Distribution of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus in the Lesser Antilles. Known range in red. Subspecies by color: Sphaerodactylus fantasticus anidrotus = red S. f. fantasticus = blue; S. f. fuga = black; S. f. hippomanes = pink; S. f. ligniservulus = purple; S. f. orescius = brown; S. f. tartaropylorus = green; intergrades and populations not assigned to any subspecies = gray.
The dorsal ground color of both sexes is brown to ochre. The head color is light brown which may be with or without markings, which may include dark stripes broken into small brown spots, or spots that fuse to produce a dark head with light stripes for spots. There is no dark scapular patch or ocelli in both sexes, a characteristic that is frequently seen in other species. The dorsal coloration is (salt and pepper) mottled with light and dark scales, either of which may dominate. The tail may contain dark-edged light ocelli (usually paired) irregularly arranged along the dorsal surface. Throat is grayish and distinctly lineate, with lines extending posteriorly from the tip of the snot. Venter is uniformly white or with dark spackling.[4][5]
Subspeciesedit
Nine subspecies have been described, each of which has a very restricted range and varies in coloration and other physical characteristics.
On Dominica, the distribution of the subspecies S. fantasticus fuga is limited to the western coast (Malhotra and Thorpe 1999). These dwarf geckos have recently been found to be genetically similar to one population in Guadeloupe, suggesting that they are recent colonizers of Dominica (Malhotra and Thorpe 1999; Thorpe et al. 2008).
Ecologyedit
This is a terrestrial species that occurs in a moderately wide range of habitats which are usually near the coast. These include mesic and xeric forests, beaches, hillsides ,and houses. During the day, it can be found (active) on piles of organic debris and leaf litter (in shaded situations). Also hiding under stones, logs, and piles of debris. [3]
Habitatedit
Habitat of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus fuga in Batali beach, western Dominica.
Habitat of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus fuga in Cabrits National Park, north-western Dominica.
Habitat of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus tartaropylorus in Pointe de la Grande Vigie, north-eastern Guadeloupe.
Referencesedit
^Dewynter, M.; Daltry, J.C.; Powell, R.; Gomès, R. (2017). "Sphaerodactylus fantasticus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T75605443A75607754. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T75605443A75607754.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^"Sphaerodactylus fantasticus". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
^ abSchwartz, Albert (1991). Amphibians and reptiles of the West Indies : descriptions, distributions, and natural history. Robert W. Henderson. Gainesville: University of Florida Press. ISBN0-585-19242-1. OCLC 44958544.
^Daniells, E. A. (2010). "Sphaerodactylus fantasticus" (PDF). Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 876: 1–8.
^ abSchwartz, Albert and Richard Thomas. 1975. A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. pp. 150-151.
Malhotra, Anita; Thorpe, Roger S.; Hypolite, Eric; James, Arlington (2007). "A report on the status of the herpetofauna of the Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies". Appl. Herpetol.4 (2): 177–94. doi:10.1163/157075407780681365.
Malhotra, Anita; Thorpe, Roger S. (1999). Reptiles & Amphibians of the Eastern Caribbean. Macmillan Education Ltd. pp. 27, 35, 37, 75, 82–83, 86–87. ISBN0-333-69141-5.
