Pachydactylus
Template:Short description Template:Italic title Template:More citations needed Template:Automatic taxobox
Pachydactylus is a genus of insectivorous geckos, lizards in the family Gekkonidae. The genus is endemic to Africa, and member species are commonly known as thick-toed geckos. The genus also displays rich speciation, having 58 distinct species identified when compared to other closely related gecko genera like Rhoptropus, most of which have emerged since 35Ma.[1] It has been suggested that the reason for this rich speciation not from adaptive radiation nor nonadaptive radiation, but that the genus represents a clade somewhere between the two drivers of speciation.[2] P. bibronii geckos have been used by NASA as animal models for experimentation.[3]
Description of the Pachydactylus genus
The genus Pachydactylus is characterized by dilated toe tips, usually with undivided scansors. Body scales are small, granular and non-overlapping, with scattered, large keeled tubercles.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Coloration of Pachydactylus species varies, but is generally drab in color.[2]
Presence of adhesive toe pads varies by species and habitat, with rock dwelling species of Pachydactylus retaining adhesive pads, but unambiguous independent loss of toe pads in sand dwelling and burrowing species like P. rangei.[1]
Body size in Pachydactylus varies across the 58 species, ranging from 35 to 115mm Snout-Vent Length (SVL)[4] with the ancestral condition of a larger body size with adhesive toe pads to suit a generalist habitat.[2]
Behavior
All observed species of Pachydactylus are strictly nocturnal.[2] Wikibooks
Habitat of Pachydactylus geckos
Pachydactylus species live in a diverse range of habitats across Southern Africa. Habitat varies by species, with some species preferring generalist habitats, human dwellings, rock-dwellings, and sand dwellings. Habitat preference typically varies by body size and retention of toe pads, which varies across the genus.[2][1] The body size of Pachydactylus geckos has been shown to correlate with their habitat range.[5]
Diet
Lizards of the genus Pachydactylus feed mainly on arthropods, but have been observed eating small vertebrates.[6]
Geographic range
The geographic range of the genus Pachydactylus is centered on Southern Africa, with some species reaching East Africa, the northernmost limit of their distribution.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". In South Africa's rugged Richtersveld region, Pachydactylus geckos comprised 13 of 18 all gecko species surveyed.[7]
Species
There are 58 species that are recognized as being valid:[8]
- Pachydactylus acuminatus V. FitzSimons, 1941Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus affinis Boulenger, 1896Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Transvaal thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus amoenus F. Werner, 1910Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus angolensis Loveridge, 1944Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Angola large-scaled gecko, Angolan thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus atorquatus Bauer, Barts & Hulbert, 2006Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus austeni Hewitt, 1923Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Austen's thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus barnardi V. FitzSimons, 1941Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Barnard's thick-toed gecko[9]
- Pachydactylus bicolor Hewitt, 1926Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – velvety thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus boehmei Bauer, 2010Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus capensis (A. Smith, 1846)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Cape thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus caraculicus V. FitzSimons, 1959Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Angola banded thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus carinatus Bauer, Lamb & Branch, 2006Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus etultra Branch, Bauer, Jackman & Heinicke, 2011Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus fasciatus Boulenger, 1888Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – banded thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus formosus A. Smith, 1849Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Smith's thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus gaiasensis Steyn & J.L. Mitchell, 1967Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Brandberg thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus geitje (Sparrman, 1778)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – ocellated thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus griffini Bauer, Lamb & Branch, 2006Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus haackei Branch, Bauer & Good, 1996Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Haacke's thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus katanganus de Witte, 1953Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus kladaroderma Branch, Bauer & Good, 1996Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – thin-skinned thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus kobosensis V. FitzSimons, 1938Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus kochii (V. FitzSimons, 1959)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus labialis V. FitzSimons, 1938Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Calvinia thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus latirostris Hewitt, 1923Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – quartz gecko
- Pachydactylus macrolepis V. FitzSimons, 1939Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – large-scaled banded gecko
- Pachydactylus maculatus Gray, 1845Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – spotted thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus maiatoi Marques, Parrhina, Ceríaco, Brennan, Heinicke, & Bauer, 2023Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Maiato's thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus maraisi Heinicke, Adderly, Bauer & Jackman, 2011Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus mariquensis A. Smith, 1849Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Marico thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus mclachlani Bauer, Lamb & Branch, 2006Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus monicae Bauer, Lamb & Branch, 2006Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus montanus Methuen & Hewitt, 1914Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus namaquensis (Sclater, 1898)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Namaqua thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus oculatus Hewitt, 1927Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – golden spotted thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus oreophilus McLachlan & Spence, 1967Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Kaokoveld thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus oshaughnessyi Boulenger, 1885Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus otaviensis Bauer, Lamb & Branch, 2006Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus parascutatus Bauer, Lamb & Branch, 2002Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus punctatus W. Peters, 1854Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – speckled thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus purcelli Boulenger, 1910Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus rangei (Andersson, 1908)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Namib sand gecko
- Pachydactylus reconditus Bauer, Lamb & Branch, 2006Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus robertsi V. FitzSimons, 1938Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus rugosus A. Smith, 1849Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – rough thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus sansteynae Steyn & Mitchell, 1967Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – San Steyn's thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus scherzi Mertens, 1954Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Sherz's thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus scutatus Hewitt, 1927Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – large-scaled thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus serval F. Werner, 1910Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – western spotted thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus tigrinus Van Dam, 1921Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – tiger thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus tsodiloensis Haacke, 1966Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Tsodilo thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus vansoni V. FitzSimons, 1933Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Van Son's thick-toed gecko
- Pachydactylus vanzyli (Steyn & Haacke, 1966)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus visseri Bauer, Lamb & Branch, 2006Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus wahlbergii W. Peters, 1869Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus waterbergensis Bauer, Lamb & Branch, 2003Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pachydactylus weberi Roux, 1907Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Weber's thick-toed gecko[9]
- Pachydactylus werneri Hewitt, 1935Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Pachydactylus.
References
Further reading
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- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". xii + 436 pp. + Plates I–XXXII. (Genus Pachydactylus, p. 200).
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". (Third Revised edition, Second impression). 399 pp. (Genus Pachydactylus, pp. 249–250).
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". (Pachydactylus, new genus, p. 19). (in Latin).
External links
Template:Taxonbar Template:Authority control
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Genus Pachydactylus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". xiii + 296 pp. (Pachydactylus barnardi, p. 17; P. weberi, p. 280).