The Namib chirping gecko (''Ptenopus carpi''), also known
commonly as Carp's barking gecko, 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. The species is
endemic to
Namibia.
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 ...
, ''carpi'', is in honor of South African amateur naturalist Bernhard Carp (1901–1966), who was a financial supporter of museum expeditions.
Habitat
The preferred natural
habitat of ''P. carpi'' is
desert
A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About on ...
, at altitudes from sea level to .
[
]
Description
Adults of ''P. carpi'' usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of . The maximum recorded SVL is . Dorsally, it has 3–5 dark brown crossbars on the body, and 5-9 more on the tail. Ventrally, it is white. A yellow heart-shaped spot may be present on the throat.[ 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. . (''Ptenopus carpi'', p. 265 + Plate 79).]
Behavior
''P. carpi'' is nocturnal
Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite.
Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...
and digs burrows. It shelters in these burrows during the day.[
]
Vocalization
Males of ''P. carpi'' make barking or chirping sounds to attract females.[
]
Reproduction
''P. carpi'' 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
* Brain CK (1962). "A review of the gecko genus ''Ptenopus'' with the description of a new species". ''Cimbebasia'' (1): 1–18. (''Ptenopus carpi'', new species).
* Gramentz D (2008). "''Zum bioakustischen Verhalten von ''Ptenopus carpi'' Brain, 1961'' ". ''Sauria'' 30 (1): 43–46. (in German).
* Haacke WD (1976). "The Burrowing Geckos of Southern Africa: 5. Phylogenetic and Taxonomic Affinities". ''Annals of the Transvaal Museum'' 30 (6): 71–89.
* Rösler H (2000). "''Kommentierte Liste der rezent, subrezent und fossil bekannten Geckotaxa (Reptilia: Gekkonomorpha)''". ''Gekkota'' 2: 28–153. (''Ptenopus carpi'', p. 107). (in German).
Endemic fauna of Namibia
Ptenopus
Reptiles described in 1962
Reptiles of Namibia
{{Gekkonidae-stub