Brilliant South American gecko

The brilliant South American gecko (Gonatodes ceciliae), also known commonly as the brilliant clawed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is native to northern South America.

Brilliant South American gecko
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Gonatodes
Species:
G. ceciliae
Binomial name
Gonatodes ceciliae

Etymology

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The specific name, ceciliae, is in honor of Cecilia Donoso-Barros, who is the daughter of Chilean herpetologist Roberto Donoso-Barros.[2]

Geographic range

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G. ceciliae is found in Trinidad and Venezuela.[3]

Habitat

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The preferred natural habitat of G. ceciliae is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 900 m (3,000 ft).[1]

Description

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Only males of G. ceciliae have brilliant coloration. Females are grayish brown, with darker blotches.[1]

Behavior

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G. ceciliae is diurnal.[3]

Diet

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G. ceciliae preys upon small arthropods[1] and small snails.[4]

Reproduction

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G. ceciliae is oviparous.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Rivas, G.; Schargel, W.; Murphy, J. (2016). "Gonatodes ceciliae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T66083097A66083107. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T66083097A66083107.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ 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. (Gonatodes ceciliae, p. 50)
  3. ^ a b c Gonatodes ceciliae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
  4. ^ "Gonatodes ceciliae (Variegated Gecko)" (PDF). Sta.uwi.edu. Retrieved 9 April 2022.

Further reading

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  • Donoso-Barros R (1966). "Dos nuevos Gonatodes de Venezuela". Publicaciones Ocasionales, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Santiago de Chile 11: 1–32. (Gonatodes ceciliae, new species). (in Spanish).
  • Rivas GA, Molina CR, Ugueto GN, Barros TR, Barrio-Amorós CL, Kok PJR (2012). "Reptiles of Venezuela: an updated and commented checklist". Zootaxa 3211: 1–64. (Gonatodes ceciliae, p. 12 + Figure 3F on p. 32). (in English, with an abstract in Spanish).
  • Rösler H (2000). "Kommentierte Liste der rezent, subrezent und fossil bekannten Geckotaxa (Reptilia: Gekkonomorpha)". Gekkota 2: 28–153. (Gonatodes ceciliae, p. 84). (in German).