Mocquard's Madagascar ground gecko (''Paroedura bastardi'') is a species 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 '' Gekkonidae''. It is a moderately-sized reptile reaching just over in

snout–vent length Snout–vent length (SVL) is a morphometric measurement taken in herpetology from the tip of the snout to the most posterior opening of the cloacal slit (vent)."direct line distance from tip of snout to posterior margin of vent" It is the most c ...

. The species is endemic to southeastern Madagascar, where it can be found on the ground or climbing tree trunks. Although it was formerly thought to be a widespread species throughout much of west and south Madagascar, morphological and genetic analyses have found that this was due to misclassification, and that this definition of the species is actually a species complex comprising several cryptic species. Today, it is known that ''P. bastardi'' in the strict sense is actually restricted to the extreme southeast of the country.

Taxonomy

The Mocquard's Madagascar ground gecko was first described in 1900 by

François Mocquard François Mocquard (27 October 1834 – 19 March 1917) was a French herpetologist born in Leffond, Haute-Saône. In 1860 he was named ''préparateur du physique'' after receiving his Bachelor of Science degree at the Faculty of Besançon. Subseque ...

under the

scientific name In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

''Phyllodactylus bastardi''. 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 ...

, ''bastardi'', is in honor of French paleontologist Eugène Joseph Bastard (1865–1910). In 1974, several Malagasy species assigned to '' Phyllodactylus'' were reassigned to the genus ''

Paroedura ''Paroedura'' (Madagascar ground geckos) is a genus of geckos, endemic to Madagascar and the Comoros. These geckos are typically terrestrial, though the young of most species can climb until they are too heavy for their feet to support. Species ...

'', including this species (renamed as ''Paroedura bastardi''). The

Ibity ground gecko The Ibity ground gecko (''Paroedura ibityensis'') is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. Though initially described in 1998 as a subspecies of the Mocquard's Madagascar ground gecko, it has been recognized as a distinct species within ...

was initially 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 Mocquard's Madagascar ground gecko, but has been recognized as a separate species since 2008. The type series is made up of 5 syntypes, and the species was formerly thought to include populations from across much of Madagascar. However, several molecular analyses of

mitochondrial A mitochondrion (; ) is an organelle found in the cells of most Eukaryotes, such as animals, plants and fungi. Mitochondria have a double membrane structure and use aerobic respiration to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is use ...

and nuclear DNA sequences in the 2010s have found that this supposed species was actually

paraphyletic In taxonomy (general), taxonomy, a group is paraphyletic if it consists of the group's most recent common ancestor, last common ancestor and most of its descendants, excluding a few Monophyly, monophyletic subgroups. The group is said to be pa ...

, with the

nested among several distinct mitochondrial lineages assigned to Mocquard's Madagascar ground gecko. The type series was also found to include individuals from at least two of these lineages. These lineages are now recognized as cryptic species within the ''Paroedura bastardi'' species complex, and a juvenile specimen was designated as the lectotype of ''P. bastardi''

sensu stricto ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular co ...

. One of the cryptic lineages was reclassified by Miralles ''et al.'' (2021) as ''

Paroedura guibeae ''Paroedura guibeae'', Guibé's ground gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species was formerly synonymized with ''Paroedura bastardi'', but a study in 2021 found that it represents a separate species within the species ...

'', originally described in 1974 and later synonymized with ''P. bastardi'', with the study supporting its resurrection as a separate species. The same study named another one of the cryptic species as ''

Paroedura rennerae ''Paroedura rennerae'' is a species of lizards in the family of the Gekkonidae. Members of this species were formerly assigned to ''Paroedura bastardi'', but a study in 2021 found that they represent a separate species within the species complex ...

''. In 2023, the name ''

Paroedura manongavato ''Paroedura manongavato'' is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. It was described as a distinct species in 2023, and while specimens have been known for years prior, they were formerly assigned to ''Paroedura bastardi''. It is a microen ...

'' was given to the cryptic lineage found in Anja and Tsaranoro. The following cladogram is based on a multilocus phylogenetic analysis and shows the position of ''P. bastardi'' among its closest relatives according to Piccoli ''et al.'' (2023):

Distribution and habitat

Older sources commonly state that Mocquard's Madagascar ground gecko is found across western and southern Madagascar in dry forests,

shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity. It m ...

, and rocky areas, at altitudes of . However, this is due to the fact that several lineages now known to be distinct were once assigned to this species, and the aforementioned range is actually that of the species complex as a whole. Miralles ''et al.'' (2021) found that "true" ''Paroedura bastardi'' are only known from the extreme southeast of Madagascar, and that records of this species from elsewhere on the island actually represent other cryptic species including '' P. rennerae'', '' P. guibeae'' and '' P. manongavato''. There is some overlap in range among members of the species complex, with ''P. bastardi'' and ''P. guibeae'' occurring

sympatrically In biology, two related species or populations are considered sympatric when they exist in the same geographic area and thus frequently encounter one another. An initially interbreeding population that splits into two or more distinct species s ...

in Tranoroa.

Description

The Mocquard's Madagascar ground gecko is a moderately-sized species which may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of approximately . The triangular head is distinctly wider than the neck, and the ear opening is a vertical slit. Like its closest relatives, the dorsal surface of this species has enlarged keeled scales arranged in longitudinal rows. The tail has spiny tubercles, which in juveniles are arranged more regularly than in adults. The limbs are robust, with lamellae-lined toe pads that are wider than the rest of the digit. The body is a tawny brown color with scattered grayish spots and three lighter crossbands. The bands are most prominent in younger individuals, where they may be white with dark borders, whereas in adults they are less distinct. Juveniles also have a distinct pattern on the head which has been described as "butterfly or bat-shaped" that becomes less visible with age. There is no banded patterning on the digits.

Behaviour

This gecko is a terrestrial species capable of climbing, and can be seen on the ground or on vertical wooden surfaces such as tree trunks. It and other species of the ''P. bastardi'' complex have been reported to be quick to bite when handled, likely as a defence mechanism. It 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 ...

, laying eggs which the female buries in substrate. While this species is known to coexist with the related ''

'' in Tranoroa, molecular evidence indicates there is

reproductive isolation The mechanisms of reproductive isolation are a collection of evolutionary mechanisms, behaviors and physiological processes critical for speciation. They prevent members of different species from producing offspring, or ensure that any offspring ...

between the two species.

Conservation

This species was listed as Least Concern by the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

in 2011 due to "its wide distribution" and because it is unlikely to be declining. However, this assessment occurred before the ''Paroedura bastardi'' species complex was split into several lineages, and its range is now known to be more restricted than originally thought. Severe deforestation and slash-and-burn practices since the 1950s have drastically changed the landscape in south-central Madagascar, and some related species are known to be threatened by the resulting habitat loss. This species itself is not confirmed to be affected or declining. Mocquard's Madagascar ground gecko is known to be collected for i nternational pet trade, though the severity of this has not been assessed.

Gallery

File:Mocquard's Madagascar Ground Gecko (Paroedura bastardi) (9574690453).jpg, link=, Front facing specimen at

Kirindy Forest Kirindy Forest or Kirindy Private Reserve is a private park situated in western Madagascar, More precisely, the reserve is situated 50 km northeast of the town of Morondava. The Forest goes through two apparent seasons throughout the year, th ...

File:Mocquard's Madagascar Ground Gecko (Paroedura bastardi) (9601969030).jpg, link=, Dorsal view of a wild adult File:Mocquard's Madagascar Ground Gecko (Paroedura bastardi) (9634330017).jpg, link=, Adult being handled in Berenty Reserve