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Sphaerodactylus
''Sphaerodactylus'' is a genus of geckos from the Americas that are distinguished from other Gekkota by their small size, by their round, rather than vertical, eye pupils, and by each digit terminating in a single, round adhesive pad or scale, from which their name (''Sphaero'' = round, ''dactylus'' = finger) is derived. All species in this genus are rather small, but two species, '' S. ariasae'' and '' S. parthenopion'', are tiny, and – with a snout-vent length of about – the smallest reptiles in the world. Fossil record Fossil remains referred to ''Sphaerodactylus'' have been recovered from Dominican amber. Species The following 108 species are recognized as being valid. *'' Sphaerodactylus alphus'' - Guanaja large-scaled geckolet *''Sphaerodactylus altavelensis'' - Alto Velo least gecko, Alto Velo sphaero *''Sphaerodactylus argivus'' - Cayman least gecko *''Sphaerodactylus argus'' - ocellated gecko, ocellated sphaero, stippled sphaero *''Sphaerodactylus ariasae'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sphaerodactylus Macrolepis
''Sphaerodactylus macrolepis'', also known as the big-scaled dwarf gecko or the big-scaled least gecko, is a lizard of the ''Sphaerodactylus'' genus. It was first documented in 1859 in the US Virgin Islands, specifically, St. Croix. This diurnal species has since been spotted in other locations such as Puerto Rico with major populations in Culebra. Additionally, the big-scaled dwarf gecko displays sexual dimorphism with males being larger than females. Furthermore, size, particularly snout vent length, differs depending on the location of the lizard. Those in Puerto Rico are larger than their US Virgin Island counterparts. The big-scaled dwarf gecko is commonly seen on the forest floor of the islands, in their preferred microhabitat of leaf litter. Additionally, the species also exhibits significant sexual dichromatism in which the male and females are unique in coloration. A main difference is the colored head found in males but is lacking in females. Another notable characterist ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sphaerodactylus Parthenopion
The Virgin Islands dwarf sphaero, Virgin Gorda least gecko, or Virgin Islands dwarf gecko (''Sphaerodactylus parthenopion'') 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 (also spelled “Mosquito 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 Virgin Islands dwarf sphaero has a deep brown colour on its upper side, often with a speckling of darker scales. On a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard Thomas (herpetologist)
John Paul Richard Thomas (born 1938) is an American taxonomist and systematist, and retired professor of herpetology and evolution at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras (San Juan, Puerto Rico). (Kindle edition). (hardcover). He described several species new to science, mostly amphibians and reptiles, from throughout the Caribbean islands including the common coquí (''Eleutherodactlys coqui)'', the national animal of Puerto Rico. Early life and education Thomas was born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, on May 2, 1938. At the University of South Florida, Thomas graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in 1969. Later, he went to Louisiana State University and obtained a PhD in 1976. Research Thomas' research has focused mostly on amphibians and reptiles, spanning several fields from natural history to systematics and evolution. His studies have yielded descriptions of new species of dwarf geckos (''Sphaerodactylus''), blind snakes (Scolecophidia), and rain frogs (''Eleutherodactylus''). ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sphaerodactylus Ariasae
''Sphaerodactylus ariasae'', commonly called the Jaragua sphaero or the Jaragua dwarf gecko, is the smallest species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. Description ''Sphaerodactylus ariasae'' is the world's smallest known reptile. The second-smallest is '' S. parthenopion'', native to the British Virgin Islands. The Jaragua sphaero measures 14-18 mm (0.55-0.71 in) from the snout to the base of the tail and can fit on a US 25-cent coin. It has an average weight of just 0.13 g (0.00455 of an ounce). By contrast, the blue whale is 1,600 times longer and more than 1 billion times heavier. Geographic range The geographic range of ''S. ariasae'' is believed to be limited to Jaragua National Park, in the southernmost tip of the Barahona Peninsula, in the extreme southwest of the Dominican Republic and nearby forested Beata Island. Habitat The preferred natural habitat of ''S. ariasae'' is the leaf litter of the forest floor of dry forests with limestone substratum. Reprodu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sphaerodactylus Argus
''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. The species is indigenous to the Caribbean. There are two recognized subspecies Etymology The specific name, ''argus'', refers to Argus, the many-eyed giant in Greek mythology, an allusion to the ocelli (eye spots) of this species. Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Sphaerodactylus argus'', p. 11). Geographic range ''S. argus'' is native only to Jamaica . Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). ''A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles''. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (''Sphaerodactylus argus'', p. 144). It is also found in Cuba and on adjacent islets, in the Bahamas, and in the Yucatan Penins ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sphaerodactylus Armasi
