Tropiocolotes ID

[Robert Cooke]

Hi, I recently undertook 6 weeks fieldwork in Dghoumes National Park, Tunisia and found an unidentified gecko. I am sure it's within the family Tropiocolotes, but not sure on the species. The most likely for the area would be Tropiocolotes tripolitanus, but it doesn't seem to have a white belly.

Any help would be much appreciated

[Gabriel Martínez]

Hi Robert,

The status of the Tropicolotes in North Africa I think that is not 100% clear.

Baha el Din (2006) made a separation between T. algericus from T. tripolitanus occidentalis. One of the best things to difference them is the tail, but the tail of your individual is regenerated.

We have here a table about differences (only in spanish ):
http://www.moroccoherps.com/ficha/Tropi ... algericus/

Your individual has small Brown marks in the dorsum and a black band through the eyes, so in my opinión is T. tripolitanus.

By the way, do you consider that Tunisia is a safe place now for a fieldtrip? Did you visit south of Tunisia (close to Lybia and Algeria) or only Dghoumes?

[Tomas Mazuch]

Tropiocolotes tripolitanus, without any doubts.
T.

[Tomas Mazuch]

Look here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/58603885@ ... 330980018/

We collected many of these in NP Bou Hedma. They were here one of the most abundant reptile.

T.