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Gekko hokouensis

Basic information
Scientific name Gekko hokouensis

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ミナミヤモリ
Major synonym
Common names Hokou gecko
Higher taxon Gekkonidae, Sauria (Lacertilia), Squamata, Reptilia
Natural range Southern Kyushu, Ryukyu Islands (except several islands), Taiwan, E continental China.
Habitat Edge of forest, forest, shrub, urban area.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Recorded on Kanagawa Pref., Shizuoka Pref., Wakayama Pref., and Hachijojima Island (Izu Islands). Populations on Nakadorijima and Hirashima Is. (Goto Islands) and Yakushima Island also originated from artificial introduction. Range in Japan
Origin Unknown.
Date In Hachijojima Island, recorded since around 1980.
Route Accidental: With building material or garden trees.
Impact Predation, competition against native species.
Native organism(s) affected: Insects (predation)
Regulation in Japan No action for prevention, mitigation, control, or eradication.
Introduced range in other countries Under Construction.
Reference Notes
  • Ota et al. (1995) Colonizations of two exotic reptiles of Hachijojima Island of the Izu group, Japan. Biol Mag Okinawa 33:55-59.
  • Maenosono & Toda (2007) Distribution of amphibians and terrestrial reptiles in the Ryukyu Archipelago: A review of published records. Akamata. 18, 28-46 (in Jpn)
  • Matsuo (2004) Amphibians and Reptiles of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Nagasaki Shinbunsha (in Jpn)
  • Sengoku et al. (eds) (1996) The Encyclopedia of Animals in Japan 5 Amphibians, Reptiles, Chondrichthyes. Heibonsha, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Toda & Hikida (2011) Possible incursions of Gekko hokouensis (Reptilia: Squamata) into non-native area: an example from Yakushima Island of the Northern Ryukyus, Japan. Cur Herpetol. 30(1), 33-39.
  • Toda & Yoshida (2005) Issues and perspectives regarding invasive alien species of amphibians and reptiles in Japan. Bull Herpetol Soc Jpn. 2005(2), 139-149 (in Jpn)
  • etc.