External linksedit
Media related to Sphaerodactylus fantasticus at Wikimedia Commons
Sphaerodactylus fantasticus at the Reptile Database
February 10, 2024
fantastic, least, gecko, fantastic, least, gecko, fantastic, sphaero, sphaerodactylus, fantasticus, species, gecko, found, caribbean, islands, dominica, montserrat, guadeloupe, archipelago, adult, male, specimen, from, guadeloupeconservation, statusleast, conc. The fantastic least gecko or fantastic sphaero Sphaerodactylus fantasticus is a species of gecko found in the Caribbean on the islands of Dominica Montserrat and the Guadeloupe archipelago 2 Fantastic least geckoAdult male specimen from GuadeloupeConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily SphaerodactylidaeGenus SphaerodactylusSpecies S fantasticusBinomial nameSphaerodactylus fantasticusA M C Dumeril amp Bibron 1836SubspeciesSee textDistribution of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus in the Lesser Antilles Known range in red Subspecies by color Sphaerodactylus fantasticus anidrotus red S f fantasticus blue S f fuga black S f hippomanes pink S f ligniservulus purple S f orescius brown S f tartaropylorus green intergrades and populations not assigned to any subspecies gray Contents 1 Morphology 2 Subspecies 3 Distribution 3 1 Biogeography 4 Ecology 5 Habitat 6 References 7 External linksMorphology edit nbsp 1921 illustration of specimen from GuadeloupeA medium sized gecko of the genus Sphaerodactylus Dorsal scales are keeled in texture acute to cycloid in shape and slightly imbricate The color pattern is sexually dichromatic and varies greatly between subspecies 3 The dorsal ground color of both sexes is brown to ochre The head color is light brown which may be with or without markings which may include dark stripes broken into small brown spots or spots that fuse to produce a dark head with light stripes for spots There is no dark scapular patch or ocelli in both sexes a characteristic that is frequently seen in other species The dorsal coloration is salt and pepper mottled with light and dark scales either of which may dominate The tail may contain dark edged light ocelli usually paired irregularly arranged along the dorsal surface Throat is grayish and distinctly lineate with lines extending posteriorly from the tip of the snot Venter is uniformly white or with dark spackling 4 5 Subspecies editNine subspecies have been described each of which has a very restricted range and varies in coloration and other physical characteristics Sphaerodactylus fantasticus fantasticus A M C Dumeril amp Bibron 1836 Sphaerodactylus fantasticus anidrotus Thomas 1965 Sphaerodactylus fantasticus fuga Thomas 1965 Sphaerodactylus fantasticus hippomanes Thomas 1965 Sphaerodactylus fantasticus karukera Thomas 1965 Sphaerodactylus fantasticus ligniservulus King 1962 Sphaerodactylus fantasticus orescius Thomas 1965 Sphaerodactylus fantasticus phyzacinus Thomas 1965 Sphaerodactylus fantasticus tartaropylorus Thomas 1965 5 Distribution editEndemic to the Lesser Antilles Native to Guadeloupe including some of its satellites like Marie Galante and La Desirade Montserrat and the western coast of Dominica Biogeography edit On Dominica the distribution of the subspecies S fantasticus fuga is limited to the western coast Malhotra and Thorpe 1999 These dwarf geckos have recently been found to be genetically similar to one population in Guadeloupe suggesting that they are recent colonizers of Dominica Malhotra and Thorpe 1999 Thorpe et al 2008 Ecology editThis is a terrestrial species that occurs in a moderately wide range of habitats which are usually near the coast These include mesic and xeric forests beaches hillsides and houses During the day it can be found active on piles of organic debris and leaf litter in shaded situations Also hiding under stones logs and piles of debris 3 Habitat edit nbsp Habitat of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus fuga in Batali beach western Dominica nbsp Habitat of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus fuga in Cabrits National Park north western Dominica nbsp Habitat of Sphaerodactylus fantasticus tartaropylorus in Pointe de la Grande Vigie north eastern Guadeloupe References edit Dewynter M Daltry J C Powell R Gomes R 2017 Sphaerodactylus fantasticus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T75605443A75607754 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 2 RLTS T75605443A75607754 en Retrieved 18 November 2021 Sphaerodactylus fantasticus The Reptile Database Retrieved 2021 04 13 a b Schwartz Albert 1991 Amphibians and reptiles of the West Indies descriptions distributions and natural history Robert W Henderson Gainesville University of Florida Press ISBN 0 585 19242 1 OCLC 44958544 Daniells E A 2010 Sphaerodactylus fantasticus PDF Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 876 1 8 a b Schwartz Albert and Richard Thomas 1975 A Check list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No 1 pp 150 151 Malhotra Anita Thorpe Roger S Hypolite Eric James Arlington 2007 A report on the status of the herpetofauna of the Commonwealth of Dominica West Indies Appl Herpetol 4 2 177 94 doi 10 1163 157075407780681365 Malhotra Anita Thorpe Roger S 1999 Reptiles amp Amphibians of the Eastern Caribbean Macmillan Education Ltd pp 27 35 37 75 82 83 86 87 ISBN 0 333 69141 5 External links edit nbsp Media related to Sphaerodactylus fantasticus at Wikimedia Commons Sphaerodactylus fantasticus at the Encyclopedia of Life Sphaerodactylus fantasticus at the Reptile Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fantastic least gecko amp oldid 1165001204, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
