A new forest‐dwelling hemidactylus (squamata: Gekkonidae) from Gabon, West Africa

Abstract

A distinctive new species of forest‐dwelling gecko of the genus Hemidactylus is described from Mt. Iboundji in south central Gabon. The species is distinguished from other equatorial West African members of the genus by its 18–19 rows of small dorsal tubercles, well‐developed digital webbing, and characteristic colour pattern, including dark venter and large white markings on the posterior surface of the thighs. The species is also known to occur in Equatorial Guinea and may be more widespread in montane forests of the region.