Fantastic least gecko

The fantastic least gecko, or fantastic sphaero (Sphaerodactylus fantasticus) is a species of gecko found in the Caribbean, on the islands of Dominica, Montserrat, and the Guadeloupe archipelago.[2]

Fantastic least gecko
Adult male specimen from Guadeloupe
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Sphaerodactylus
Species:
S. fantasticus
Binomial name
Sphaerodactylus fantasticus
Subspecies

See text

Distribution of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus in the Lesser Antilles. Known range in red. Subspecies by color: Sphaerodactylus fantasticus anidrotus = red S. f. fantasticus = blue; S. f. fuga = black; S. f. hippomanes = pink; S. f. ligniservulus = purple; S. f. orescius = brown; S. f. tartaropylorus = green; intergrades and populations not assigned to any subspecies = gray.

Morphology
1921 illustration of specimen from Guadeloupe

A medium-sized gecko of the genus Sphaerodactylus. Dorsal scales are keeled in texture, acute to cycloid in shape, and slightly imbricate. The color pattern is sexually dichromatic, and varies greatly between subspecies. [3]

The dorsal ground color of both sexes is brown to ochre. The head color is light brown which may be with or without markings, which may include dark stripes broken into small brown spots, or spots that fuse to produce a dark head with light stripes for spots. There is no dark scapular patch or ocelli in both sexes, a characteristic that is frequently seen in other species. The dorsal coloration is (salt and pepper) mottled with light and dark scales, either of which may dominate. The tail may contain dark-edged light ocelli (usually paired) irregularly arranged along the dorsal surface. Throat is grayish and distinctly lineate, with lines extending posteriorly from the tip of the snot. Venter is uniformly white or with dark spackling.[4][5]

Subspecies

Nine subspecies have been described, each of which has a very restricted range and varies in coloration and other physical characteristics.

  • Sphaerodactylus fantasticus fantasticus A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1836
  • Sphaerodactylus fantasticus anidrotus Thomas, 1965
  • Sphaerodactylus fantasticus fuga Thomas, 1965
  • Sphaerodactylus fantasticus hippomanes Thomas, 1965
  • Sphaerodactylus fantasticus karukera Thomas, 1965
  • Sphaerodactylus fantasticus ligniservulus King, 1962
  • Sphaerodactylus fantasticus orescius Thomas, 1965
  • Sphaerodactylus fantasticus phyzacinus Thomas, 1965
  • Sphaerodactylus fantasticus tartaropylorus Thomas, 1965[5]

Distribution

Endemic to the Lesser Antilles. Native to Guadeloupe (including some of its satellites like Marie Galante and La Desirade), Montserrat, and the western coast of Dominica.

Biogeography

On Dominica, the distribution of the subspecies S. fantasticus fuga is limited to the western coast (Malhotra and Thorpe 1999). These dwarf geckos have recently been found to be genetically similar to one population in Guadeloupe, suggesting that they are recent colonizers of Dominica (Malhotra and Thorpe 1999; Thorpe et al. 2008).

Ecology

This is a terrestrial species that occurs in a moderately wide range of habitats which are usually near the coast. These include mesic and xeric forests, beaches, hillsides ,and houses. During the day, it can be found (active) on piles of organic debris and leaf litter (in shaded situations). Also hiding under stones, logs, and piles of debris. [3]

Habitat
  • Habitat of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus fuga in Batali beach, western Dominica.
    Habitat of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus fuga in Batali beach, western Dominica.
  • Habitat of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus fuga in Cabrits National Park, north-western Dominica.
    Habitat of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus fuga in Cabrits National Park, north-western Dominica.
  • Habitat of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus tartaropylorus in Pointe de la Grande Vigie, north-eastern Guadeloupe.
    Habitat of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus tartaropylorus in Pointe de la Grande Vigie, north-eastern Guadeloupe.

References
  1. Dewynter, M.; Daltry, J.C.; Powell, R.; Gomès, R. (2017). "Sphaerodactylus fantasticus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T75605443A75607754. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T75605443A75607754.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. "Sphaerodactylus fantasticus". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  3. Schwartz, Albert (1991). Amphibians and reptiles of the West Indies : descriptions, distributions, and natural history. Robert W. Henderson. Gainesville: University of Florida Press. ISBN 0-585-19242-1. OCLC 44958544.
  4. Daniells, E. A. (2010). "Sphaerodactylus fantasticus" (PDF). Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 876: 1–8.
  5. Schwartz, Albert and Richard Thomas. 1975. A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. pp. 150-151.
  • Malhotra, Anita; Thorpe, Roger S.; Hypolite, Eric; James, Arlington (2007). "A report on the status of the herpetofauna of the Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies". Appl. Herpetol. 4 (2): 177–94. doi:10.1163/157075407780681365.
  • Malhotra, Anita; Thorpe, Roger S. (1999). Reptiles & Amphibians of the Eastern Caribbean. Macmillan Education Ltd. pp. 27, 35, 37, 75, 82–83, 86–87. ISBN 0-333-69141-5.
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