Abstract

Research Article

New locality record of Yellow-bellied House Gecko Hemidactylus flaviviridis Ruppell, 1835 a potential biological controller, from Shikohabad, Firozabad district, Uttar Pradesh (India) with its systematic account, distribution and other aspects

Akhlaq Husain¹ and Wajid Hasan²

¹(Zoological Survey of India, Former Scientist-E), 41, Hari Vihar, Vijay Park, Chakrata Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.

²Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jehanabad, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar, India

Corresponding author e-mail: drakhlaqhusain@gmail.com

(Received: 15/12/2021; Revised: 10/04/2022; Accepted: 09/06/2022)

ABSTRACT

Hemidactylus flaviviridis, the Yellow-bellied House Gecko, belonging to family Gekkonidae, commonly found in North India but its locality records are meagre. Recently a good number of these geckoes were sighted by the author at Shikohabad (Firozabad district, Uttar Pradesh) which is not in records and hence the gecko has been reported here for the first time from the area with its systematic account, distribution, habitat, food & feeding, breeding and trematode infestation.

They are also found to be the potential biological controllers as feed on various insect pests on gardens vegetation around and mosquitoes which fly out under light in night.

Keywords: New locality record, Hemidactylus flaviviridis, Shikohabad (Uttar Pradesh).