Bernard's dwarf gecko
(''Lygodactylus bernardi''), also
commonly known as FitzSimons' dwarf gecko, is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
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
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
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 ge ...
. The species is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
.
[
]
Etymology
The specific name, ''bernardi'', is in honor of British archaeologist Bernard Evelyn Buller Fagg.[(''Lygodactylus bernardi'', p. 24).]
Geographic range
''L. bernardi'' is endemic to eastern Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
.[ '' Lygodactylus bonsi'' from Malawi was originally described as a ]subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of ''L. bernardi''.
Description
Dorsally
Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...
, ''L. bernardi'' is olive with pale spots. Ventrally, it is bluish-white on the throat, yellow on the belly, and orange to orange-brown on the tail.[
Adults are only in snout-to-vent length (SVL).]
Reproduction
''L. bernardi'' is an oviparous
Oviparous animals are animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, most reptiles, and all pterosaurs, dinosaurs (including birds), and ...
species.[
]
References
Further reading
* 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. . (''Lygodactylus bernardi'', p. 246 + Plate 90).
* FitzSimons V (1958). "On a small collection of reptiles and amphibians from the Inyanga District, S. Rhodesia". ''Occasional Papers of the National Museum of Southern Rhodesia'' 3: 204–214. (''Lygodactylus bernardi'', new species).
* Pasteur G (1962). "''Notes préliminaires sur les lygodactyles (gekkonidés). II. Diagnose de quelques ''Lygodactylus'' d'Afrique''". ''Bulletin de l'Institut fondamental d'Afrique noire'' 24: 606–614. (''Lygodactylus bernardi bonsi'', new subspecies). (in French).
Lygodactylus
Geckos of Africa
Reptiles of Zimbabwe
Endemic fauna of Zimbabwe
Taxa named by Vivian Frederick Maynard FitzSimons
Reptiles described in 1958
Fauna of the Eastern Highlands
{{Lygodactylus-stub