Pachydactylus robertsi

Pachydactylus robertsi, commonly known as the large-scaled gecko, shielded thick-toed gecko, or Rauhschuppen-Dickfingergecko in German, is an African species of gecko.[3]

Pachydactylus robertsi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Pachydactylus
Species:
P. robertsi
Binomial name
Pachydactylus robertsi
Synonyms
  • Pachydactylus robertsi
    V. FitzSimons, 1938
  • Pachydactylus scutatus robertsi
    — Loveridge, 1944
  • Pachydactylus robertsi
    — Bauer et al., 2002[2]

Geographic range

P. robertsi is found near Keetmanshoop and Karasburg where the type specimen was caught in the Great Karas Mountains in southern Namibia.[3]

Conservation status

Although there are no obvious immediate threats to the species P. robertsi, it appears to have a limited distribution which would make it more vulnerable to habitat loss.[2]

Etymology

The specific name, robertsi, is in honour of South African zoologist J. Austin Roberts,[4] who was part of the Expedition to South-West Africa and Little Namaqualand when the types specimen was collected on 12 August 1937.[5]

Description

The shielded thick-toed gecko is a light olive brown colour with darker spots that cover the back; a line of these darker spots runs down the spine. It has a dark line that runs from the snout through the eye; this line is bordered on either side by pale lines.

The underside of the head, throat, body and limbs are a much paler colour.

The tail is a more uniform olive brown colour.

Pachydactylus robertsi may be confused with Pachydactylus scutatus but can be differentiated by the exclusion of the rostral scale from the nostril. Also, P. robertsi has a wider (2–3 scale rows) nuchal band (vs 1 scale row in P. scutatus).[2]

See also

References
  1. Bauer, A.M.; Becker, F. (2020). "Pachydactylus robertsi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T110214391A110214399. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T110214391A110214399.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Pachydactylus robertsi at The Reptile Database". Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  3. "Pachydactylus robertsi at www.pachydactylus.com". Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  4. Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Pachydactylus robertsi, p. 223).
  5. FitzSimons, V. (1938). "Transvaal Museum Expedition to South-West Africa and Little Namaqualand, May to August 1937. Reptiles and Amphibians". Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 19 (2): 153–209. (Pachydactylus robertsi, new species, pp. 177-178).

Photographs available at:


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