Wahlberg's velvet gecko (''Homopholis wahlbergii'') is a
species of large
gecko
Geckos are small, mostly carnivorous lizards that have a wide distribution, found on every continent except Antarctica. Belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, geckos are found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from .
Geckos ar ...
, a lizard in the
family Gekkonidae. The species occurs exclusively in
Southern Africa.
Etymology
The
specific name Specific name may refer to:
* in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database
In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules:
* Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...
, ''wahlbergii'', is in honor of Swedish naturalist
Johan August Wahlberg
Johan August Wahlberg (9 October 1810, in Lackarebäck, Sweden – 6 March 1856, in Lake Ngami, Bechuanaland) was a Swedish naturalist and explorer.
Wahlberg started studying chemistry at the University of Uppsala in 1829, and later forestry, a ...
.
[Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Homopholis wahlbergii'', p. 278).]
Geographic range
''H. wahlbergii'' is
endemic to
Miombo and
Mopane bushveld of
Botswana,
South Africa,
Eswatini
Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...
,
Zimbabwe, and
Mozambique. The largest part of its range covers Zimbabwe.
Habitat
''H. wahlbergii'' shelters under tree bark, rocks, empty bird nests, and other places in coastal bush and mesic and arid savannas.
[
]
Description
Wahlberg's velvet gecko is so called because the skin looks and feels like velvet. The back varies from dark grey to soft grey-brown and may be crossed with paler chevrons or crossbars or have mottled paler areas nestled along the centre of its back and spine.[ Adults may attain a total length (including tail) of , but average total length is .
]
Behaviour
''H. wahlbergii'' is nocturnal; however, it has been observed to occasionally be active during the day.[ It ventures far from its usual roost only at night, when courtship generally occurs. It is frequently found in ]baobab
''Adansonia'' is a genus made up of eight species of medium-to-large deciduous trees known as baobabs ( or ). They are placed in the Malvaceae family, subfamily Bombacoideae. They are native to Madagascar, mainland Africa, and Australia.Tropic ...
trees and in the roofs and walls of traditional mud-huts and other human dwellings.[ Branch, Bill (2004). ''Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa''. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. . (''Homopholis wahlbergii'', pp. 244–245 + Plate 90).]
Diet
''H. wahlbergii'' is mainly insectivores.[ Beetles make up the majority of its diet, with butterflies making up the next largest proportion, although it can also consume millipedes.][ Whiting MJ, Reaney LT, Keogh JS (2007). "Ecology of Wahlberg's velvet gecko ''Homopholis wahlbergii'' in southern Africa". ''African Zoology'' 42: 38-44.]
Breeding
Males and females of ''H. wahlbergii'' exhibit little to no sexual dimorphism.[
]
References
Further reading
* Boulenger GA (1885). ''Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. Geckonidæ ...'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. (''Homopholis wahlbergii'', p. 191).
*
*Smith A
Smith may refer to:
People
* Metalsmith, or simply smith, a craftsman fashioning tools or works of art out of various metals
* Smith (given name)
* Smith (surname), a family name originating in England, Scotland and Ireland
** List of people wit ...
(1849). ''Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa; Consisting Chiefly of Figures and Descriptions of the Objects of Natural History Collected during an Expedition into the Interior of South Africa, in the Years 1834, 1835, and 1836; Fitted out by "The Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa:" Together with a Summary of African Zoology, and an Inquiry into the Geographical Ranges of Species in that Quarter of the Globe.'' 'Volume III. Reptilia.''London: Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury. (Smith, Elder and Co., printers). Plates with unnumbered pages of text. (''Geko wahlbergii'', new species, Plate 75).
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2125371
wahlbergii
Reptiles of Zimbabwe
Reptiles described in 1849