Cochran's croaking gecko

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Cochran's croaking gecko
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Aristelliger
Species:
A. cochranae
Binomial name
Aristelliger cochranae
Grant, 1931 [2]

Cochran's croaking gecko (Aristelliger cochranae), also commonly known as Cochran's Caribbean gecko [3] 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. [3] The species received one of its common names from the loud croaking call of the male during the mating period.

Contents

Description

A. cochranae has a snout to vent length (SVL) up to 63 mm (2.5 in) in males and 53 mm (2.1 in) in females. [4] It has relatively short and massive legs.[ citation needed ] The colour of its body varies from beige brown to chestnut red and the back exhibits light spots. A dark chestnut crossband extends from the snout to the head, the nape, and the eyes. The largest part of the tail is dark grey to black.[ citation needed ] The hatchlings have clear white crossbands on the tail.[ citation needed ]

Occurrence and biology

Cochran's croaking gecko is endemic to Navassa Island, [1] [4] an island between Haiti and Jamaica. It is relatively common despite its small habitat of 5.2 km² (2 sq mi).[ citation needed ] It is nocturnal and arboreal, which means that it lives and preys entirely on the branches or under the bark of ficus trees or fan palms ( Thrinax morrisii ).[ citation needed ] Its diet consists of insects.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<i>Aristelliger</i> Genus of geckos

Aristelliger is a genus of Caribbean geckos in the family Sphaerodactylidae, 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 in snout-vent-length. 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. Many species of Aristelliger are accustomed to living among human structures, though several are threatened by urban and agricultural development or invasive species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curly-tailed lizard</span> Genus of lizards

Leiocephalidae, also known as the curlytail lizards or curly-tailed lizards, is a family of iguanian lizards restricted to the West Indies. One of the defining features of these lizards is that their tail often curls over. They were previously regarded as members of the subfamily Leiocephalinae within the family Tropiduridae. There are presently 29 known species, all in the genus Leiocephalus.

The Navassa curly-tailed lizard or Navassa curlytail lizard is an extinct lizard species from the family of curly-tailed lizard (Leiocephalidae). It is known only from the holotype, a female specimen from which it was described in 1868. A possible second specimen which was collected by Rollo Beck in 1917 was instead identified as a Tiburon curly-tailed lizard by herpetologist Richard Thomas in 1966.

The Martinique curlytail lizard is an extinct species of lizard in the family of curly-tailed lizard (Leiocephalidae).

Cyclura cornuta onchiopsis, the Navassa Island iguana, was a subspecies of rhinoceros iguana that was found on the Caribbean island of Navassa.

Leiocephalus inaguae, commonly known as the Inagua curlytail lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Leiocephalidae.

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

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

The island least gecko is a species of gecko endemic to the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint George Island gecko</span> Species of lizard

The Saint George Island gecko is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Caribbean.

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.

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

Cochran's least gecko is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Dominican Republic.

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

Darlington's least gecko is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Dominican Republic.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 Powell, R.; Landestoy, M.; Inchaustegui, S. (2016). "Aristelliger cochranae (errata version published in 2017)". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T203167A115347625. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T203167A2761346.en. Downloaded on 13 February 2019.
  2. ↑ Grant C (1931). "A new species of Aristelliger from Navassa". Journal of the Department of Agriculture of Porto [sic] Rico4: 399-400. (Aristelliger cochranae, new species).
  3. 1 2 Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Aristelliger cochranae, pp. 55-56).
  4. 1 2 Species Aristelliger cochranae at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading


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