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

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

Geographic range

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

Description

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

Habitat

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

Behaviour

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.

Reproduction

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

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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. 1 2 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

  • 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).


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