Herpetology Notes, volume 8: 8-10 (2015) (published online on 26 January 2015)

Occurrence of the Tokay Gekko gecko (Linnaeus 1758) (, ), an exotic in southern Brazil

José Carlos Rocha Junior1,*, Alessandher Piva2, Jocassio Batista3 and Douglas Coutinho Machado4

The Gekko gecko (Linnaeus 1758) is a (Henderson et al., 1993), Hawaii, Florida (Kraus, lizard of the Gekkonidae family (Gamble et al., 2008) 2009a), Belize (Caillabet, 2013) and Madagascar whose original distribution is limited to China, India, (Lever, 2003). In Taiwan, the species has been reported Indonesia, Indochina (Cambodia and Laos), Malaysia, to occur in the wilderness, but it is unknown whether Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and these are naturally occurring (i.e., isolated population) Vietnam (Denzer and Manthey, 1991; Means, 1996; or introduced populations (Norval et al., 2011). Species Grossmann, 2004; Rösler, 2005; Das, 2007; Rösler et introduction events are known to occur via the poultry al., 2011). Gekko gecko is a generalist species, inhabiting trade, and have also been reported to occur through both natural and altered environments (Nabhitabhata and transportation on cargo ships (Wilson and Porras, 1983; Chan-ard, 2005; Lagat, 2009) and feeding on a variety Caillabet, 2013). Impacts from alien herpetofauna, have of prey, such as: arachnids, centipedes, crustaceans, been affecting humans (e.g., social impact) and native beetles, longhorn beetles, ants, moths, gastropods, species (e.g., ecological and evolutionary impacts) dragonflies, damselflies, termites, vertebrates and skins (Kraus, 2009b). (Meshaka et al., 1997; Aowphol et al., 2006; Bucol and On January 6, 2008 we recorded an individual Gekko Alcala, 2013). Gekko gecko frequently colonizes urban gecko (Fig. 1) outside of a newly docked container at areas and they largely use prey species such as insects the Porto de Itajaí (26°54’S; 48°40’W), municipality attracted by artificial lights (Aowphol et al., 2006). of Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The container was Gekko gecko is the best known species within its , transported from China (Oliveira, 2008 personal and is the focus of many studies (Rösler et al., 2011). It communication). The specimen was found in poor is also widely marketed as a pet, for pest control, and for condition (i.e., weakened and dehydrated) and was medicinal and ritualistic purposes (Wilson and Porras, sacrificed, fixed in 10% formalin and stored in 70% 1983; Caillabet, 2013). It has been reported as invasive alcohol at the Fundação Universidade Regional de species in many regions worldwide such as Caribbean Blumenau (FURB 21184). It was identified as female, with a 128.7 mm snout-vent length. The analysis of stomach contents revealed an unidentifiable mass. The Complexo Portuário do Itajaí is known for import and export of cargo, with Europe, North America, the Middle East and Far East as the primary export regions 1 ECOAMA Consultoria e Assessoria Ambiental, Rua Silvano (Porto de Itajaí, 2014). One route that is common for Cândido da Silva Sênior, 245, Sala 03 CEP 89050-280, Ponta Aguda, Blumenau – SC, Brasil. Chinese export ships involves stops at ports in South 2 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia , Centro de Korea, Malaysia and South Africa, then on to various Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Mato ports in Brazil, including Itajaí (Oliveira, 2008 personal Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Cidade Universitária, CEP 79070-900, communication; Porto de Itajaí, 2014). Campo Grande – MS, Brasil. This is the first record of a free Gekko gecko in Brazil. 3 Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, UNIVALI, Rua Uruguai 485, Gekko gecko does not appear in the Brazilian national Itajaí, SC, Brasil. exotic/invasive species lists (I3N BRASIL, 2014), nor 4 Laboratório de Herpetologia, Universidade Federal do Acre, Campus Universitário Floresta, km 12, gleba Formoso, CEP is present on the official list of invasive alien species 69980-000, Cruzeiro do Sul – AC, Brasil. for the state of Santa Catarina (CONSEMA, 2012). * Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]. This discovery of Gekko gecko in an area outside of 9 José Carlos Rocha Junior et al.

Figure 1. Female of Gekko gecko recorded at the Porto de Itajaí, Itajaí, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

its original distribution suggests a possible invasion and human habitations (Meshaka et al., 1997; Aowphol event. The fact that the individual was female indicates et al., 2006; Rosler et al., 2011). a possibility of egg laying, potentially generating a local population. As previously mentioned, Gekko gecko is Acknowledgements. The authors would like to thank the reported as having been introduced to various regions, Fundação Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB) for and the species can disperse into natural areas (Meshaka tipping the specimen and Paulo Sérgio Bernarde for the pre peer et al., 1997; Norval et al., 2011). review. We also thank Thiago de Oliveira, who provided the The gecko Hemidactylus mabouia (Moreau de Jonnès shipping information in Complexo Portuário de Itajaí - Porto de Itajaí. The authors also thank Jennifer Breaux for reviewing the 1818) is an African species that invaded Brazil probably English. by slave ships industry. Hemidactylus mabouia effectively colonized and is now known to occur in both natural and man-made environments, and is distributed References across nearly all of Brazil (Vanzolini, 1978; Sousa and Aowphol, A., Thirakhupt, K., Nabhitabhata, J., Voris, H.K. Freire, 2010). The occurrence of Gekko gecko in Brazil (2006): Foraging ecology of the Tokay gecko, Gekko gecko in a is a worrying phenomenon, because this species also has residential area in Thailand. Amphibia-Reptilia 27: 491-503. potential to spread and to establish populations. Because Bucol, A.; Alcala, A. (2013): Tokay gecko, Gekko gecko (Sauria: Gekkonidae) predation on juvenile house rats. Herpetology it is a species commonly sold as pet, its distribution may Notes 6: 307-308. be more extensive than currently known (Bucol and Caillabet, O.S. (2013): The Trade in Tokay Gekko gecko in Alcala, 2013). Similar to other localities, the species South-east Asia: with a case study on Novel Medicinal Claims in inhabits natural areas and disturbed areas, like buildings Peninsular Malaysia. Selangor, Malaysia, Traffic, Petaling Jaya. Occurrence of the Tokay Gecko Gekko gecko, an exotic species in southern Brazil 10

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Accepted by Alessandro Morais