Biology:Ocellated gecko

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For the African species called ocellated gecko, see Pachydactylus geitje

Ocellated gecko
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Sphaerodactylus
Species:
S. argus
Binomial name
Sphaerodactylus argus
Gosse, 1850[1]

The ocellated gecko, Sphaerodactylus argus, is a species of gecko found in the Caribbean.

Etymology

The specific name, argus, refers to Argus, the many-eyed giant in Greek mythology, an allusion to the ocelli (eye spots) of this species.[2]

Geographic range

S. argus is native only to Tobago and is mainly found in Main Ridge Forest Reserve.[3] It is also found in Cuba and Hispaniola. The ocellated gecko can be found in the Florida Keys, where it has well-established populations, though it was not native there.

Habitat

Sphaerodactylus argus is a climbing species, and it can also be seen in buildings.

Diet

The ocellated gecko feeds on insects and other small invertebrates.

References

  1. Gosse PH (1850). "Description of a new genus and six new species of Saurian Reptiles". Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Second Series 6: 344-348. ("Sphærodactylus Argus ", new species, p. 347).
  2. 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. (Sphaerodactylus argus, p. 11).
  3. Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Sphaerodactylus argus, p. 144).

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q2602838 entry