''Sphaerodactylus armasi'', also known commonly as the Guantanamo coastal gecko or the Guantanamo least gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae . The species is endemic to Cuba. Etymology The specific name, ''armasi'', is in honor of Cuban zoologist Luis F. de Armas.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Sphaerodactylus armasi'', p. 11). Geographic range ''S. armasi'' is found in Guantánamo Province in extreme southeastern Cuba. Habitat The preferred natural habitat of ''S. armasi'' is dry forest, often with ''Agave''. Reproduction ''S. armasi'' is oviparous. References Further reading *Alfonso, Yasel U.; Charruau, Pierre; Fajardo, Gabriel; Estrada, Alberto R. (2012). "Interspecific communal oviposition and reproduction of three lizard species in Southeastern Cuba". ''Herpetology Notes'' 5: 73–77. * Rösler H (2000). "''Kommentier ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sphaerodactylus Armstrongi
Armstrong's least gecko (''Sphaerodactylus armstrongi''), also known commonly as the southern forest geckolet, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae . The species is endemic to the island of Hispaniola. Etymology The specific name, ''armstrongi'', is in honor of Lorenzo D. Armstrong, a patron of the American Museum of Natural History who financed the 1932 expedition on which the holotype was collected.Noble & Hassler (1933). Geographic range ''S. armstrongi'' is found in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Habitat The preferred natural habitat of ''S. armstrongi'' is forest, at altitudes from sea level to . Reproduction ''S. armstrongi'' is oviparous. References Further reading * Noble GK, Hassler WG (1933). "Two New Species of Frogs, Five New Species and a Race of Lizards from the Dominican Republic". ''American Museum Novitates'' (652): 1–17. (''Sphaerodactylus armstrongi'', new species, pp. 5–7). * Rösler H (2000). "''Kommentierte Liste der reze ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sphaerodactylus Argivus
The Cayman least gecko (''Sphaerodactylus argivus'') is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. It is endemic to Cayman Brac in the Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands () is a self-governing British Overseas Territory—the largest by population in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which are located to the .... References Sphaerodactylus Reptiles described in 1888 Endemic fauna of the Cayman Islands Taxa named by Samuel Garman {{Sphaerodactylus-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sphaerodactylus Altavelensis
''Sphaerodactylus altavelensis'', also known as the Alto Velo least gecko or Alto Velo sphaero, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola Hispaniola (, also ; es, La Española; Latin and french: Hispaniola; ht, Ispayola; tnq, Ayiti or Quisqueya) is an island in the Caribbean that is part of the Greater Antilles. Hispaniola is the most populous island in the West Indies, and th .... References Sphaerodactylus Endemic fauna of Hispaniola Reptiles of the Dominican Republic Reptiles of Haiti Reptiles described in 1933 Taxa named by Gladwyn Kingsley Noble {{Sphaerodactylus-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sphaerodactylus Alphus
''Sphaerodactylus alphus'' is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. It is endemic to Islas de la Bahía in Honduras Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. The republic of Honduras is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Oce .... References Sphaerodactylus Reptiles of Honduras Endemic fauna of Honduras Reptiles described in 2013 Taxa named by Stephen Blair Hedges {{Sphaerodactylus-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dominican Amber
Dominican amber is amber from the Dominican Republic derived from resin of the extinct tree ''Hymenaea protera''. Dominican amber differentiates itself from Baltic amber by being nearly always transparent, and it has a higher number of fossil inclusions. This has enabled the detailed reconstruction of the ecosystem of a long-vanished tropical forest.George Poinar, Jr. and Roberta Poinar, 1999. ''The Amber Forest: A Reconstruction of a Vanished World'', (Princeton University Press) Age A study in the early 1990s returned a date up to 40 million years old. However, according to Poinar, Dominican amber dates from Oligocene to Miocene, thus about 25 million years old. The oldest, and hardest of this amber comes from the mountain region north of Santiago. The ''La Cumbre'', ''La Toca'', ''Palo Quemado'', ''La Bucara'', and ''Los Cacaos'' mining sites in the ''Cordillera Septentrional'' not far from Santiago. Amber has also been found in the south-eastern Bayaguana/Sabana de la Mar a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gladwyn Kingsley Noble
Gladwyn Kingsley Noble (September 20, 1894 – December 9, 1940) was an American zoologist who served as the head curator for the Department of Herpetology and the Department of Experimental Biology at the American Museum of Natural History. Noble received bachelor's and master's degrees from Harvard University in 1917 and 1918, respectively, and a Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1922. He joined the herpetology department in 1922 as a research assistant and assistant curator in 1917, and became the chairman of the department in 1924. He later formed the Department of Experimental Biology in 1928, and served as the chairman of both departments until his death on December 9, 1940, from a streptococcal throat infection. Noble is the taxon author of 20 new species of reptiles. A species of lizard, ''List of Anolis lizards, Anolis noblei'', is named in his honor. Also, a subspecies of lizard, ''Sphaerodactylus darlingtoni, Sphaerodactylus darlingtoni noblei'', is named in his honor. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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