Kawekaweau-Hoplodactylus delcourti

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Kawekaweau-Hoplodactylus delcourti


An illustration of the kawekaweau © @ Eurwentala

Temporal range: Holocene

Scientific classification:

Domain: Eukaryota
(unranked): Unikonta
(unranked): Opisthokonta
(unranked): Holozoa
(unranked): Filozoa
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
(unranked): Bilateria
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Clade: Eugnathostomata
Clade: Teleostomi
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Clade: Reptiliomorpha
Clade: Amniota
Class: Reptilia or Clade: Sauropsida
Clade: Eureptilia
Clade: Romeriida
Clade: Diapsida
Clade: Neodiapsida
Infraclass: Lepidosauromorpha
Superorder: Lepidosauria
Order: Squamata
Clade: Scincogekkonomorpha
Suborder: Scleroglossa
Infraorder: Gekkota
Infraorder: Pygopodomorpha
Family: Diplodactylidae
Genus: Hoplodactylus
Species: †H. delcourti

The kawekaweau (Hoplodactylus delcourti) was a New Zealand-endemic species of gecko and the largest gecko; its snout-to-vent length was ~37 centimeters while the total body length was at least 60 centimeters.[1] One of, if not possibly the only documented account of a living kawekaweau involved a Urewera (Māori) chief killing an individual. The chief described the animal to be ~2 feet long, as thick as a man's wrist, and brown with a dull red striped pattern running longitudinally. This description accurately describes the stuffed specimen from Marseille described by Bauer & Russell (1986). In the account, the kawekaweau was allegedly found under some bark, consistent with the diurnality other large geckos practice. It was eventually concluded that H. delcourti being the kawekaweau of Māori legend was likely.[2] The kawekaweau is extinct or at least likely extinct.[2][3] It probably went extinct in the 19th century.[3]


The Marseille H. delcourti specimen.

References:

[1] Kerry-Jane Wilson (2004). Flight of the Huia: Ecology and Conservation of New Zealand's Frogs, Birds, Reptiles, and Mammals.
[2] "Hoplodactylus delcourti n. sp. (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), the largest known gecko" (Bauer & Russell, 1986).
[3] www.iucnredlist.org/details/10254/0

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Reappraising the evolutionary history of the largest known gecko, the presumably extinct Hoplodactylus delcourti, via high-throughput sequencing of archival DNA

Hoplodactylus delcourti is a presumably extinct species of diplodactylid gecko known only from a single specimen of unknown provenance. It is by far the largest known gekkotan, approximately 50% longer than the next largest-known species. It has been considered a member of the New Zealand endemic genus Hoplodactylus based on external morphological features including shared toe pad structure. We obtained DNA from a bone sample of the only known specimen to generate high-throughput sequence data suitable for phylogenetic analysis of its evolutionary history. Complementary sequence data were obtained from a broad sample of diplodactylid geckos. Our results indicate that the species is not most closely related to extant Hoplodactylus or any other New Zealand gecko. Instead, it is a member of a clade whose living species are endemic to New Caledonia. Phylogenetic comparative analyses indicate that the New Caledonian diplodactylid clade has evolved significantly more disparate body sizes than either the Australian or New Zealand clades. Toe pad structure has changed repeatedly across diplodactylids, including multiple times in the New Caledonia clade, partially explaining the convergence in form between H. delcourti and New Zealand Hoplodactylus. Based on the phylogenetic results, we place H. delcourti in a new genus.

Systematics
Family Diplodactylidae Underwood, 1954

Gigarcanum gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:509E331A-0803-4170-91D2-42FB8F5D672D

Type species. Hoplodactylus delcourti Bauer and Russell, 198612

Etymology. The name is a combination of two words: the Latin adjective gigas, meaning giant and taken from the Ancient Greek Γίγᾱς, and the Latin noun arcanum, meaning secret or mystery. The combination refers to the size of the type species and the unknown provenance of the only known specimen. The gender is neuter.

Definition. A genus of diplodactylid gecko distinguished from all other geckos by the following combination of characters: size massive (SVL to at least 370 mm), approximately 50% longer and several times heavier than the next largest known gecko. Body robust, with cylindrical, tapering, weakly annulated tail. Digits clawed, weakly to moderately webbed between digits I–IV. Digital pads broad, rectangular, with 25–27 lamellae under digit IV of pes. Scalation granular, precloacal pores continuous with femoral pores on under surface of thighs, precloacal spurs present. Skull massive, length approximately 20% of SVL, not co-ossified to overlaying skin. Nasals paired, frontal single, parietal fused. Cloacal bones present. Phalangeal formulae 2-3-4-5-3/2-3-4-5-4 (manus/pes); paraphalangeal elements absent.

Content. Gigarcanum delcourti comb. nov.

www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-35210-8


Oh man, I really gotta update this profile at some point.