Cochran's croaking gecko

Cochran's croaking gecko (Aristelliger cochranae), also commonly known as Cochran's Caribbean gecko[3] and the Navassa gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species was described in 1931 by Chapman Grant and named after notable American herpetologist and artist Doris Mable Cochran.[3] The species received one of its common names from the loud croaking call of the male during the mating period.

Cochran's croaking gecko
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Aristelliger
Species:
A. cochranae
Binomial name
Aristelliger cochranae
Grant, 1931[2]

Description

A. cochranae has a snout to vent length (SVL) up to 63 mm (2.5 in) in males and 53 mm (2.1 in) in females.[4] It has relatively short and massive legs. The colour of its body varies from beige brown to chestnut red and the back exhibits light spots. A dark chestnut crossband extends from the snout to the head, the nape, and the eyes. The largest part of the tail is dark grey to black. The hatchlings have clear white crossbands on the tail.

Occurrence and biology

Cochran's croaking gecko is endemic to Navassa Island,[1][4] an island between Haiti and Jamaica. It is relatively common despite its small habitat of 5.2 km² (2 sq mi). It is nocturnal and arboreal, which means that it lives and preys entirely on the branches or under the bark of ficus trees or fan palms (Thrinax morrisii ). Its diet consists of insects.

References
  1. Powell, R.; Landestoy, M.; Inchaustegui, S. (2016). "Aristelliger cochranae (errata version published in 2017)". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T203167A115347625. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T203167A2761346.en. Downloaded on 13 February 2019.
  2. Grant C (1931). "A new species of Aristelliger from Navassa". Journal of the Department of Agriculture of Porto [sic] Rico 4: 399-400. (Aristelliger cochranae, new species).
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Aristelliger cochranae, pp. 55-56).
  4. Species Aristelliger cochranae at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading
  • Schwartz, Albert; Henderson, Robert W. (1991). Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida. 714 pp. ISBN 0-8130-1049-7.
  • Schwartz, Albert; Thomas, Richard (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Aristelliger cochranae, p. 108).


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