Gehyra oceanica, also known as the Oceania gecko or Pacific dtella, is a species of gecko in the genus Gehyra. The larger Gehyra vorax (voracious gecko) of Fiji, Vanuatu and New Guinea has sometimes been included in this species, but is now treated as distinct.[1]
The species is native to New Guinea and a number of islands in Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. It has also been widely introduced across the islands of the Pacific, reaching as far as the Marquesas Islands in Polynesia (where the species was first collected for science), although the extent to which the species has been introduced by human intervention is a matter of some debate. There are two apparent populations, a northern one in Micronesia and a southern one in Melanesia and Polynesia.[2] There are also records of the species in New Zealand and Hawaii, but the species has apparently not become established there.[1]
The species is generally arboreal and nocturnal. The diet includes insects and even smaller geckos. Some stomachs have also been found with seeds from fruit.[1] It reproduces sexually, and unlike some other geckos in its genus its eggs are non-adhesive. The species shares communal nests of not more than twelve eggs in each, with only two eggs being laid by a female at a time. These eggs have a long incubation time, up to 115 days.[2] It inhabits a range of habitats including plantations, gardens, and disturbed and undisturbed forests.[3] The species will also feed inside human buildings, but is not described as commensal.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdBeckon, William N. (1992). "The Giant Pacific Geckos of the Genus Gehyra: Morphological Variation, Distribution, and Biogeography". Copeia. 1992 (2): 443–460. doi:10.2307/1446204. JSTOR 1446204.
^ abFisher, Robert N. (1997). "Dispersal and Evolution of the Pacific Basin Gekkonid Lizards Gehyra oceanica and Gehyra mutilata". Evolution. 51 (3): 906–921. doi:10.2307/2411165. JSTOR 2411165.
^Lever, Christopher (2003). Naturalized reptiles and amphibians of the world. Oxford biology readers. Oxford University Press. pp. 65–66. ISBN978-0-19-850771-0.
January 01, 1970
gehyra, oceanica, also, known, oceania, gecko, pacific, dtella, species, gecko, genus, gehyra, larger, gehyra, vorax, voracious, gecko, fiji, vanuatu, guinea, sometimes, been, included, this, species, treated, distinct, scientific, classification, domain, euka. Gehyra oceanica also known as the Oceania gecko or Pacific dtella is a species of gecko in the genus Gehyra The larger Gehyra vorax voracious gecko of Fiji Vanuatu and New Guinea has sometimes been included in this species but is now treated as distinct 1 Gehyra oceanica Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Squamata Family Gekkonidae Genus Gehyra Species G oceanica Binomial name Gehyra oceanica Lesson 1830 Synonyms Gecko oceanicus Gehyra pacifica Gehyra gularis Gehyra oceania Hemidactylus oualensis Hemidactylus ovalensis Peropus oualensis Peropus oceanicus The species is native to New Guinea and a number of islands in Melanesia Micronesia and Polynesia It has also been widely introduced across the islands of the Pacific reaching as far as the Marquesas Islands in Polynesia where the species was first collected for science although the extent to which the species has been introduced by human intervention is a matter of some debate There are two apparent populations a northern one in Micronesia and a southern one in Melanesia and Polynesia 2 There are also records of the species in New Zealand and Hawaii but the species has apparently not become established there 1 The species is generally arboreal and nocturnal The diet includes insects and even smaller geckos Some stomachs have also been found with seeds from fruit 1 It reproduces sexually and unlike some other geckos in its genus its eggs are non adhesive The species shares communal nests of not more than twelve eggs in each with only two eggs being laid by a female at a time These eggs have a long incubation time up to 115 days 2 It inhabits a range of habitats including plantations gardens and disturbed and undisturbed forests 3 The species will also feed inside human buildings but is not described as commensal 1 References edit a b c d Beckon William N 1992 The Giant Pacific Geckos of the Genus Gehyra Morphological Variation Distribution and Biogeography Copeia 1992 2 443 460 doi 10 2307 1446204 JSTOR 1446204 a b Fisher Robert N 1997 Dispersal and Evolution of the Pacific Basin Gekkonid Lizards Gehyra oceanica and Gehyra mutilata Evolution 51 3 906 921 doi 10 2307 2411165 JSTOR 2411165 Lever Christopher 2003 Naturalized reptiles and amphibians of the world Oxford biology readers Oxford University Press pp 65 66 ISBN 978 0 19 850771 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gehyra oceanica amp oldid 1096346790, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
