First record of the alien gecko Lepidodactylus lugubris (Duméril & Bibron, 1836) (Gekkonidae) in the Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve, Costa Rica

Abstract

Lepidodactylus lugubris (Duméril & Bibron, 1836) is a parthenogenetic gekkonid originally distributed in southeast Asia but introduced to numerous countries worldwide. Its geographic range is expanding in several tropical regions due to anthropogenic activities. Here we report the first presence data for this species from the Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco in northwestern Costa Rica. Our in‑situ observation provides evidence that the geographic range of L. lugubris is expanding northwards along the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and, more generally, of Central America.

Keywords

• Alien species
• Central America
• Gekkota
• herpetofa