Fantastic least gecko | |
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Adult male specimen from Guadeloupe | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Sphaerodactylidae |
Genus: | Sphaerodactylus |
Species: | S. fantasticus |
Binomial name | |
Sphaerodactylus fantasticus A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1836 | |
Subspecies | |
See text |
The fantastic least gecko, or fantastic sphaero (Sphaerodactylus fantasticus) is a species of gecko found in the Caribbean, on the islands of Dominica, Montserrat, and the Guadeloupe archipelago. [2]
A medium-sized gecko of the genus Sphaerodactylus . Dorsal scales are keeled in texture, acute to cycloid in shape, and slightly imbricate. The color pattern is sexually dichromatic, and varies greatly between subspecies. [3]
The dorsal ground color of both sexes is brown to ochre. The head color is light brown which may be with or without markings, including dark stripes broken into small brown spots, or spots that fuse to produce a dark head with light stripes for spots. There is no dark scapular patch or ocelli in both sexes, a characteristic that is frequently seen in other species. The dorsal coloration is (salt and pepper) mottled with light and dark scales, either of which may dominate. The tail may contain dark-edged light ocelli (usually paired) irregularly arranged along the dorsal surface. Throat is grayish and distinctly lineate, with lines extending posteriorly from the tip of the snot. Venter is uniformly white or with dark spackling. [4] [5]
Nine subspecies have been described, each with a very restricted range and varies in coloration and other physical characteristics.
Endemic to the Lesser Antilles. Native to Guadeloupe (including some of its satellites like Marie Galante and La Desirade), Montserrat, and the western coast of Dominica.
On Dominica, the distribution of the subspecies S. fantasticus fuga is limited to the western coast (Malhotra and Thorpe 1999). These dwarf geckos have recently been found to be genetically similar to one population in Guadeloupe, suggesting that they are recent colonizers of Dominica (Malhotra and Thorpe 1999; Thorpe et al. 2008).
This is a terrestrial species that occurs in a moderately wide range of habitats which are usually near the coast. These include mesic and xeric forests, beaches, hillsides ,and houses. During the day, it can be found (active) on piles of organic debris and leaf litter (in shaded situations). Also hiding under stones, logs, and piles of debris. [3]
The Barahona big-scaled sphaero, also known commonly as the Barahona big-scaled geckolet, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species, which is a very small gecko, is endemic to the Dominican Republic.
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.
Anolis oculatus, the Dominica anole, Dominican anole, eyed anole or zandoli, is a species of anole lizard. It is endemic to the Caribbean island of Dominica, where it is found in most environments. The species is found in a diverse range of color forms, which one herpetologist once classified as four subspecies, which most other scientists did not recognise because the forms gradually inter-grade with one another. Two later researchers have instead promoted the "ecotypes" concept, hypothesizing the color forms are maintained by the ecological conditions of the surrounding environment, despite being genetically indistinguishable. The morphology of some traits is subject to clinal variation, gradually changing from one side of the island to the other, or from sea level to the hilltops. The ground color ranges from pale tan or yellow to deep green or brown. It also has patterned markings that range from light-colored speckling to complex marbled patterns, and some populations also have large black-ringed "eye" spots on their flanks.
The Dominican ground lizard or Dominican ameiva is a species of lizard. It is endemic to the Caribbean island of Dominica, an island noted for its intact and abundant reptile population, where it is most commonly found in dry coastal woodland.
Pholidoscelis plei, known commonly as the Anguilla Bank ameiva or the Caribbean ameiva, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species is found on the Caribbean islands of Anguilla, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy in the Lesser Antilles. Its coloration and markings vary between each island population. Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
The British Virgin Islands dwarf sphaero, Virgin Gorda least gecko, or Virgin Islands dwarf gecko is a species of gecko and also one of the smallest terrestrial vertebrates. It has only been found on three of the British Virgin Islands: Virgin Gorda, Tortola, and Moskito Island. It was discovered in 1964 and is suspected to be a close relative of Sphaerodactylus nicholsi, a dwarf sphaero from the nearby island of Puerto Rico. It shares its range with the big-scaled least gecko (S. macrolepis), which is found in leaf litter. Unlike this larger gecko, the Virgin Islands dwarf sphaero lives on drier hillsides, yet prefers moist microhabitats found under rocks because it lacks the adaptations necessary for preventing water loss, which is a significant problem due to its small body size.
The Montserrat ameiva is a lizard species in the genus Pholidoscelis. It is found on the Caribbean island of Montserrat in the Lesser Antilles.
Vincent's least gecko is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Caribbean.
Julia's ground snake is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is found in the Caribbean, on the Lesser Antilles islands of Dominica and Guadeloupe.
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.
The little-scaled least gecko is a gecko species mainly found on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, where it was once thought to be endemic. It has falsely been recorded on St. Croix, Martinique, Monito Island, the British Virgin Islands, and Costa Rica, but does not exist there.
Sphaerodactylus parvus is a gecko endemic to the Anguilla Bank of islands in the Lesser Antilles, which comprises Anguilla, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy. It was elevated to species level in 2001, formerly described as a subspecies of S. macrolepis.
The island least gecko is a species of gecko endemic to the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.
Anolis sabanus, the Saba anole or Saban anole, is a species of anole lizard that is endemic to the island of Saba, a Dutch municipality in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles.
The Saba least gecko is a gecko endemic to the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean, where it can be found on Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts, and Nevis.
Anolis roquet, also called Martinique anole, Martinique's anole, or savannah anole, is a species of anole lizard. It is endemic to the island of Martinique, located in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles.
Sphaerodactylus callocricus, also known as the beautifully ringed sphaero, rough-banded sphaero or rough-banded least gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. It is endemic to the Dominican Republic.
Sphaerodactylus cochranae, commonly known as Cochran's least gecko, is a critically endangered species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola, specifically found within the Los Haitises National Park and adjacent karst regions in the Dominican Republic.
The Pedernales least gecko is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Dominican Republic.