Peking gecko | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Gekkota |
Family: | Gekkonidae |
Genus: | Gekko |
Species: | G. swinhonis |
Binomial name | |
Gekko swinhonis Günther, 1864 | |
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Synonyms [2] | |
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The Peking gecko (Gekko swinhonis) is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to China. [2]
The specific name, swinhonis, is in honor of English naturalist Robert Swinhoe. [3]
G. swinhonis occurs in northern China, north of the Yangtze River. [1] But they had also been introduced to Incheon, South Korea via ships.
The preferred natural habitats of G. swinhonis are arid and moist grasslands and plains. [1]
The species G. swinhonis was first described by British herpetologist Albert Günther in 1864. [2]
G. swinhonis has been assessed as "Vulnerable" due to an inferred 30% population decline over the last three generations due to harvest levels. This species has a relatively wide distribution but it is exploited for traditional medicine and is impacted by habitat loss and degradation. [1]