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Ramigekko

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Genus of lizards

Swartberg leaf-toed gecko
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Ramigekko
Heinicke, Daza, Greenbaum, Jackman & Bauer, 2014
Species: R. swartbergensis
Binomial name
Ramigekko swartbergensis
(Haacke, 1996)
Synonyms
  • Afrogecko swartbergensis
  • Phyllodactylus swartbergensis

Ramigekko swartbergensis, sometimes called the Swartberg (African) leaf-toed gecko, is a species of African gecko which is a localized endemic of the Cape Fold Belt in South Africa. It is monotypic in the genus Ramigekko.

Anatomy

Like other "leaf-toed" geckoes, they have a single pair of enlarged adhesive pads on the terminally end of each digit. Only this species however has smoothed and flattened tubercles on its dorsal parts. The head has a deeper contour and some cranial differences (fusion of nasal and parietal bones) set them apart from most other gecko species.

Range and habitat

It is found along the crests of the Swartberg and Klein Swartberg ranges, from Towerkop in the west to the vicinity of Meiringspoort. They favour north-facing sandstone outcrops in montane fynbos, from 1,300 to 2,100 m a.s.l. They occur in protected areas and are not endangered.

Habits

They hide in rock cracks or under rock flakes, emerging to feed on insects. Like all "leaf-toed" geckoes they are nocturnal and lay hard-shelled eggs, which are deposited in clutches of two.

References

  1. Tolley, K.A.; Bates, M.F.; Branch, W.R. (2018). "Ramigekko swartbergensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T196903A115661608. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T196903A115661608.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. "Ramigekko swartbergensis". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  3. ^ Alexander, Graham (2013). A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa. South Africa: Penguin Random House. ISBN 9781431702251.
  4. Daza, Juan D.; Mapps, Aurelia A.; Lewis, Patrick J.; Thies, Monte L.; Bauer, Aaron M. (August 2015). "Peramorphic traits in the tokay gecko skull". Journal of Morphology. 276 (8): 915–928. doi:10.1002/jmor.20389. PMID 26010648. S2CID 12215963.
  5. "Ramigekko swartbergensis K. Kuppusamy, W. Lin, G. Cizek, E. Haacke, 1996". Sanbi Red List. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
Taxon identifiers
Afrogecko swartbergensis


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