Günther's flat-tail gecko

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Günther's flat-tail gecko
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Uroplatus
Species:
U. guentheri
Binomial name
Uroplatus guentheri
Mocquard, 1908
Synonyms
  • Uroplatus Güntheri
    Mocquard, 1908
  • Uroplatus guentheri
    Wermuth, 1965[2]

Günther's flat-tail gecko (Uroplatus guentheri), also known commonly as Güenther's leaf-tail gecko, is a species of nocturnal gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.

Etymology[edit]

The specific name, guentheri, is in honour of German-born British herpetologist Albert Günther.[3]

Geographic range[edit]

U. guentheri is found in northwestern Madagascar in the area around Ankarafansika[1] and near Morondava in western Madagascar.[citation needed]

Description[edit]

U. guentheri reaches a total length (including tail) of 150 mm (5.9 in).[citation needed]

Habitat[edit]

The preferred natural habitat of U. guentheri is forest, at altitudes of 30–120 m (98–394 ft).[1]

Behaviour[edit]

U. guentheri forages and roosts on small trees and bushes.[1] It is generally found less than 6 m (20 ft) above the ground.[1] It is very difficult to find during the day, using its camouflage to mimic dead branches and bits of bark. During the night however, it becomes active, hunting for invertebrate prey.[citation needed]

Reproduction[edit]

U. guentheri is oviparous.[1][2] The sperical eggs are laid in leaf litter.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Raxworthy CJ, Rabibisoa N, Bora P (2011). "Uroplatus guentheri ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T172927A6943019.en. Accessed on 08 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b Species Uroplatus guentheri at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  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. (Uroplatus guentheri, p. 111).

Further reading[edit]

  • Böhme W, Henkel FW (1995). "Studien an Uroplatus II: Der Artenkomplex um Uroplatus ebenaui Boettger, 1879, mit Bemerkungen zu Uroplatus guentheri Mocquard, 1908 ". Herpetofauna 17 (94): 11–23. (in German).
  • Glaw F, Vences M (1994). A Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Second Edition. Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlag / Serpents Tale. 480 pp. ISBN 978-3929449-01-3.
  • Mocquard F (1908). "Description de quelques Reptiles et d'un Batracien nouveaux de la collection du Muséum ". Bulletin du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 14: 259-262. ("Uroplatus Güntheri ", new species, pp. 259–260). (in French).
  • Schönecker P (2013). "Biologie, Haltung und langjährige Nachzucht von Uroplatus guentheri Mocquard 1908 bis zur vierten Filialgeneration ". Draco 13 (52): 34–45. (in German).