A tiny gecko living on the walls and eaves of buildings at Gunung Alab in Sabah has been confirmed as a new species, adding another unique creature to Borneo’s remarkable biodiversity.
The species, formally named Lepidodactylus crockerensis or the Crocker Range Mourning Gecko, was identified through detailed genetic and morphological studies by researchers from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
The research team was led by herpetologist Associate Professor Dr Evan S.H. Quah from the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ITBC-UMS), together with Aderina Dukit of Monash University, Fred Y.Y. Tuh of Sabah Parks and L. Lee Grismer of La Sierra University.
Their findings were published on September 22, 2026, in the international taxonomic journal Zootaxa.
The discovery dates back to August 23, 2025, when Quah collected the holotype — the reference specimen used to formally describe a new species — at the former Rhododendron Hut in Crocker Range Park, at an elevation of 1,909 metres above sea level.
The nocturnal geckos were observed during cool, misty conditions, with temperatures ranging between 14°C and 16°C. Researchers found the lizards hunting insects attracted to artificial lights around the exterior of the building.
At first glance, L. crockerensis resembles Lepidodactylus ranauensis, another endemic Bornean gecko found around Mount Kinabalu.
However, genetic testing showed that the Gunung Alab population represents a distinct evolutionary lineage. Researchers also identified statistically significant differences in the geckos’ morphology and scale patterns.
The two species are found in separate mountain ranges roughly 36km apart, with unsuitable lowland terrain separating their habitats.
The discovery makes L. crockerensis only the third species from the Lepidodactylus genus known to occur in Borneo.
“Even in locations that are relatively well-studied, there are species that have lived alongside us for generations that have not yet been formally recognized,” Quah said.
“We now have a responsibility to better understand and conserve this gecko and the vulnerable ecosystem it occupies.”
UMS Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor said the discovery highlighted the scientific importance of Sabah and Borneo.
“This is more than the discovery of a new species — it is new knowledge from Sabah that becomes part of the world’s scientific record,” he said.
ITBC Director Associate Professor Dr Fiffy Hanisdah Saikim also stressed the importance of continued field research, noting that many species could still be waiting to be formally identified.
“Somewhere in our forests, mountains, rivers, and soils, there are species that still have no scientific name,” she said. “The challenge is whether we can discover, understand, and protect them in time.”
For now, L. crockerensis has only been officially recorded around the Gunung Alab substation.
Researchers believe it could potentially occur in other nearby high-elevation areas, but further field surveys will be needed to establish its full distribution, population size and ecological requirements.
