First reported observation of tail bifurcation in a lizard in Trinidad?

Tail bifurcation is an abnormal phenomenon in nature, but has been reported in geckos and other lizards. On the 28th March 2025, I observed an individual Asian house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) on my wall inside of my house. Formation of bifurcated tail occurs when there is an injury to the tail but the tail splits into two during regrowth. This could actually cause harm to the lizard as their tails are important during movement. Because this is an invasive species in the country, reporting on their distributional occurrences is important.

Author: Renoir Auguste

Renoir Auguste is a herpetologist and naturalist from Trinidad and Tobago. He has been involved in herpetology and ecology for the past ten years, which includes a Masters degree from The University of the West Indies in Biodiversity Conservation, co-authoring more than twenty peer reviewed science publications including the Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Trinidad and Tobago, and volunteering with the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club (TTFNC). Renoir is the current Herpetology Group Leader of the TTFNC.