Aristelliger

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Aristelliger
Aristelliger georgeensis 35218379.jpg
Aristelliger georgeensis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Aristelliger
Cope, 1862
Species

9, see text.

Aristelliger is a genus of Caribbean geckos in the family Sphaerodactylidae, [1] commonly known as croaking geckos or Caribbean geckos. The nine named species in the genus are native to various islands in the West Indies, though the species A. georgeensis is also found on mainland Belize. Aristelliger species are nocturnal and mostly arboreal, occupying palm tree trunks and other vertical surfaces. They are among the largest neotropical geckos, with A. lar reaching up to 135 mm (5.3 inches) in snout-vent-length (not including the tail). [2] They are primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of arthropods. Cannibalism of eggs and hatchlings has been reported in A. cochranae . A. lar is omnivorous, and may be an important seed disperser for fruits of the plant Marcgravia . [3] Many species of Aristelliger are accustomed to living among human structures, though several are threatened by urban and agricultural development or invasive species.

Contents

Species

List of species
ImageSpeciesTaxon authorCommon name(s)Distribution IUCN status
A. barbouri (Noble & Klingel, 1932) [4] Inagua croaking gecko, striped Caribbean gecko Inagua (Bahamas) Data Deficient
A. cochranae Grant, 1931 Cochran's Caribbean gecko, Navassa croaking gecko Navassa Island Least Concern
A. expectatus Cochran, 1933Hispaniolan desert croaking geckoSouthwest Hispaniola and surrounding islands Least Concern
Aristelliger georgeensis 14639962.jpg A. georgeensis (Bocourt, 1873)Saint George Island geckoCoastal Belize and surrounding islands, southernmost Quintana Roo (Mexico), Swan Islands (Honduras), Providencia and San Andrés (Colombia) Least Concern
A. hechti Schwartz & Crombie, 1975Caicos croaking gecko North Caicos, East Caicos, various nearby cays (Turks and Caicos Islands) Vulnerable
Aristelliger lar 65570492.jpg A. lar Cope, 1862Hispaniolan giant croaking gecko, spotted Caribbean gecko Hispaniola and surrounding islands Near Threatened
A. nelsoni (Barbour, 1914)Swan Islands croaking gecko Swan Islands (Honduras) Endangered
Aristelliger praesignis 15071705.jpg A. praesignis (Hallowell, 1856)Croaking lizard, woodslave, Jamaican croaking gecko Jamaica and the Cayman Islands Least Concern
A. reyesi Díaz & Hedges, 2009Reyes' Caribbean gecko, Cuban croaking gecko Península de Hicacos (Cuba) Critically Endangered

Nota bene : A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Aristelliger.

Related Research Articles

Cochran's croaking gecko, also commonly known as Cochran's Caribbean gecko and the Navassa gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species was described in 1931 by Chapman Grant and named after notable American herpetologist and artist Doris Mable Cochran. The species received one of its common names from the loud croaking call of the male during the mating period.

<i>Sphaerodactylus argus</i> Species of reptile

Sphaerodactylus argus, also known commonly as the ocellated gecko, the ocellated sphaero, and the stippled sphaero, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae native to the Caribbean and surrounding regions. There are two recognized subspecies.

Vincent's least gecko is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Caribbean.

<i>Gymnophthalmus underwoodi</i> Species of lizard

Gymnophthalmus underwoodi, called commonly Underwood's spectacled tegu, is a species of microteiid lizard, which is found in South America and on certain Caribbean islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazilian pygmy gecko</span> Species of lizard

The Brazilian pygmy gecko is a species of South American lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is monotypic in the genus Chatogekko. It grows to a maximum total length of only 24 millimetres (0.94 in). It is found in leaf litter on the forest floor, and preys on springtails and mites. The species is oviparous.

The striped Caribbean gecko, also known commonly as the Inagua croaking gecko and the Inagua gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Bahamas.

Aristelliger hechti, known commonly as Hecht's Caribbean gecko or the Caicos gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Caicos Islands.

<i>Aristelliger lar</i> Species of lizard

Aristelliger lar, also known as the Hispaniolan giant gecko and the spotted Caribbean gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the island of Hispaniola.

Aristelliger nelsoni is a species of gecko in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Swan Islands of Honduras. It was often considered a subspecies of Aristelliger praesignis prior to genetic testing establishing it as a separate species. It is rated as Endangered by the IUCN, owing to its small geographic range and strong recent population decline. This population decline is likely a result of competition with Hemidactylus frenatus, which was introduced to Great Swan Island in 2007. Future development of the Swan Islands by the Honduran military or commercial enterprises would also threaten the survival of the species.

<i>Aristelliger praesignis</i> Species of lizard

Aristelliger praesignis, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

Reyes's Caribbean gecko is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Cuba.

Gonatodes daudini, also known commonly as the Grenadines clawed gecko or the Union Island gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Union Island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Armstrong's least gecko, also known commonly as the southern forest geckolet, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the island of Hispaniola.

Beck's least gecko is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Navassa Island.

<i>Sphaerodactylus corticola</i> Species of lizard

Sphaerodactylus corticola, also known commonly as the central Bahamas sphaero or the Rum Cay least gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Bahamas.

The Marche Leon least gecko, also known commonly as the snout-shield sphaero, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Haiti.

Sphaerodactylus levinsi, also known commonly as the Desecheo gecko or the Isla Desecheo least gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Desecheo Island in Puerto Rico.

<i>Sphaerodactylus richardsonii</i> Species of lizard

Sphaerodactylus richardsonii, also known commonly as Richardson's least gecko or the northern Jamaica banded sphaero, is a small species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Jamaica.

<i>Sphaerodactylus roosevelti</i> Species of reptile

Sphaerodactylus roosevelti, also known commonly as Roosevelt's beige sphaero or Roosevelt's least gecko, is a small species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Puerto Rico.

Sphaerodactylus underwoodi, also known commonly as Underwood's least gecko or the Turks Islands geckolet, is a small species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Grand Turk Island.

References

  1. Gamble, Tony; Bauer, Aaron M.; Greenbaum, Eli; Jackman, Todd R. (21 August 2007). "Evidence for Gondwanan vicariance in an ancient clade of gecko lizards". Journal of Biogeography. 35: 070821084123003––. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2007.01770.x.
  2. Bauer, A.M.; Russell, A.P. (1993). "Aristelliger lar". In Price, Andrew H. (ed.). Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. pp. 570.1–570.3.
  3. DeBoer, Jonathan C.; Griffing, Aaron H.; Iyengar, Vikram K.; Bauer, Aaron M. (2018). "New dietary records for croaking lizards of the genus Aristelliger (Reptilia: Sphaerodactylidae)" (PDF). Caribbean Herpetology. 62: 1–8. doi:10.31611/ch.62.
  4. Noble GK, Klingel GC (1932). "The Reptiles of Great Inagua Island, British West Indies". American Museum Novitates (549): 1-25. (Aristelligella barbouri, new genus and species, pp. 4-11, Figures 1-5).

Further reading