Intermediate Bow-fingered Gecko – Cyrtodactylus intermedius – (Smith, 1917)

Science name: Cyrtodactylus intermedius – (Smith, 1917)

Taxonomic:  Animalia>> Chordata>> Reptilia>> Squamata >> Gekkonidae >> intermedius

Species status: Endemic ; IUCN status: LC (Least Concern)

Description: Physical characteristics:

Adult males reach a snout-vent length (SVL) of up to 80.3 mm.
The head is slightly flattened, with a triangular shape from a dorsal view, and the snout is elongated. The eyes are large, with an elliptical pupil, and the nostrils are surrounded by multiple nasal scales.
There are 8 supralabial scales on each side, with the first in contact with the nostrils, and 9 infralabial scales on each side.
The body is covered in small scales with scattered conical tubercles, arranged in 19 rows along the mid-body. The ventral scales are smooth and arranged in 42 rows across the belly.
Males have enlarged precloacal scales, with 8–10 precloacal pores, and enlarged femoral scales. The tail is long and segmented, with alternating dark and light bands.
Coloration and Appearance:

The body is brown or tan with dark transverse bands across the back and tail. There are four distinctive dark bands on the trunk, and a dark band runs across the nape, bordered by lighter scales. The head is often free of dark blotches.

Distribution and habitat: Elevation: Found at elevations ranging from 50 to 1,000 meters above sea level.
Area: This species is distributed across Southeast Thailand, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam. In Vietnam, it has been documented in Dong Nai and Kien Giang Provinces, while in Thailand, it is found in Chantaburi Province and the Cardamom Mountains. In Cambodia, it is known from Phnom Aural Wildlife Sanctuary and other locations within the Cardamom Mountains.
Habitat: Cyrtodactylus intermedius inhabits a variety of forest types, including monsoonal evergreen forests, mixed deciduous and evergreen forests, and lowland dry evergreen forests. It is typically found near streams, particularly in rocky areas, but can also be seen on large boulders, tree trunks, and within bamboo forests. This species is also known to utilize disturbed habitats, including areas with sandstone outcrops.

Behaviour and ecology: Lifestyle: Cyrtodactylus intermedius is nocturnal and primarily saxicolous, often found on large boulders or tree trunks near streams. During the day, it hides under bark or in rotten branches on the ground. Juveniles tend to forage on vegetation close to water bodies.
Reproduction: This species is oviparous, with females laying eggs in the leaf litter or in tree hollows at the start of the rainy season.
Diet: The diet consists mainly of small invertebrates, especially insects, which are abundant in its forested habitat.

Conservation and status: IUCN Red List Category and Criteria: Listed as Least Concern due to its wide distribution and presumed large population size.
Threats: Although it inhabits areas impacted by human activity, such as degraded forests and grasslands, there are no immediate major threats to its population. However, habitat degradation due to deforestation and mining activities in the region could potentially impact localized populations.
Remarks:
Cyrtodactylus intermedius was first described by Smith in 1917, and its range extends across multiple countries in Southeast Asia. It has demonstrated adaptability to both natural and disturbed habitats, allowing it to persist in areas with significant human impact.