Bibron's gecko

Bibron's gecko
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Sauria
Infraorder:	Gekkota
Family:	Gekkonidae
Subfamily:	Gekkoninae
Genus:	Pachydactylus
Species:	P. bibronii
Binomial name
Pachydactylus bibronii (A. Smith, 1846)
Synonyms
Tarentola bibronii A. Smith, 1846 Pachydactylus bibronii — Boulenger, 1885 Chondrodactylus bibronii — Bauer & Lamb, 2005 Pachydactylus bibronii — Branch & Bauer, 2005[1]

Bibron's gecko (Pachydactylus bibronii) is a species of thick-toed gecko endemic to southern Africa.

Etymology

Both the specific name, bibronii, and the common name, Bibron's gecko, are in honor of French herpetologist Gabriel Bibron.^[2]

Geographic range

P. bibronii is distributed across the southern part of the African continent. It is common in South Africa, where it is one of the largest gecko species.

Description

This moderate-sized gecko reaches a total length (including tail) of 6 to 8 in (15 to 20 cm). It has a stockier build than most other geckos. The female is generally smaller than the male. Its base color is brown, and it has a beaded pattern dorsally, with black crossbars. The male has white dots. The female may, as well. The belly is white or very light brown. The newly hatched Bibron's gecko has solid line and color patterns, while the adult's patterns are more broken.

Behavior

Bibron's gecko is arboreal and ground-dwelling. It is territorial, and males are very aggressive toward each other. Individuals can commonly be found missing appendages in the wild.

Reproduction

The female usually lays two clutches per year, with two eggs per clutch.

References

1. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. (Chondrodactylus bibronii ).
2. Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Pachydactylus bibroni [sic], p. 25).

Further reading

• Boulenger GA. 1885. Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I. Geckonidæ, ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. (Pachydactylus bibronii, pp. 201–202).
• Branch WR, Bauer AM. 2005. The Herpetological Contributions of Sir Andrew Smith. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR). 80 pp. ISBN 0916984656.
• Branch, Bill. 2004. Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Pachydactylus bibronii, pp. 251–252 + Plate 84).
• Smith A. 1846. Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa ... Reptiles. London: Smith, Elder and Co. (Tarentola bibronii, Plate 1, Figure 1).

External links

"Pachydactylus bibronii (A. Smith, 1846)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.