The Pedernales least gecko (''Sphaerodactylus randi'') 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 Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Dominican Republic.

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 ...

, ''randi'', is in honor of American herpetologist

Austin Stanley Rand Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous cit ...

(1932–2005). The subspecific name, ''strahmi'', is in honor of herpetologist Michael H. Strahm.

Habitat

The preferred habitat of ''S. randi'' is forest at altitudes of . This species inhabits dry forests and coastal scrubs, where it has been found beneath piles of organic debris like piles of coconut husks.

Reproduction

''S. randi'' 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

Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. *'' Sphaerodactylus randi methorius'' *'' Sphaerodactylus randi randi'' *'' Sphaerodactylus randi strahmi''

References

* Rösler H (2000). "''Kommentierte Liste der rezent, subrezent und fossil bekannten Geckotaxa (Reptilia: Gekkonomorpha)''". ''Gekkota'' 2: 28–153. (''Sphaerodactylus randi'', p. 113). (in German). * Schwartz A (1977). "The geckoes (Sauria, Gekkonidae) of the genus ''Sphaerodactylus'' of the Dominican Península de Barahona, Hispaniola". ''Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington'' 90 (2): 243–254. (''Sphaerodactylus randi'', new status, pp. 247–248; ''S. r. methorius'', new subspecies, pp. 248–251; ''S. r. strahmi'', new subspecies, pp. 251–253). *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 randi'', p. 525). *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 difficilis randi'', new combination, pp. 149–150). * Shreve B (1968). "The ''notatus'' group of ''Sphaerodactylus'' (Sauria, Gekkonidae) in Hispaniola". ''Breviora'' (280): 1-28. (''Sphaerodactylus notatus randi'', new subspecies, pp. 5–7). Sphaerodactylus Reptiles of the Dominican Republic Endemic fauna of the Dominican Republic Reptiles described in 1968 Taxa named by Benjamin Shreve {{Sphaerodactylus-stub

Etymology

Habitat

Reproduction

Subspecies

References

Further reading