About Lepidodactylus lugubris (Duméril & Bibron, 1836)
Lepidodactylus lugubris (Duméril & Bibron, 1836) measures 8.5–10 cm in total length including the tail, with a snout-to-vent length of 4–4.4 cm. This species has cryptic coloration, and is typically light to dark tan with dark spots running the full length of its back, plus a brown stripe extending from the ear to the tip of the nose. It is capable of changing color, so the same individual can appear light or dark at different times of day. This species is widespread across coastal regions of the Indian and Pacific oceans, including the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Australia (Cocos Island), Western Samoa, Guam, the Society Islands, Pitcairn, and the Mascarene Islands. It has been widely introduced to the Neotropics, including Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Florida, The Bahamas, Guadeloupe, Ecuador (including the Galapagos), Colombia and Chile. It has also been introduced to Hawai'i and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. L. lugubris is primarily nocturnal, but can occasionally be found exposed near cover during the day. This species consists almost entirely of females that reproduce via parthenogenesis. While males do occur occasionally, they are very rare and often sterile. Females lay 1–2 eggs per clutch, and glue the eggs to surfaces in protected locations. New clutches are laid every 4–6 weeks. Its obligate parthenogenetic reproductive mechanism relies on premeiotic endoreplication of chromosomes.
