Introduction The herpetological catalogue of the Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Germany (ZSM) shows under the accession number ZSM 245/0 a gecko listed as “Gymnodact. marmoratus (Kuhl)” with locality “Java” (Fig. 1). The corresponding original entry into the collection’s permanent card index catalogue, in the same handwriting, was initially identical to that in the catalogue (Fig. 2). Subsequently, a correction was made to the species authority in the card entry, changing “(Kuhl)” to “(Gray, 1831)” (Fig. 2), the correct authority for Cyrtodactylus marmoratus and the name in current use for this taxon. The species identification on the jar label differs by the species authority, which is listed using another author, as “Gymnodactylus marmoratus (Fitz.)” (Fig. 3). The abbreviation “Fitz.” references the Austrian herpetologist Leopold Josef Fitzinger (1802–1884). In the following paragraphs, we describe this rather mysterious specimen, check the initial identification, and report on our attempts to trace its origin and its history. Materials and Methods We collected a variety of morphological data to ascertain the identity of ZSM 245/0 (Fig. 4), an adult male gecko specimen in poor condition. In order to compare the characteristics of this specimen with other geckos, we completed a series of measurements and compiled several scale counts. Measurements were taken to the nearest 0.1 mm using digital calipers. Scale counts were completed using a dissecting stereomicroscope. All data were taken on the right side of the specimen, unless stated otherwise. We report the scale count on both sides of the specimen by listing scales as R/L, where R denotes the right and L the left side. The number of subdigital lamellae was counted on fingers (F) and toes (T) in the usual a basal-to-apical direction on both right and left digits, with the number of enlarged subdigital lamellae given in parentheses. Thus, a lamellar count of Herpetology Notes, volume 10: 89-99 (2017) (published online on 01 March 2017) Identity and history of an odd, old gecko (Gymnodactylus geckoides Spix, 1825, Phyllodactylidae) from the Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Germany Herbert Rösler 1 , Frank Glaw 2 and Hinrich Kaiser 3, * 1 Herbert Rösler, Senckenberg Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden, Museum für Tierkunde, Königsbrücker Landstraße 159, 01109 Dresden, Germany. E-mail: herbertroesler@aol.com 2 Frank Glaw, Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM- SNSB), Münchhausenstraße 21, 81247 München, Germany. E-mail: frank.glaw@zsm.mwn.de 3 Hinrich Kaiser, Department of Biology, Victor Valley College, 18422 Bear Valley Road, Victorville, California 92395, USA; and Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. Washington, D.C. 20013, USA. * Corresponding author e-mail: hinrich.kaiser@vvc.edu Abstract. We describe a gecko specimen that was initially catalogued in the Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Germany, under the name Gymnodactylus marmoratus, a species now known as Cyrtodactylus marmoratus from Java, Indonesia. A close inspection revealed that this very old specimen (catalogue number ZSM 245/0) is actually a member of the South American species Gymnodactylus geckoides. Intensive research of historic documents initially appeared to indicate that the specimen could be a lost Spix syntype, yet ultimately we were unable to pinpoint the specimen’s origin. Nevertheless, its provenance in the early part of the 19th Century makes for an intriguing historical herpetological anecdote that once again underlines the importance of active research in historical natural history collections. Keywords. Phyllodactylidae, Gymnodactylus geckoides, Spix, Leuchtenberg, Brazil, gecko.