Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Researchers from Indonesia National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) have discovered a new species of bent-toed gecko (genus Cyrtodactylus) in East Java. The species has been named Cyrtodactylus pecelmadiun, inspired by Pecel Madiun, a traditional dish from the region.
Awal Riyanto, a senior researcher at BRIN’s Center for Biosystematics and Evolution Research, explained that the name was chosen because the gecko was found in areas near Madiun, specifically in Maospati and Mojokerto.
“The researchers wanted to introduce Indonesia’s diverse culinary heritage to the scientific community, just as we did with Cyrtodactylus papeda from Obi Island and Cyrtodactylus tehetehe from the Derawan Islands,” Riyanto stated, as reported by CNN Indonesia.
Cyrtodactylus pecelmadiun
According to researchers, Cyrtodactylus pecelmadiun has been observed in urban environments such as bridge embankments, stacked roof tiles, and village gardens. Riyanto described it as a habitat generalist, meaning it can adapt to various surroundings.
“This species has been found no more than 40 centimeters above ground level, in locations closely associated with human activity,” he said.
Morphologically, C. pecelmadiun has a dark brown base color. Adult males can grow up to 67.2 mm in body length, while females reach about 59.0 mm.
The gecko has 18-20 rows of irregularly shaped dorsal tubercles along the mid-body, 26-28 tubercle rows from the armpits to the groin, and 28-34 rows of ventral scales. Males have a precloacal groove with 32-37 precloacofemoral pores, and the species lacks broad subcaudal scales.
Bent-Toed Geckos
Java island in Indonesia is home to several species of bent-toed gecko. The first recorded species, Cyrtodactylus marmoratus, was described by British zoologist John Edward Gray in 1831, based on specimens collected by Heinrich Kuhl and Johan Conrad van Hasselt. The original specimen is preserved at the Naturalis Museum in the Netherlands.
Subsequent studies led to the discovery of other Javanese species, including Cyrtodactylus semiadii (2014), Cyrtodactylus petani (2015), Cyrtodactylus klakahensis (2016), and Cyrtodactylus belanegara (2024).
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Overall, bent-toed geckos in Java are classified into two major groups: the darmandvillei group and the marmoratus group, both of which represent species complexes.
Phylogenetic analysis indicates that recently identified C. pecelmadiun is closely related to C. petani, with a genetic divergence of 0.1-1.6 percent. It is the second confirmed member of the darmandvillei group in Java, following C. petani. This group is more commonly found in the Lesser Sunda Islands.
The discovery of C. pecelmadiun underscores the need for further research to uncover Java’s hidden biodiversity particularl. This study was published in the journal Zootaxa on January 16, 2025, and serves as an important reference for taxonomy and conservation efforts in Indonesia.
“This discovery further motivates us to explore the hidden diversity of Cyrtodactylus in Java, as many species remain unidentified,” Riyanto concluded.
(Raidi/Agung)
