Goggia lineata
Encyclopedia
The Striped Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko (Goggia lineata) is a minute and delicate species of Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko
, that is indigenous to the western part of the Cape of South Africa
.
With a length of about 4 cm, this tiny nocturnal gecko is (along with Peringuey's Gecko
) the smallest lizard in southern Africa
. It can be found sheltering under rubble and vegetation where it feeds on insects like ants and termites. Its natural range extends from the Cape Town
(where it is sometimes still found in suburban gardens), eastwards through the Western Cape
and then up along South Africa's west coast as far as Namibia
.
This is a pale grey lizard of about 4 cm in length, usually with several dark stripes running down its back. They can often be seen sheltering alongside other species, being happy to share a refuge with other larger geckos such as the Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko
. They can still be found in suburban gardens in Cape Town
, where collectively they eat a great deal of small insects, helping to serve as a form of natural pest-control. However, domestic cats - as introduced predators - will usually kill large numbers of these little lizards, often exterminating them from the immediate area.
This species of Dwarf Leaf-toed gecko
lays 2 tiny eggs in a moist, warm spot in summer.
Goggia
Goggia is a genus of geckos, a type of lizard found mainly in southern Africa.- Classification of genus Goggia :*Braack's Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko, Goggia braacki*Essex's Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko, Goggia essexi...
, that is indigenous to the western part of the Cape of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
With a length of about 4 cm, this tiny nocturnal gecko is (along with Peringuey's Gecko
Peringueyi's Leaf-toed Gecko
Peringuey's leaf-toed gecko, Cryptactites peringueyi, is a species of gecko. It is particularly tiny, not growing more than about , making it the smallest lizard in the region, along with the Striped Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko of the Western Cape. It has a red-brown body sometimes with thin, pale dark...
) the smallest lizard in southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
. It can be found sheltering under rubble and vegetation where it feeds on insects like ants and termites. Its natural range extends from the Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
(where it is sometimes still found in suburban gardens), eastwards through the Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
and then up along South Africa's west coast as far as Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
.
This is a pale grey lizard of about 4 cm in length, usually with several dark stripes running down its back. They can often be seen sheltering alongside other species, being happy to share a refuge with other larger geckos such as the Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko
Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko
The Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko is a flat, medium-sized gecko that is indigenous to the Western Cape Province of South Africa....
. They can still be found in suburban gardens in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, where collectively they eat a great deal of small insects, helping to serve as a form of natural pest-control. However, domestic cats - as introduced predators - will usually kill large numbers of these little lizards, often exterminating them from the immediate area.
This species of Dwarf Leaf-toed gecko
Goggia
Goggia is a genus of geckos, a type of lizard found mainly in southern Africa.- Classification of genus Goggia :*Braack's Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko, Goggia braacki*Essex's Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko, Goggia essexi...
lays 2 tiny eggs in a moist, warm spot in summer.