Tobago least gecko

The Tobago least gecko (Sphaerodactylus molei) is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Caribbean and northern South America.

Tobago least gecko
Sphaerodactylus molei,
drawing by E.N. Fischer from Barbour, 1921
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Sphaerodactylus
Species:
S. molei
Binomial name
Sphaerodactylus molei
Boettger, 1894
Synonyms[2]
  • Sphaerodactylus molei
    Boettger, 1894
  • Sphaerodactylus buergeri
    F. Werner, 1900
  • Sphaerodactylus venezuelanus
    Roux, 1927
  • Sphaerodactylus molei
    — King, 1962

Etymology

The specific name, molei is in honor of British naturalist Richard Richardson Mole (1860–1926) of Port of Spain, Trinidad.[3]

Geographic range

S. molei is found in the Antilles, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela including Margarita Island.[2]

Habitat

The preferred habitat of S. molei is forest at altitudes of 0–500 m (0–1,640 ft).[1]

Description

Adults of S. molei have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 25 mm (0.98 in).[4]

Reproduction

S. molei is oviparous.[2] The adult female usually lays one egg, rarely two, in a rotten stump.[5] Average egg size is 7 mm (0.28 in) by 5.0–5.5 mm (0.20–0.22 in).[5]

References
  1. Hoogmoed, M.; Ouboter, P.; Schargel, W.; Rivas, G.; Murphy, J. (2016). "Sphaerodactylus molei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T66080240A66080245. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T66080240A66080245.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. Sphaerodactylus molei at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 24 February 2019.
  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. (Sphaerodactylus molei, p. 181).
  4. Barbour (1921).
  5. King (1962).

Further reading
  • Barbour T (1921). "Sphaerodactylus ". Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 47 (3): 215–283. (Sphaerodactylus molei, pp. 237–238 + Plate 1, figure 4; Plate 13, figures 5–8).
  • Boettger O (1894). "Sphærodactylus molei, Bttgr., n. sp.". p. 80. In: Mole RR, Urich FW (1894). "A Preliminary List of the Reptiles and Batrachians of the Island of Trinidad. With Descriptions of Two New Species by Professor Dr. O. Boettger". Journal of the Field Naturalists' Club, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad 2: 77-90. (Sphaerodactylus molei, new species, p. 80). (in English and Latin).
  • King W (1962). "Systematics of Lesser Antillean lizards of the genus Sphaerodactylus ". Bulletin of the Florida State Museum 7 (1): 1-52. (Sphaerodactylus molei, pp. 35–38, Figures 13A-13E).


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