Hemidactylus giganteus

Hemidactylus giganteus, commonly known as the giant leaf-toed gecko, is a species of gecko that is endemic to India. Its distribution is primarily noted in the Godavari Valley and the Malabar region, with specific findings in northern Andhra Pradesh. This gecko is typically found inhabiting trees, often in proximity to water sources.

Description and Physical Characteristics

The giant leaf-toed gecko possesses a stout body and limbs, with distinctly free digits that are strongly dilated and equipped with transverse lamellae underneath, aiding in arboreal locomotion. Its snout is longer than the distance between its eye and ear-opening, and the forehead is concave. The ear-opening is rather large and suboval. The upper surfaces are covered in uniform, small granular scales, which are slightly larger on the snout and smallest on the posterior part of the head. The rostral scale is quadrangular, and the nostril is positioned between the rostral scale and three nasal scales. It has between 12 to 15 upper labials and 11 to 13 lower labials. The mental scale is large and pentagonal, with two pairs of chin-shields, the inner pair being larger. Abdominal scales are described as small, cycloid, and imbricate. Mature males exhibit a series of femoral pores on each side, typically ranging from 19 to 22, which are interrupted mesially. The tail lacks large tubercles. Dorsally, the gecko is olive-grey, adorned with irregular dark, pale-edged marks that form imperfect circles, often coalescing into four or five transverse, undulating bands across the body. The ventral side is uniformly white. Adult specimens have been recorded with a snout-to-vent length of up to 4.8 inches.