Cyrtodactylus annulatus is a nocturnal species, often found on the butresses of trees, exposed root bundles, and rocky outcrops along river drainages.
Cyrtodactylus annulatus is one of the smallest Bent-toed geckkos in the Philippines. Like C. agusanensis, this species is cryptically colored, with a light brown to gray ground color overlain by dark brown transverse body bands. The tail is boldy colored with alternating bands of creamy white and dark gray.
Cyrtodactylus annulatus is widely distributed throughout much of the Mindanao and Visayan Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complexes. It is highly abundant throughout its range, suggesting that it is not highly threatened as long as some natural vegetation is preserved in riparian habitats.
We have evaluated this species against the IUCN criteria for classification, and find that it does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened status. Cyrtodactylus annulatus has been documented to have a broad geographic distribution and is quite abundant at all sampled localities. We therefore classify this species as Least Concern, LC (IUCN, 2010).
Cyrtodactylus annulatus is cryptically colored, with dorsal base coloration light brown to gray, with indistinct dark gray speckling; vertebral region of trunk with dark brown transverse bands, generally "V"- to barbell-shaped; head medium gray with dark brown, indistinct blotches; laterally, dark brown bands extend from posterior margin of orbit to auricular opening; snout and labial regions without distinguishing markings; limbs with irregular, dark brown bands; fingers and toes banded dark brown; ground color of distal two-thirds of tail light cream, with dark gray to black bands, and with greater contrast than body. Ventral coloration light tan; subcaudal region light brown anteriorly, becoming speckled medially, with darker brown banding posteriorly; hands and feet dark gray, contrasting with light gray of wrists and ankles; subcaudal coloration light brown to light gray; overlain with dark brown to black bands to terminus of tail.
This species can be diagnosed from all other Philippine Cyrtodactylus by a combination of: (1) maximum snout–vent length 79.4 mm; (2) subcaudal scales undivided; (3) 14–16 midbody tubercle rows; (4) generally 6 pore-bering pre-cloacal scales; (5) 3 or 4 enlarged scales anterior to (6) moderately shallow precloacal groove; (7)"M"-shaped nuchal patterning; and (8) the presence of a lateral flank stripe.
Since its description, the distribution of C. annulatus is widely spread, having been documented on the islands of Cebu, Ponson, Pacijan, Inampulugan, Mindanao, Camiguin Sur, Bohol, Siquijor, and Leyte. Recent taxonommic revisions (Welton et al., 2009, 2010) identified unique evolutionary lineages within the historical distributions of C. annulatus, which warranted the taxonomic elevations of C. jambangan (Zamboanga Peninsula, Mindanao Island), and C. tautbatorum (southern Palawan Island).
Like all Philippine Bent-toed gekkos, Cyrtodactylus annulatus prefers roots overhanging stream banks, from trunks of trees bordering flowing water, and from large boulders in river and stream beds.
This taxon was originally described by Taylor (1915), and the specific epithet annulatus was presumably assigned due to the presence of dark annuli, or….
Mindanao Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex
Cyrtodactylus annulatus can be found in upland riparian corridor habitats, often prefering exposed root bundles and butresses of trees, and occasionally exposed rocks and boulders.
Althought similar in general appearance to all Philippine Bent-toed gekkos, Cyrtodactylus annulatus would most likely be confused with the similarly sized C. jambangan and C. tautbatorum, or juveniles of C. agusanensis and C. philippinicus.
Successful conservation and managemnet of this species relies on the protection of upland raparian corridor habitats.
The mostly likely threats to this species come from habitat alteration and loss. As with all Philippine Cyrtodactylus, upland riparian corridors and karst outcrops are preferred habitats, and essential to the preservation of this species.
Cyrtodactylus annulatus, also known as the annulated bow-fingered gecko or small bent-toed gecko, is a species of gecko endemic to the Philippines.[1][2]
Cyrtodactylus annulatus, also known as the annulated bow-fingered gecko or small bent-toed gecko, is a species of gecko endemic to the Philippines.
