Paroedura tanjaka

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Paroedura tanjaka
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Paroedura
Species:
P. tanjaka
Binomial name
Paroedura tanjaka
Nussbaum & Raxworthy [fr], 2000
Approximate distribution of Paroedura tanjaka

Paroedura tanjaka is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. It is endemic to northwestern Madagascar, and is currently known only to occur in Bemaraha and Namoroka. This nocturnal species is found in karstic dry forests at night, and is known to dwell in caves during the day. It is one of the largest species in the genus Paroedura, reaching up to 18 cm in length.

The species was first discovered in 1996 and officially named in 2000. Because its range is extremely limited and its habitat is declining, it is listed as

Endangered by the IUCN Red List
. While it is not the subject of any conservative measures, its known locations have been designated as national parks.

Taxonomy

The species Paroedura tanjaka was first erected in 2000 by Nussbaum and Raxworthy. The

Namoroka reserves were collected as paratypes. The specific name tanjaka is a Malagasy word for "strength".[2]

Genetic analysis has found that Paroedura tanjaka is a member of the

Paroedura bastardi clade, and is a sister taxon to Paroedura neglecta. The following cladogram shows the position of P. tanjaka among its closest relatives according to Piccoli et al. (2023):[3]

Paroedura picta
(Outgroup)

Paroedura bastardi

Distribution and habitat

View of the karstic forest at Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

This gecko is one of many species

extent of occurrence of this species is only 964 km², and while it could be more widespread, it is unlikely to have an extent of occurrence over 5,000 km².[1] It is known to inhabit caves within its range during the day.[4]

Description

This species is among the largest Paroedura species, reaching a

congeneric species, the tail is not spiny. The digits end with widened toe pads, each over twice the width of the rest of the digit.[2]

The head has an immaculate tan color and posterolaterally bordered by light lines, differing from the rest of the body. The dorsalateral surface has grayish background colors, with irregular brown spots and bands all over. These bands of color extend to the tail, but are more faded in regenerated tails. Juveniles have three distinct light crossbands on the torso and black to brown dorsal colors.[2]

Behaviour

Paroedura tanjaka is a

karst caves, and the first observation of this species during the day was 30 meters within a cave.[2] Later expeditions have made dozens of observations of this gecko inhabiting a cave throughout the daytime, always in areas of complete darkness away from the entrance. P. tanjaka is known to actively hunt and even mate in these caves during the day, and it is suggested that the darkness of caves allows this nocturnal species to be active throughout the day and avoid predators.[4]

Diet

Cyligramma duplex, a putative prey species for Paroedura tanjaka

Like most geckos, Paroedura tanjaka is an

troglobitic invertebrates and nocturnal species resting to avoid predation or daytime heat (including the moth Cyligramma duplex) are present in the caves, and likely are part of the lizard's diet.[4]

Predation

This lizard is known to fall prey to snakes, as one specimen (UMMZ 221997) was found inside the stomach of a Lycodryas gaimardi.[2] The genus Lycodryas as a whole has been regarded as predators of Paroedura geckos, and birds and mammals may also represent predators of this species.[6]

Conservation

Due to its narrow extent of occurrence and the decline of its severely fragmented habitat, Paroedura tanjaka is listed as

Endangered on the IUCN Red List.[1] Because of its restricted range, this lizard is disproportionately threatened by changes to its forest habitat. Though the species is reportedly abundant at Bemaraha, there is continuing decline of mature individuals, and its habitat is threatened by increased fire intensity and logging. Conservative measures are not in place for the species itself, but both its known localities (Bemaraha and Namoraka) are national parks and thus protected areas.[7]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paroedura tanjaka.
  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T172935A6944354.en
    . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^
    S2CID 83107193
    .
  3. PMID 37841030
    .
  4. ^ a b c Bourgoin, Thierry (2016-01-01). "Sex and food in a cave during daytime, a possible way to escape predators for the nocturnal Madagascar gekkonid Paroedura tanjaka Nussbaum & Raxworthy, 2000". Herpetology Notes. 9: 187−190.
  5. ISSN 1860-0743
    .
  6. ISBN 978-3-929449-03-7
    .
  7. ^ Bora, Parfait; Randrianantoandro, Christian; Randrianavelona, Roma & Hantalalaina, Elisoa (April 2010). "Amphibians and reptiles of the Tsingy de Bemaraha Plateau, Western Madagascar: Checklist, biogeography and conservation". Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 5 (1): 111–125.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paroedura_tanjaka&oldid=1212011662"