Sphaerodactylus

Sphaerodactylus
Sphaerodactylus macrolepis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Gekkota
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Sphaerodactylus
Wagler, 1830

Sphaerodactylus is a genus of geckos from the Americas that are distinguished from other Gekkota by their small size, by their round, rather than vertical, eye pupils, and by each digit terminating in a single, round adhesive pad or scale, from which their name (Sphaero = round, dactylus = finger) is derived. All species in this genus are rather small, but two species, S. ariasae and S. parthenopion, are tiny, and – with a snout-vent length of about 1.6 cm (0.63 in) – the smallest reptiles in the world.

Fossil record

Fossil remains referred to Sphaerodactylus have been recovered from Dominican amber.

Species

The following 108 species are recognized as being valid.

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Sphaerodactylus.

References

  1. ↑ "Sphaerodactylus ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
  2. ↑ Gamble T, Bauer AM, Colli GR, Greenbaum E, Jackman TR, Vitt LJ, Simons AM (2011). "Coming to America: Multiple Origins of New World Geckos". Journal of Evolutionary Biology 24: 231–244.
  3. ↑ Pennsylvania State University (2001). World's Smallest Lizard Discovered in the Caribbean Archived 2009-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 26 January 2009.
  4. ↑ Poinar, George O.; Poinar, Roberta (1999). The Amber Forest: A Reconstruction of a Vanished World. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-05728-6.
  5. ↑ Genus Sphaerodactylus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  6. ↑ Noble GK, Klingel GC (1932). "The Reptiles of Great Inagua Island, British West Indies". American Museum Novitates (549): 1–25.

Further reading