European leaf finger gecko
| European leaf finger gecko | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
European leaf finger gecko ( Euleptes europaea ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Euleptes | ||||||||||||
| Fitzinger , 1843 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Euleptes europaea | ||||||||||||
| ( Gené , 1839) |
The European leaf finger gecko ( Euleptes europaea ) is a species of gecko in the family Sphaerodactylidae . It is the smallest species of lizard in Europe.
features
The European leaf finger gecko reaches an overall length of an average of 6 and a maximum of 8 centimeters, making it the smallest species of lizard in Europe. He looks relatively delicate in appearance. The surface of the body appears quite smooth, as it is uniformly covered with the smallest body scales. The upper side of the body is reddish gray or brownish in color and has faded, limited dark spots or spots, in which there are lighter spots or spots. The color of the underside is dirty white. The egg-shaped, long head is clearly set off from the neck. A faded dark stripe runs along the sides of the head. The trunk is flattened and short, the legs are also short, and the muzzle is rounded. The tail is constricted at its base and tapers towards its tip. On the widened end links of the toes there are leaf-shaped, paired adhesive pads.
Occurrence
The range of the European leaf finger gecko includes Corsica, Sardinia and numerous offshore islands, the south of France, parts of Italy and some islands belonging to Tunisia (Aguglia, Galitone , Cani). In France, the species can be found in the area around Nice , on the Îles d'Hyères and some islands in the Gulf of Marseille . In Italy it occurs near Genoa, in the Gulf of La Spezia on the islands of Tino and Tinetto , in Tuscany and on the Tuscan Archipelago . The present-day area is seen as relic; the European leaf finger gecko was probably much more widespread on the mainland than it is today.
The species is found from sea level and occurs in Corsica at altitudes of 1150 meters. It colonizes rocky habitats, where it hides under stones, in crevices, in stone walls and in the gap system of scree slopes. Leaves and tree bark can also serve as hiding places. The European leaf finger gecko is rarely found on or in buildings. He needs high humidity in his hiding place.
Way of life
The European leaf finger gecko is almost completely crepuscular and nocturnal. It hibernates from November to March. In April and May the males fight violently among themselves. The females lay two calcareous eggs on stones in crevices of rock and rubble. These are 9 millimeters long and 8 millimeters wide. The food of the European leaf finger gecko consists mainly of small insects, such as small beetles, ants and mosquitoes, as well as woodlice. Nothing is known about predators of the species. It emits a very high-pitched and soft beeping as a defense call.
Systematics
No subspecies of the European leaf finger gecko are distinguished. A synonym of the species is Phyllodactylus europaeus .
Hazard and protection
The IUCN classifies the European leaf finger gecko as Near Threatened . In Corsica and Sardinia, the species is locally threatened due to habitat loss due to fire and urbanization. Small island populations can be threatened by the introduction of predators. The mainland populations in France and Italy near Genoa may be endangered.
The European leaf finger gecko is listed by the European Union in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive and is therefore a species of community interest that must be strictly protected, for whose preservation special protected areas must be designated by the member states.
supporting documents
literature
- Dieter Glandt: Pocket dictionary of amphibians and reptiles in Europe . Quelle & Meyer Verlag, Wiebelsheim 2010, ISBN 978-3-494-01470-8 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Euleptes europaea in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011.1. Posted by: Claudia Corti, Marc Cheylan, Philippe Geniez, Roberto Sindaco, Antonio Romano, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
