Family : GEKKONIDAE
Species : Cyrtodactylus majulah
Size (snout to vent) : 68 mm
Size (total length) : ~ 156 mm

First described in 2012, this species was formerly confused with the Marbled Bent-toed Gecko, however molecular analyses have proved it to be a separate species more closely related to a specialist group of bent-toed geckos, which includes the Panti Bent-toed Gecko, which inhabit freshwater swamp forest in various parts of Peninsular Malaysia.

In the field the species can be identified by its maximum size of 68 mm, by the blotched pattern on its dorsal surface, and the mottled pattern on top of the head.

The three examples shown here illustrate the normal variability of the species.

Little is known of the ecology of this species, except for its preference for mainly freshwater swamp forest habitat (although it has also possibly been recorded in drier forests some distance from damp, waterlogged forest).

The species occurs in the central swamp forests of Singapore, as well as the island of Bintan, in the Riau Archipelago, Indonesia.

Fig 1 : This example was spotted clinging 3-4 metres up on the trunk of a fig tree, in secondary swamp forest at Springleaf, Singapore.

Fig 2 : Example clinging to low vegetation above a small stream within freshwater swamp forest, Singapore.

Fig 3 : Example clinging to a broad leaf, about one metre above the forest floor adjacent to a small stream, Singapore.


References : H11

Grismer, L. et al, 2012.  Cyrtodactylus majulah, a new species of bent-toed gecko (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Singapore and the Riau Archipelago. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60(2) : 487-499.