Darwin's wall gecko (Tarentola darwini) is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. The species is endemic to Cape Verde, where it occurs on the islands of São Nicolau, Sal, Santiago, and Fogo.[2]

Tarentola darwini
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Phyllodactylidae
Genus: Tarentola
Species:
T. darwini
Binomial name
Tarentola darwini
Joger, 1984

Taxonomy and etymology edit

T. darwini was described and named by German herpetologist Ulrich Joger in 1984. The specific name darwini refers to English naturalist Charles Darwin, who visited the island of Santiago in 1832.[2][3]

Habitat edit

The preferred natural habitat of T. darwini is arid, rocky areas at low altitudes.[1]

Description edit

Adults of T. darwini usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 5.5 cm (2.2 in). The maximum recorded SVL is 6.4 cm (2.5 in).[2]

Reproduction edit

T. darwini is oviparous.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Vasconcelos, R. (2013). "Tarentola darwini ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T13152141A13152146. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T13152141A13152146.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Tarentola darwini at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 January 2019.
  3. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Tarentola darwini, p. 65).

Further reading edit

  • Joger U (1984). "Die Radiation der Gattung Tarentola in Makaronesien ". Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg 71: 91–111. (Tarentola darwini, new species, p. 96). (in German)
  • Rösler H (1995). Geckos der Welt: Alle Gattungen. Leipzig: Urania Verlag. 256 pp. ISBN 978-3332005493. (Tarentola darwini, p. 157). (in German).
  • Vasconcelos R, Perera A, Geniez P, Harris DJ, Carranza S (2012). "An integrative taxonomic revision of the Tarentola geckos (Squamata, Phyllodactylidae) of the Cape Verde Islands". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 164 (2): 328–360. (Tarentola darwini, p. 346).