Sphaerodactylus

Sphaerodactylus
Sphaerodactylus macrolepis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Gekkota
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Sphaerodactylus
Wagler, 1830[1]

Sphaerodactylus is a genus of geckos from the Americas [2] that are distinguished from other Gekkota by their small size, by their round, rather than vertical, eye pupils, and by each digit terminating in a single, round adhesive pad or scale, from which their name (Sphaero = round, dactylus = finger) is derived. All species in this genus are rather small, but two species, S. ariasae and S. parthenopion, are tiny, and – with a snout-vent length of about 1.6 cm (0.63 in)the smallest reptiles in the world.[3]

Species

The following 105 species are recognized as being valid.[4]

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Sphaerodactylus.

References

  1. ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
  2. Gamble T, AM Bauer, GR Colli, E Greenbaum, TR Jackman, LJ Vitt, AM Simons. 2011. Coming to America: Multiple Origins of New World Geckos. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 24: 231–244.
  3. Pennsylvania State University (2001). World's Smallest Lizard Discovered in the Caribbean. Accessed 26 January 2009.
  4. "Sphaerodactylus ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

External links

Further reading

External links

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