Puerto Rico Upland Gecko
Encyclopedia
The Puerto Rico Upland gecko (Sphaerodactylus klauberi), is a species
of gecko
endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico
. The epithet or specific name, klauberi, is in honor of herpetologist Laurence Monroe Klauber
.
, the Upland Gecko is voiceless. The female lays one hard-shelled egg that can be as large as her head. The egg’s incubation lasts 2 to 3 months. The Upland Gecko is an insectivore
. It is mostly active at night.
.
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...
of gecko
Gecko
Geckos are lizards belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm....
endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The epithet or specific name, klauberi, is in honor of herpetologist Laurence Monroe Klauber
Laurence Monroe Klauber
Laurence M. Klauber , was an American herpetologist, and was considered to be the foremost authority on rattlesnakes...
.
Description
The Puerto Rico Upland Gecko is one of the larger-sized gecko species. It typically measures 5.7 inches (14.5 centimeters) snout to vent. Its colorings consist of a dark-brown upper body with darker-brown or black spots which become larger on the tail. The underbody is usually orange or reddish-pink with a gray throat that may have dark mottled areas.Behavior
Like all SphaerodactylusSphaerodactylus
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...
, the Upland Gecko is voiceless. The female lays one hard-shelled egg that can be as large as her head. The egg’s incubation lasts 2 to 3 months. The Upland Gecko is an insectivore
Insectivore
An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....
. It is mostly active at night.
Habitat
Upland gecko specimens have been collected between 160 ft (50 m) and 3600 ft (1097 m) in elevation. They can sometimes be seen on the ground or on low branches in the Tabonuco, Colorado, and Palma Sierra sections of the Caribbean National Rain ForestCaribbean National Forest
El Yunque National Forest, formerly known as the Luquillo National Forest, and the Caribbean National Forest, is a forest located in northeastern Puerto Rico. It is the only tropical rain forest in the United States...
.
See also
- List of amphibians and reptiles of Puerto Rico
- Fauna of Puerto RicoFauna of Puerto RicoThe fauna of Puerto Rico is similar to other island archipelago faunas, with high endemism, and low, skewed taxonomic diversity. Bats are the only extant native terrestrial mammals in Puerto Rico. All other terrestrial mammals in the area were introduced by humans, and include species such as cats,...
- List of endemic fauna of Puerto Rico