''Calodactylodes'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of lizards, commonly called golden geckos, in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Gekkonidae Gekkonidae (the common geckos) is the largest family of geckos, containing over 950 described species in 64 genera. Members of the Gekkonidae comprise many of the most widespread gecko species, including house geckos ('' Hemidactylus''), tokay g ...

(geckos). The genus is distributed in peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Lizards in the genus ''Calodactylodes'' are primarily distinguished from other lizards by their characteristic, paired flower petal-like skin extensions on their fingers and toes.

Taxonomy

The

generic Generic or generics may refer to: In business * Generic term, a common name used for a range or class of similar things not protected by trademark * Generic brand, a brand for a product that does not have an associated brand or trademark, other ...

name, ''Calodactylodes'', created in 1928 by

Embrik Strand Embrik Strand (2 June 1876 – 3 November 1947) was an entomologist and arachnologist who classified many insect and spider species including the greenbottle blue tarantula. Life and career Strand was born in Ål, Norway. He studied at t ...

, is a replacement name for Beddome's ''Calodactylus''. Replacement was necessary because when

Richard Henry Beddome Colonel Richard Henry Beddome (11 May 1830 – 23 February 1911) was a British military officer and naturalist in India, who became chief conservator of the Madras Forest Department. In the mid-19th century, he extensively surveyed several ...

created ''Calodactylus'' in 1870, this name was already preoccupied by a genus of

beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

s which

Émile Blanchard Charles Émile Blanchard (6 March 1819 – 11 February 1900) was a French zoologist and entomologist. Career Blanchard was born in Paris. His father was an artist and naturalist and Émile began natural history very early in life. When he wa ...

had named ''Calodactylus'' in 1850.

Species

The following two species are recognized as being valid."''Calodactylodes'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. *''Calodactylodes aureus'' –

Indian golden gecko The Indian golden gecko or Richard Henry Beddome, Beddome's golden gecko (''Calodactylodes aureus'' ) is a species of gecko known only from the Eastern Ghats of India.Sreekar R, Srinivasulu C, Seetharamaraju M, Srinivasulu CA. 2010. Selection of ...

*''Calodactylodes illingworthorum'' – Sri Lankan golden gecko

Geographic range

The Indian species, ''C. aureus'', is found in the

Eastern Ghats The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains along India's eastern coast. The Eastern Ghats pass through Odisha, Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu in the south passing some parts of Karnataka as well as Telangana. They are eroded and cut ...

hill range in

Odisha Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

, and

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...

states. The Sri Lankan species, ''C. illingworthorum'', is found in the

Eastern Province, Sri Lanka The Eastern Province ( ta, கிழக்கு மாகாணம் ''Kiḻakku Mākāṇam''; si, නැගෙනහිර පළාත ''Næ̆gĕnahira Paḷāta'') is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, the first level administrative d ...

Natural history

Both species of ''Calodactylodes'' live in

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

crevices, are nocturnal, insectivorous, and very social, living in colonies of multiple individuals. During breeding seasons, the dominant male acquires a brilliant golden yellow colour all over the body, and hence the common name. Females and young ones are drab brown, camouflaging among the rocks. These geckos are very vocal, and their loud rattling calls are often to be heard inside the dark ravines. They reproduce by laying eggs. Females are communal nesters and many may lay their eggs (often numbering in thousands) together simultaneously in a safe and suitable rock crevice, away from predators' reach.

References

External links