Gehyra georgpotthasti

Gehyra georgpotthasti is a species of web-toed gecko, found on several Melanesian and Polynesian islands.[1]

Gehyra georgpotthasti
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Gehyra
Species:
G. georgpotthasti
Binomial name
Gehyra georgpotthasti
Flecks, Schmitz, Böhme, Henkel & Ineich, 2012

Description

A large, stoutly build gecko. The size from snout to vent is 112 millimetres (4.4 in), plus the tail length of 75 millimetres (3.0 in). It has a brown color with five dark brown saddle patches between forelimbs and base of tail. Ventral side light brown with a yellow hue. Iris brown. The color can vary by showing yellow, reddish and olive elements. The tail has five to six dark bands, which are especially distinct in juveniles and less distinct on adults. Males grow larger than females and have precloacal-femoral pores. Like most geckos they are oviparous, i.e. reproduce by laying eggs.

The diet includes bananas which is unusual for Gehyras.

Some specimen show green coloured muscle tissue when the skin is damaged.

The species was described in 2012, as distinct from G. vorax.[2]

G. georgpotthasti showing green muscle tissue

Distribution

It is found in Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia), Vanuatu, and French Polynesia.[1]

Habits

The species is generally arboreal and nocturnal, occupying habitats in rainforest and along beaches. Often found on coconut trees.

References

  1. Gehyra georgpotthasti at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 12 June 2020.
  2. Flecks, M.; Schmitz, A.; Böhme, W.; Henkel, F. W.; Ineich, I. (2012). "A new species of Gehyra Gray, 1834 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from the Loyalty Islands and Vanuatu, and phylogenetic relationships in the genus Gehyra in Melanesia". Zoosystema. 34 (2): 203–221. doi:10.5252/z2012n2a1.
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