmann 1834
Hoplodactylus leachianus Fitzinger 1843
Rhacodactylus leachianus Bocage 1873
1834 Gecko leachii Schinz [1833-35] [emendation] (Bauer 1994)
1873 Rhacodactylus aubrianus Bocage (Bauer 1994)
1994 Rhacodactylus leachianus henkeli Seipp & Obst

Distribution: New Caledonia (Grande Terre, Isle of Pines, Moro Islet).


Rhacodactylus leachianus
© Rune Midtgaard

Rhacodactylus trachycephalus

Môrô Islet Giant Gecko

Môrô-Riesengecko

Môrô-kæmpegekko

1878 Chameleonurus trachycephalus Boulenger
Rhacodactylus trachycephalus Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier & Whitaker 2012

Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym of trachyrhynchus (e.g., Bauer 1994; Cunkelman 2005). Revalidated by Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier & Whitaker (2012). Although originally described from Île des Pins, continued presence in this island needs confirmation (Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier & Whitaker 2012).
Distribution: New Caledonia (Moro Islet).


Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus

Rough-snouted Giant Gecko

Greifschwanzgecko

Rusnudet Kæmpegekko

1873 Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus Bocage

Remarks: Previously included trachycephalus. Now restricted to the main island, Grande Terre. Records from Île des Pins refer to trachycephalus (see remarks under that species).
Distribution: New Caledonia (Grande Terre, Isle of Pines).