Rhacodactylus
Encyclopedia
Rhacodactylus is a genus
of medium to large gecko
s of the subfamily Diplodactylinae
. All species in this genus are found on the island
s that make up New Caledonia
.
Genus
characteristics include long limbs and toes with well-developed lamellae. Some webbing occurs on the hind limbs and toes. Rhacodactylus possess prehensile tail
s which also have lamellae to assist in climbing. These are for the most part arboreal geckos. Rhacodactylus are nocturnal geckos.
The species
are egg layers with the exception of Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus which gives live birth
. Rhacodactylus geckos are sexually dimorphic, with the males possessing larger preanal pores than the females as well as a distinct hemipenis pocket.
With the exception of Rhacodactylus auriculatus, Males tend to be stockier than females. (in R. auriculatus the males are much slimmer than the females.)
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of medium to large gecko
Gecko
Geckos are lizards belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm....
s of the subfamily Diplodactylinae
Diplodactylinae
Diplodactylinae is the second largest subfamily of Gekkonidae by number of species . There are 142 species in seventeen genera...
. All species in this genus are found on the island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s that make up New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
.
Genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
characteristics include long limbs and toes with well-developed lamellae. Some webbing occurs on the hind limbs and toes. Rhacodactylus possess prehensile tail
Prehensile tail
A prehensile tail is the tail of an animal that has adapted to be able to grasp and/or hold objects. Fully prehensile tails can be used to hold and manipulate objects, and in particular to aid arboreal creatures in finding and eating food in the trees...
s which also have lamellae to assist in climbing. These are for the most part arboreal geckos. Rhacodactylus are nocturnal geckos.
The species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
are egg layers with the exception of Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus which gives live birth
Vivipary
Vivipary has two different meanings. In animals, it means development of the embryo inside the body of the mother, eventually leading to live birth, as opposed to laying eggs...
. Rhacodactylus geckos are sexually dimorphic, with the males possessing larger preanal pores than the females as well as a distinct hemipenis pocket.
With the exception of Rhacodactylus auriculatus, Males tend to be stockier than females. (in R. auriculatus the males are much slimmer than the females.)
Classification
- Gargoyle Gecko, Rhacodactylus auriculatus
- Bavay's Giant Gecko, Rhacodactylus chahouaRhacodactylus chahouaRhacodactylus chahoua commonly known as the Mossy New Caledonian gecko or Short-snouted New Caledonian gecko, is an arboreal gecko found natively on the southern portion of the island of New Caledonia and on the outlying islands of Ile de Pines and Grande Terre. R. chahoua is currently being...
- Crested Gecko, Rhacodactylus ciliatus
- New Caledonia Giant Gecko, Rhacodactylus leachianusRhacodactylus leachianusThe New Caledonian Giant Gecko or Leach's Giant Gecko , is a large species of gecko first described by Georges Cuvier in 1829. It is often commonly referred to as a Leachie gecko . It is the largest of the Rhacodactylus geckos...
- Rhacodactylus leachianus aubrianus
- Rhacodactylus leachianus henkeli
- Rhacodactylus leachianus leachianus
- Roux's Giant Gecko or Suras Gecko, Rhacodactylus sarasinorumRhacodactylus sarasinorumRhacodactylus sarasinorum, also called Sarasin's Giant Gecko or Suras Gecko, is a species of gecko found on the southern portions of the outlying New Caledonian island of Grande Terre. R. sarasinorum is currently being evaluated by CITES for protective status and is considered vulnerable to...
- Tough-snouted Giant Gecko, Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchusRhacodactylus trachyrhynchusThe Rough-snouted Giant Gecko or Tough-snouted Gecko is a species of gecko found in central and southern New Caledonia and on the outlying New Caledonian island of Ile de Pines...
- Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus trachycephalus
- Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus trachyrhynchus
Literature
- Robert Seipp, Friedrich-Wilhelm Henkel: Rhacodactylus - Biologie, Haltung und Zucht; mit einem Anhang der Geckoarten Neukaledoniens; / von Robert Seipp, Friedrich Wilhelm Henkel. Frankfurt am Main: Edition Chimaira, 2000. ISBN 3-930612-23-2
- Phillippe de Vosjoli: Rhacodactylus - The Complete Guide to their Selection and Care; / von Philippe de Vosjoli, Frank Fast, Allen Repashy. Advanced Vision Inc, 2003. ISBN 0-9742971-0-0