Ball finger geckos

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Ball finger geckos
Ball finger gecko

Ball finger gecko

Systematics
without rank: Sauropsida
Superordinate : Scale lizards (Lepidosauria)
Order : Scale reptiles (Squamata)
without rank: Geckos (gekkota)
Family : Sphaerodactylidae
Genre : Ball finger geckos
Scientific name
Sphaerodactylus
Wagler , 1830

The puffer finger geckos ( Sphaerodactylus ) are a genus of gecko . Most of the species of this gecko genus are very small, the largest measuring no more than about 8 cm. Many species are conspicuously colored, some show a clear sexual dimorphism .

The smallest lizard in the world is Sphaerodactylus ariasae , which reaches an average total length of 3 cm. Without a tail, the gecko would only be half its size. A fully grown animal weighs 0.15 g. This species of gecko lives on Beata Island off the coast of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean .

distribution

The distribution area extends from Florida over Central America and the Caribbean islands to northern South America . The animals live between fallen leaves and in the root area of ​​trees. Some species are cultural followers and live in parks, plantations or gardens.

species

The genus consists of more than 100 species (as of early 2014)

literature

  • Friedrich Wilhelm Henkel, Wolfgang Schmidt: Geckos. Biology, husbandry, breeding. 2nd, completely revised edition. Ulmer, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-8001-3854-9 .
  • Herbert Rösler: Geckos of the world. All genera. Urania-Verlag, Leipzig et al. 1995, ISBN 3-332-00549-9 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Barbara K. Kennedy: World's Smallest Lizard Discovered in the Caribbean. Pennsylvania State University, State College PA 2001. Accessed November 22, 2014.
  2. ↑ a b James R. McCranie, S. Blair Hedges: Two additional new species of Sphaerodactylus (Reptilia, Squamata, Gekkonoidea, Sphaerodactylidae) from the Honduran Bay Islands. In: Zootaxa . 3694, 1, 2013, pp. 40–50, doi : 10.11646 / zootaxa.3694.1.2 , digital version (PDF; 2.52 MB) .
  3. ↑ a b c James R. McCranie, S. Blair Hedges: Two new species of geckos from Honduras and resurrection of Sphaerodactylus continentalis Werner from the synonymy of Sphaerodactylus millepunctatus Hallowell (Reptilia, Squamata, Gekkonoidea, Sphaerodactylidae). In: Zootaxa. 3492, 2012, pp. 65-76, doi : 10.11646 / zootaxa.3694.1.2 .

Web links

Commons : Ball-fingered geckos ( Sphaerodactylus )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files