Jaragua Sphaero
Encyclopedia
Sphaerodactylus ariasae, the Jaragua Sphaero or dwarf gecko, is a very small Gekkonidae species
in the Sphaerodactylus
genus
. It is one of the world's two smallest known reptiles
(the other is the S. parthenopion, native to the British Virgin Islands
). The Jaragua Sphaero measures 16-18 mm from the snout to the base of the tail and can fit on a US 25-cent coin. Its range
is believed to be limited to Jaragua National Park
in the extreme southwest of the Dominican Republic
and the nearby forested Beata Island
(Isla Beata).
The species was first described by Blair Hedges, a Pennsylvania State University
evolutionary biologist, and Richard Thomas, a University of Puerto Rico
biologist, in the December 2001 issue of the Caribbean Journal of Science
.
The Jaragua Sphaero's binomial name was in honor of herpetologist
Yvonne Arias, the leader of the Dominican conservation organization Grupo Jaragua, which was instrumental in securing the environmental protection of Jaragua National Park
.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in the Sphaerodactylus
Sphaerodactylus
Sphaerodactylus is a genus of geckos from the Americas that are distinguished from other gekkoninae by their small size and round, rather than vertical eye pupils and each digit terminating in a single, round adhesive pad or scale, from which their name is derived. All species in this genus are...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
. It is one of the world's two smallest known reptiles
Smallest organism
The smallest organism found on Earth can be measured using a variety of different methods, and can be defined as the smallest by volume, mass, height, or length. Because there is some dispute over what the definition of life is and what entities qualify as organisms, the actual "smallest organism" ...
(the other is the S. parthenopion, native to the British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...
). The Jaragua Sphaero measures 16-18 mm from the snout to the base of the tail and can fit on a US 25-cent coin. Its range
Range (biology)
In biology, the range or distribution of a species is the geographical area within which that species can be found. Within that range, dispersion is variation in local density.The term is often qualified:...
is believed to be limited to Jaragua National Park
Jaragua National Park
Jaragua National Park is a national park of the Dominican Republic. Jaragua National Park is located in Pedenales Province in the extreme southwest of the Dominican Republic...
in the extreme southwest of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
and the nearby forested Beata Island
Beata Island
Beata Island is a small island on the Caribbean Sea, located 7 km southwest from cape Beata, the southernmost point of the island Hispaniola. Some 12 km SW of it lies the smaller Alto Velo Island...
(Isla Beata).
The species was first described by Blair Hedges, a Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
evolutionary biologist, and Richard Thomas, a University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
biologist, in the December 2001 issue of the Caribbean Journal of Science
Caribbean Journal of Science
The Caribbean Journal of Science is a peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing articles, research notes, and book reviews related to science in the Caribbean, with an emphasis on botany, zoology, ecology, conservation biology, geology, archaeology, and paleontology...
.
The Jaragua Sphaero's binomial name was in honor of herpetologist
Herpetology
Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians and reptiles...
Yvonne Arias, the leader of the Dominican conservation organization Grupo Jaragua, which was instrumental in securing the environmental protection of Jaragua National Park
Jaragua National Park
Jaragua National Park is a national park of the Dominican Republic. Jaragua National Park is located in Pedenales Province in the extreme southwest of the Dominican Republic...
.