The Makgabeng dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus montiscaeruli'') 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. 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
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
.
[. www.reptile-database.org.]
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 ...
s of ''L. montiscaeruli'' are rocky areas and
savanna
A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to ...
.
Description
''L. montiscaeruli'' has 7 to 8 precloacal pores.
[ 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 nigropunctatus montiscaeruli'', p. 248 + Plate 109).]
Reproduction
''L. montiscaeruli'' 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
* Jacobsen NHG (1992). "New ''Lygodactylus'' taxa (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from the Transvaal". ''Bonner zoologische Beiträge'' 43 (4): 527–542. (''Lygodactylus nigropunctatus montiscaeruli'', new subspecies, pp. 532–537, Figures 1–2).
* Röll B (2018). "''Tagaktive, kleine Geckos – die Gattung'' Lygodactylus". ''Reptilia'' 23 (132): 16–23. (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 montiscaeruli'', new status).
Lygodactylus
Reptiles described in 1992
Taxa named by Neils Henning Gunther Jacobsen
{{Lygodactylus-stub