Cape dwarf gecko

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Cape dwarf gecko
Lygodactylus capensis00.jpg
Gauteng, South Africa
Lygodactylus capensis01.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Lygodactylus
Species:
L. capensis
Binomial name
Lygodactylus capensis
(Smith, 1849)
Subspecies [2]
  • L. c. grotei Sternfeld, 1911
  • L. c. capensis (Smith, 1849)
  • L. c. pakenhami Loveridge, 1941
Cape dwarf gecko (Lygodactylus capensis) IUCN range 2019.svg
Synonyms [2]
  • Hemidactylus capensis
  • Lygodactylus ngamiensis
  • Lygodactylus strigatus

The Cape dwarf gecko (Lygodactylus capensis; 'lygodactylus' = 'flexible fingers') [3] is a species of dwarf gecko found in the woodlands and forests of central and southern Africa. It also occurs commonly in towns and cities and is sometimes kept as a pet.

Contents

Range

It occurs in South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Mozambique and Tanzania, including Pemba Island. [2] Its distribution within South Africa has expanded south- and westwards towards the coastal areas since 1981. [4]

Habits

They are often seen on garden walls in towns and cities. When moulting it actively assists the process by detaching skin flakes and consuming them. They have the ability to detach their tails from the rest of their bodies as a mechanism for survival. The high observed frequency of tail loss, coupled with rapid and complete regeneration, suggests that caudal autotomy is an important survival tactic in this species. Although caudal autotomy may allow the Cape dwarf gecko to escape its predator, there have been documented downsides to this survival mechanism. For example, the gecko loses its ability to successfully climb vertical surfaces quickly due to a decrease in balance and adhesion brought about by the loss of its tail, which contains an adhesive pad at the tip of it. [5]

Description

immature Lygodactylus capensis subsp capensis, Pretoria, a.jpg
immature

Length (snout to vent length) is 39 mm for males, 43 mm for females. Throat is stippled with grey or brown while the belly is cream coloured. The back is grey-brown with dark streak from snout to shoulder or beyond. [6] Its tail is remarkable for having the underside covered in adhesive lamellae enabling its use as a fifth limb. [7]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blanc's dwarf gecko</span> Species of lizard

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Strophurus williamsi, also known commonly as the eastern spiny-tailed gecko, the soft-spined gecko, and Williams' spiny-tailed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to semi-arid regions of eastern Australia including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. It has become a popular species as a pet for its distinctive tail features. S. williamsi has been grouped within a clade of seven other species that are believed to have diverged from their ancestors around 20 million years ago. S. williamsi can be distinguished from closer relatives by arboreality and diurnal (day-active) activity.

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References

  1. Alexander, G.J.; Tolley, K.A. (2021). "Lygodactylus capensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T196917A45061082. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T196917A45061082.en . Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Lygodactylus capensis, The Reptile Database
  3. "+++ the Genus Lygodactylus +++".
  4. Quarter Degree Grid Cells (QDGCs) timescale map of Lygodactylus capensis distribution in South Africa via ResearchGate.
  5. Medger, Katarina; Verburgt, Luke; Bateman, Philip W. (2008). "The Influence of Tail Autotomy on the Escape Response of the Cape Dwarf Gecko, Lygodactylus capensis". Ethology. 114: 42–52. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.2007.01445.x. hdl: 2263/9021 .
  6. Branch, Bill. (1998). Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third revised edition. Sanibel Is., Florida:Ralph Curtis Books Publ.
  7. Rose, Walter (1962). The Reptiles and Amphibians of Southern Africa Maskew Miller.