Phyllodactylus pulcher GRAY, 1828
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Phyllodactylus pulcher
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| Higher Taxa | Phyllodactylidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Barbados Leaf-toed Gecko |
| Synonym | Phyllodactylus pulcher GRAY 1828: 3 Phyllodactylus pulcher — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1836: 397 Phyllodactylus spatulatus COPE 1863: 176 Phyllodactylus pulcher — BOULENGER 1885: 80 Phyllodactylus spatulatus — BOULENGER 1885: 81 Phyllodactylus pulcher — WERNER 1913: 3 Phyllodactylus pulcher — WERMUTH 1965: 143 Phyllodactylus pulcher — SCHWARTZ & HENDERSON 1991: 460 Phyllodactylus pulcher — KLUGE 1993 Phyllodactylus pulcher — RÖSLER 2000: 104 |
| Distribution | Lesser Antilles (Barbados) Type locality: Not given; later stated by Gray, 1845, to be "Tropical South America?" |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: BMNH 1946.9.4.80. Syntype: USNM 6040 [Phyllodactylus spatulatus] |
| Diagnosis | Definition (genus). Medium-sized gekkonine lizards (maximum snout-vent length 100 mm) with granular dorsal scales and usually with rows of enlarged dorsal tubercles. The terminal subdigital lamellae are enlarged to form two leaf-like pads. The other subdigital lamellae are narrow and in a single row on most of the digit, and in two or three rows just proximal to the greatly expanded terminal pair. The ventral scales are smooth and imbricate. The dorsal caudal scutellation is granular, in whorls, with or without rows of enlarged tubercles. Scales in the median subcaudal row are often enlarged. The endolymphatic sacs usually extend into the dorsolateral region of the neck and often become calcified. Eyelids are absent, and the pupil is vertical. Sexual dimorphism is limited, but males usually have the postanal region swollen around the cloacal sacs and bones. Preanal and femoral pores are absent. There is considerable variation in color and pattern in some species. The premaxillary teeth number 8 to 12. Nasal and parietal bones are paired, and the stapes is perforated for passage of the stapedial artery. There are 26 presacral, 2 sacral, and 5 pygal vertebrae, and 10 sternal ribs. The interclavicle is usually cruciform, and the clavicle has a single, sometimes marginal, fenestra. The precoracoid and mesoscapula are not united by cartilage. The leaf-like terminal subdigital lamellae distinguish Phyllodactylus from all other Western Hemisphere gekkonid genera. In some sand-dwelling species of Peru and Chile the terminal lamellae are reduced in size, but are still recognizable (Dixon 1973). DESCRIPTION: Maximum SVL 62 mm; 2 postmentals; 14-16 interorbital scales; 20-24 longitudinal rows of enlarged dorsal tubercles; 45-50 tubercles in median row of enlarged dorsal series from rear of head to base of tail, 24-29 between axilla and groin, 10 rows of tubercles across tail base; 15-17 fourth toe lamellae. Dorsum (as preserved) with broad, brown crossbands, mottling of brown and cream, or longitudinal brown lines, or a combination thereof; dark brown line from nostril through eye to shoulder region; venter cream, dirty gray, or yellow-white (from Schwartz & Henderson 1991: 461). |
| Comment | Type species: Phyllodactylus pulcher GRAY 1828: 3 is the type species of the genus Phyllodactylus GRAY 1828: 3. Type genus: Phyllodactylus is also the type genus of the family Phyllodactylidae. Reproduction: for a collection of data on reproductive details in Phyllodactylidae see Rösler 2022. |
| Etymology | Named after Latin “pulcher” = beautiful, handsome, fine, fair. |
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