Chondrodactylus angulifer

Chondrodactylus angulifer
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Family:Gekkonidae
Genus:Chondrodactylus
Species: C. angulifer
Binomial name
Chondrodactylus angulifer
W. Peters, 1870

Chondrodactylus angulifer, also known as the common giant ground gecko, the South African ground gecko, or the Namib sand gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.

Geographic range

C. angulifer is found in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, Namibia.[2]

Juvenile C. angulifer at night in the Kalahari desert, South Africa

Description

C. angulifer is a large gecko. Adults average 7 to 9 cm (2.8 to 3.5 in) snout-to-vent length (SVL). The record size is a male 11.3 cm (4.4 in) SVL.[3]

Reproduction

An adult female C. angulifer may lay a clutch of one or two eggs. The eggs are almost spherical, 18 by 16 mm (0.71 by 0.63 in). Each hatchling is approximately 7 cm (2.8 in) total length (including tail).[3]

Subspecies

There are two subspecies which are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]

  • Chondrodactylus angulifer angulifer W. Peters, 1870
  • Chondrodactylus angulifer namibensis Haacke, 1976

References

  1. ↑ Goldberg SR (2010). "Chondrodactylus angulifer ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T178743A7607128. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T178743A7607128.en. Downloaded on 01 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Chondrodactylus angulifer ". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  3. 1 2 Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Chondrotactylus angulifer, pp. 237-238 + Plate79).

Further reading

  • Haacke WD (1976). "The burrowing geckos of southern Africa, 4 (Reptilia: Gekkonidae). Annotated taxonomic account (cont.) E. Genus Chondrodactylus Peters". Annals of the Transvaal Museum 30: 53-70. (Chondrodactylus angulifer namibensis, new subspecies).
  • Peters W (1870). "Beitrag zur Kenntnis der herpetologischen Fauna von Südafrika ". Monatsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zur Berlin 1870: 110-115. (Chondrodactylus angulifer, new species, p. 111). (in German and Latin).


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