Günther's flat-tail gecko

Günther's flat-tail gecko (Uroplatus guentheri) is a species of nocturnal gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.

Günther's flat-tail gecko
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Uroplatus
Species:
U. guentheri
Binomial name
Uroplatus guentheri
Mocquard, 1908
Synonyms
  • Uroplatus Güntheri
    Mocquard, 1908
  • Uroplatus guentheri
    — Wermuth, 1965[2]

Etymology

The specific name, guentheri, is in honour of German-born British herpetologist Albert Günther.[3]

Geographic range

U. guentheri is found in northwestern Madagascar in the area around Ankarafansika[1] and near Morondava in western Madagascar.

Description

U. guentheri reaches a total length (including tail) of 150 mm (5.9 in).

Habitat and behaviour

U. guentheri lives on small trees and bushes. It is generally found less than 3 m (10 ft) above the ground. It is very difficult to find during the day, using its camouflage to mimic dead branches and bits of bark. During the night however, it becomes active, hunting for invertebrate prey.

References
  1. IUCN Red List, retrieved 16 February 2012
  2. "Uroplatus guentheri ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  3. 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. (Uroplatus guentheri, p. 111).

Further reading
  • Glaw F, Vences M (1994). A Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Second Edition. Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlag / Serpents Tale. 480 pp. ISBN 978-3929449-01-3.
  • Mocquard F (1908). "Description de quelques Reptiles et d'un Batracien nouveaux de la collection du Muséum ". Bulletin du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 14: 259-262. ("Uroplatus Güntheri ", new species, pp. 259–260). (in French).
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