Sinai 2006

[Daniel Kane]

Hi everyone.

August 2006 my family went on holiday to Taba, Egypt. It was a scorching two weeks and due to terror threats and danger, we did not really leave the hotel complex. Being young, this was probably a good thing because god knows what would've happened if an eager 14 year old with no experience saw an Echis or Cerastes!

The wildlife was amazing there; coral reefs just offshore, so every day my dad and I went snorkelling and saw many amazing fish, just like an aquarium. As far as herps go, I saw just two species of gecko. I've been unsure about their identity, so thought I'd ask here.

The first; I think Cyrtopodion scabrum?

And the second, perhaps Asaccus elisae?

Hope someone is able to confirm or correct my thoughts.

Thanks

[Mario Schweiger]

Daniel,

I had a look into "Baha El Din: A guide to the reptiles and Amphibians of Egypt".
The first one is Cyrtopodion scabrum - OK.
The second: Asaccus elisae isnt listed for Egypt in this guide!
Also, for me it looks like more than Ptyodactylus, probably siphonorhina.
But 3 species, guttatus, hasselquistii and siphonorhina occur in this area, the last one would fit best, regarding to colour and markings.

Mario

[Daniel Kane]

Thanks Mario. I did think about Pytodactylus, but didn't think the toes were wide enough and I had never seen such markings (especially blue toes and hemidactylus-like eyeshadow) on a species of that genus. Assaccus seemed to be very similar to the one pictured, but as you say, hasn't been recorded there before.

[Mario Schweiger]

Thats the pic out of " Baha El Din":

Mario