Brilliant South American gecko

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Brilliant South American gecko

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Gonatodes
Species:
G. ceciliae
Binomial name
Gonatodes ceciliae

The brilliant South American gecko (Gonatodes ceciliae), also known commonly as the brilliant clawed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is native to northern South America.

Etymology

The specific name, ceciliae, is in honor of Cecilia Donoso-Barros, who is the daughter of Chilean herpetologist Roberto Donoso-Barros.[2]

Geographic range

G. ceciliae is found in Trinidad and Venezuela.[3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of G. ceciliae is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 900 m (3,000 ft).[1]

Description

Only males of G. ceciliae have brilliant coloration. Females are grayish brown, with darker blotches.[1]

Behavior

G. ceciliae is diurnal.[3]

Diet

G. ceciliae preys upon small arthropods[1] and small snails.[4]

Reproduction

G. ceciliae is oviparous.[3]

References

Further reading

  • Donoso-Barros R (1966). "Dos nuevos Gonatodes de Venezuela". Publicaciones Ocasionales, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Santiago de Chile 11: 1–32. (Gonatodes ceciliae, new species). (in Spanish).
  • Rivas GA, Molina CR, Ugueto GN, Barros TR, Barrio-Amorós CL, Kok PJR (2012). "Reptiles of Venezuela: an updated and commented checklist". Zootaxa 3211: 1–64. (Gonatodes ceciliae, p. 12 + Figure 3F on p. 32). (in English, with an abstract in Spanish).
  • Rösler H (2000). "Kommentierte Liste der rezent, subrezent und fossil bekannten Geckotaxa (Reptilia: Gekkonomorpha)". Gekkota 2: 28–153. (Gonatodes ceciliae, p. 84). (in German).