52 LIZARDS OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



Genus HEMIDACTYLTJS Oken 



Hemidactylus Oken Isis (1817) 1183. 



Compressed distal phalanx of digits free, rising angularly 

 from within the edge of the dilated portion ; subdigital lamellae 

 in two series; inner digit with compressed clawed phalanx; 

 underside of tail with a median series of large, transversely- 

 dilated plates. 



The genus is cosmopolitan and is represented in nearly all 

 the warmer parts of the world. 



Key to the Philippine species of Hemidactylus Oken. 



a\ Digits without trace of web; distal joints long. 



6\ Femoral pores, 30 to 36; a few, flat, rounded, dorsal tubercles; 

 spiny tubercles on tail; inner digit very short, with sessile claw; 

 a slight trace of skin fold from axilla to groin. 



H. frenatus Dumeril and Bibron (p. 52). 



6\ Short series of femoral pores widely separated, 5 or 6 on each 



side; a lateral skin fold from axilla to groin; 16 irregular rows 



of strongly keeled tubercles on back; spiny rows of tubercles on 



tail H. luzonensis Taylor (p. 55). 



a'. Digits partly webbed; tail flattened, with a denticulate fringe; males 

 with 16 to 18 pores, forming a continuous series. 



H. garnotii Dumeril and Bibron (p. 56). 



The species of this genus are largely domestic. In the Phil- 

 ippines Hemidactylus frenatus is very common and is found 

 everywhere, entering houses and other buildings and even ships. 

 Lizards of this species are also found under the bark of trees 

 in the forests, about rocks, and even in fields where there 

 is no other vegetation than cogon grass. The other Philippine 

 species are as yet little known and are apparently rare in the Is- 

 lands. I have examined several specimens of H. luzonensis, 

 three of which were taken from the walls of the Malate Church, 

 Manila, and one from the eastern coast of Lake Bay. Nothing 

 further than this is known of its distribution. Hemidactylus 

 garnotii usually has the same habitat as H. frenatus. The two 

 specimens of H. garnotii that I collected in Mindoro were taken 

 on a large buri palm, at a considerable distance from human 

 habitation. A third specimen examined is in the collection of 

 W. Schultze, Manila, and was taken at Montalban, Luzon. 



HEMIDACTYLUS FRENATUS Dumeril and Bibron 



Hemidactylus frenatus Dumeril and Bibron, Erp. Gen. 3 (1836) 336; 

 Kelaart, Prodr. Faun. Zeyl. (1852) 161; Gunther, Kept. Brit. 

 India (1864) 108; Steindachner, Novara Exped., Kept. (1869) 12; 

 Stoliczka, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 39 (1870) 164, 41 (1872) 96; 



