Family : GEKKONIDAE
Species : Cyrtodactylus bintangrendah
Size (snout to vent) : 
males to 11.4 cm, females to 10.3 cm
Size (total length) : ~ 25 cm

The gecko illustrated here is identified as Cyrtodactylus bintangrendah (Bintang Lowland Bent-toed Gecko) based on its colour and patterning, as well as its location (foothills of Bukit Larut = Maxwell Hill) and elevation (100 metres asl), with reference to Grismer et al (2012).

Cyrtodactylus bintangrendah is the lowland cousin of Cyrtodactylus bintangtinggi. The specific name is derived from two words in the local Malay language; 'bintang' means 'star' and is a reference to the nearby Bintang Mountains, and 'rendah' means low (conversely 'tinggi' means 'high').

The species was first described as part of an RNA sequencing study into geckos of the  Cyrtodactylus pulchellus complex (Grismer et al, 2012); the study also referenced colour patterns and morphology.

Its dorsal ground colour is tan, and its underside is beige to pale grey. It has 4 or 5 broad, dark brown body bands edged with narrow pale bands, and a dark brown nuchal band with similar edging. The original tail bears 8-14 dark bands, with intervening white bands. 

This lowland gecko is known to occur at elevations of up to 450 meters in the foothills and lower slopes of the Bintang Mountains, which are located in the northwest of Peninsular Malaysia, in the states of Perak and Kedah.

This shy, nocturnal gecko is typically found on rocky outcrops, boulders and tree trunks near forest streams; if disturbed it will hastily retreat to a nearby crevice. 


Figs 1 and 2 : Example from emereging from a rocky crevice at the base of Bukit Larut (= Maxwell Hill) at Taiping, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia.

Fig 3 : Microhabitat close to the location of the gecko featured in figures 1 and 2.

Fig 4 : The mist-shrouded peaks of Banjaran Bintang (Bintang Mountains) at Taiping, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia.


References :

Grismer, L. L., Wood Jr, P. L., Quah, E. S. H., Shahrul, A., Muin, M. A., Sumontha, M., Ahmad, N., Bauer, A. M., Wangkulangkul, S., Grismer, J. L. & Pauwels, O. S. (2012). A phylogeny and taxonomy of the Thai-Malay Peninsula Bent-toed Geckos of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae): combined morphological and molecular analyses with descriptions of seven new species. Zootaxa, 3520, 1-55.

Grismer, L. L., Wood Jr, Anuar, S., Grismer, M. S., Quah, E. S. H.,  Murdoch M. L., Muin, M. A., Davis, H. R., Aguilar, C., Klabacka, R., Cobos, A., Aowphol, A. & Sites, J. W. Jr. (2016). Two new Bent-toed Geckos of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus complex from Peninsular Malaysia and multiple instances of convergent adaptation to limestone forest ecosystems. Zootaxa, 4105(5), 401-429.