''Sphaerodactylus corticola'', also known
commonly as the central Bahamas sphaero or the Rum Cay least 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
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 ...
Sphaerodactylidae. 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 the
Bahamas
The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to ...
.
Reproduction
''S. corticola'' 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 ...
.
[
]
Subspecies
Four 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 ...
are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical 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 ...
.[
*'' Sphaerodactylus corticola aporrox''
*'' Sphaerodactylus corticola campter''
*'' Sphaerodactylus corticola corticola''
*'' Sphaerodactylus corticola soter''
]
References
Further reading
* Garman S (1888). "Reptiles and Batrachians from the Caymans and from the Bahamas. Collected by Prof. C. J. Maynard for the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, Mass." ''Bulletin of the Essex Institute'' 20: 101–113. (''Sphaerodactylus corticolus'', new species, p. 111).
* Rösler H (2000). "''Kommentierte Liste der rezent, subrezent und fossil bekannten Geckotaxa (Reptilia: Gekkonomorpha)'' ". ''Gekkota'' 2: 28–153. (''Sphaerodactylus corticola'', p. 111). (in German).
* Schwartz A (1968). "The Geckos (''Sphaerodactylus'') of the Southern Bahama Islands". ''The Annals of the Carnegie Museum'' 39: 227–271. (''Sphaerodactylus corticola aporrox'', new subspecies; ''S. corticola campter'', new subspecies; ''S. corticola soter'', new subspecies).
*Schwartz A, Henderson RW (1991). ''Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History''. Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida Press. 720 pp. . (''Sphaerodactylus corticoa'', p. 483).
*Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). ''A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles''. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (''Sphaerodactylus corticola'', pp. 148–149).
Sphaerodactylus
Reptiles of the Bahamas
Endemic fauna of the Bahamas
Reptiles described in 1888
Taxa named by Samuel Garman
{{Sphaerodactylus-stub