Bons's dwarf day gecko or Bons' dwarf day gecko (''Lygodactylus bonsi'') 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
lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...
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
Malawi
Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...
.
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 ...
, ''bonsi'', is in honor of French herpetologis
Jacques Bons(born 1933).
Taxonomy
''L. bonsi'' 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
Bernard's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus bernardi)'', but has since year 2000 considered a full species.
[
]
Geographic range
''L. bonsi'' is found in the Mulanje Massif
The Mulanje Massif, also known as Mount Mulanje, is a large inselberg in southern Malawi. Sapitwa Peak, the highest point on the massif at 3,002 m, is the highest point in Malawi. It lies 65 km east of Blantyre, rising sharply from the su ...
in southern Malawi.[
]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
of ''L. bonsi'' is rocky areas in grassland
A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natur ...
, at altitudes of .
Reproduction
''L. bonsi'' is 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 ...
.[
]
References
Further reading
* Pasteur G (1962). "''Notes préliminaires sur les lygodactyles (gekkonidés). II. Diagnose de quelques ''Lygodactylus'' d'Afrique''". ''Bulletin de l'Institute fondamental d'Afrique noire'' 24: 606–614. (''Lygodactylus bernardi bonsi'', new subspecies). (in French).
* Rösler H (2000). "''Kommentierte Liste der rezent, subrezent und fossil bekannten Geckotaxa (Reptilia: Gekkonomorpha)''". ''Gekkota'' 2: 28–153. (''Lygodactylus bonsi'', new status). (in German).
* Travers SL, Jackman TR, Bauer AM (2014). "A molecular phylogeny of Afromontane dwarf geckos (''Lygodactylus'') reveals a single radiation and increased species diversity in a South African montane center of endemism". ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 80: 31–42.
Lygodactylus
Geckos of Africa
Reptiles of Malawi
Endemic fauna of Malawi
Reptiles described in 1962
Taxa named by Georges Pasteur
{{Lygodactylus-stub