Giant wall gecko
| Giant wall gecko | |
|---|---|
 | |
| T. gigas brancoensis in Cape Verde | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Gekkota |
| Family: | Phyllodactylidae |
| Genus: | Tarentola |
| Species: | T. gigas |
| Binomial name | |
| Tarentola gigas (Bocage, 1875) | |
| Subspecies | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
The giant wall gecko (Tarentola gigas) is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. The species is endemic to Cape Verde. There are two recognized subspecies.
Taxonomy
[edit]The giant wall gecko was originally described and named Ascalabotes gigas by Portuguese zoologist José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage in 1875.[2]
Subspecies
[edit]Two subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies, are recognized as being valid.[2]
Description
[edit]The giant wall gecko reaches a maximum snout-to-vent length of 15.5 cm (6.1 in). Its dorsal skin has a grey color.[2] It is one of the largest geckos in the world.[3]
Geographic distribution
[edit]Tarentola gigas is endemic to Cape Verde, where it occurs on the island of São Nicolau and on the nearby islets of Branco and Raso.[2]
Before human settlement to Cape Verde, the giant wall gecko also occurred on São Vicente and Santa Luzia.[3]
Behavior
[edit]The giant wall gecko is nocturnal.
Diet
[edit]Both subspecies of Tarentola gigas have a generalist diet, feeding on a variety of plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates (such as Coleoptera, Diptera, and more) available within their trophic environment.[3]
Conservation status
[edit]The giant wall gecko is listed as threatened because of the reduction of its range, and the decrease in the species it preys on.[3]
References
[edit]- ↑ Vasconcelos, R. (2013). "Tarentola gigas ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013 e.T13152177A13152180. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T13152177A13152180.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Tarentola gigas at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 1 April 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 Pinho, Catarina Jesus; Santos, Bárbara; Mata, Vanessa A. (2018). "What Is the Giant Wall Gecko Having for Dinner? Conservation Genetics for Guiding Reserve Management in Cabo Verde". Genes. 9 (12): 599. doi:10.3390/genes9120599. PMC 6315674. PMID 30513942.
Further reading
[edit]
- Bocage, J.V.B. (1875). "2. Sur deux reptiles nouveaux de l'Archipel du Cap-Vert " [On Two New Reptiles of the Cape Verde Archipelago]. Jornal de Sciencias Mathematicas, Physicas e Naturaes [Journal of Science, Mathematics, Physics and Nature], Lisbon. 5: 108–112.
- Carranza, S.; Arnold, E. Nicholas; Mateo, J.A.; López-Jurado, L.F. (2000). "Long-distance colonization and radiation in gekkonid lizards, Tarentola (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequences". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B. 267: 637–649.
- Schleich, H.H. (1984). "Die Geckos der Gattung Tarentola der Kapverden (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae) [Geckos of the Genus Tarentola of Cape Verde (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae)]". Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg. 68: 95–106. (in German)
- Schleich, H.H. (1987). "Herpetofauna caboverdiana". Spixiana Suppl. (12): 75.
- Schleich, H.H. (1988). "Case 2621, Ascalabotes gigas Bocage, 1875 (currently Tarentola gigas; Reptilia, Squamata): proposed conservation of the specific name [by suppression of the senior synonym Tarentola borneensis Gray, 1845]". Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. 45 (1): 41–42.
- Jesus, J.; Brehm, A.; Harris, D.J. (2002). "Relationships of Tarentola (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from the Cape Verde Islands estimated from DNA sequence data". Amphibia-Reptilia. 23 (1): 47–54.
- Joger, U. (1993). "On two collections of reptiles and amphibians from the Cape Verde Islands, with descriptions of three new taxa". Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg. 159: 437–444.
- Joger, U. (1984). "Die Radiation der Gattung Tarentola in Makaronesien ". Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg. 71: 91–111. (in German).
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