The Paraíba gecko (Phyllopezus periosus), also commonly called the Peraiba gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. The species is endemic to Brazil.

Peraiba gecko
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Phyllodactylidae
Genus: Phyllopezus
Species:
P. periosus
Binomial name
Phyllopezus periosus
Rodrigues [fr], 1986

Etymology edit

The specific name, periosus, is Latin from the Greek περισσότερο, meaning "big, huge".[2] The common name, "Paraíba gecko", refers to the Brazilian state of Paraíba.

Geographic range edit

P. periosus is found in the Brazilian states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Rio Grande do Norte.[3]

Description edit

Dorsally, P. periosus has six or seven, dark brown, irregular-shaped crossbars, on a light gray ground color. Ventrally, adults are golden yellow, but juveniles are milky white.[4]

Average snout-to-vent length (SVL) is 8 cm (3.1 in), but may reach 11 cm (4.3 in).[5]

Diet edit

P. periosus preys on insects and spiders.[6]

Reproduction edit

P. periosus is oviparous.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Colli, G.R.; Fenker, J.; Tedeschi, L.; Bataus, Y.S.L.; Uhlig, V.M.; Silveira, A.L.; da Rocha, C.; Nogueira, C. de C.; Werneck, F.; de Moura, G.J.B.; Winck, G.; Kiefer, M.; de Freitas, M.A.; Ribeiro Junior, M.A.; Hoogmoed, M.S.; Tinôco, M.S.T.; Valadão, R.; Cardoso Vieira, R.; Perez Maciel, R.; Gomes Faria, R.; Recoder, R.; Ávila, R.; Torquato da Silva, S.; de Barcelos Ribeiro, S.; Avila-Pires, T.C.S. (2019). "Phyllopezus periosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T48443938A48443942. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  2. ^ Rodrigues (1986), p. 238.
  3. ^ a b Phyllopezus periosus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
  4. ^ Rodrigues (1986), p. 239.
  5. ^ Rodrigues (1986), Figure 1 on p. 240.
  6. ^ Rodrigues (1986), p. 243.

Further reading edit

  • Rodrigues MT [fr] (1986). "Uma nova espécie do gênero Phyllopezus de Cabaceiras: Paraíba: Brasil; com comentários sobre a fauna de lagartos da área (Sauria Gekkonidae) ". Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, Museu de Zoologia da Univeridade de São Paulo 36 (20): 237–250. (Phyllopezus periosus, new species). (in Portuguese, with an abstract in English).