Goggia lineata

Goggia lineata, also known as the striped dwarf leaf-toed gecko or striped pygmy gecko, is a minute and delicate species of dwarf leaf-toed gecko that is indigenous to the western part of the Cape of South Africa. With a length of about 4 cm (1.6 in), this tiny nocturnal gecko is, along with Cryptactites peringueyi (Peringuey's leaf-toed gecko), the smallest lizard in southern Africa.

Goggia lineata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Goggia
Species:
G. lineata
Binomial name
Goggia lineata
(Gray, 1838)
Synonyms
  • Phyllodactylus lineatus Gray, 1838
  • Goggia lineata
    — Bauer et al., 1997[2]

Geographic range

Its natural range extends from Cape Town (where it is sometimes still found in suburban gardens) eastwards through the Western Cape and then up along South Africa's west coast as far as Namibia.

Description

It is a pale grey lizard of about 4 cm (1.6 in) in length, usually with several dark stripes running down its back.

Behaviour and habitat

They can often be found sheltering under rubble or vegetation, alongside other species, being happy to share a refuge with other larger geckos such as Afrogecko porphyreus (the marbled leaf-toed gecko).

Diet

Collectively they eat a great deal of small insects such as ants and termites, helping to serve as a form of natural pest-control.

Threats

Domestic cats - as introduced predators - will usually kill large numbers of these little lizards, often exterminating them from the immediate area.

Reproduction

This species of dwarf leaf-toed gecko lays two tiny eggs in a moist, warm spot in summer.[2][3]

References
  1. Branch, W.R. 2017. Goggia lineata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T169701A110308132. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T169701A110308132.en. Downloaded on 04 June 2018.
  2. http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species.php?genus=Goggia&species=lineata
  3. http://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/G/Goggia_lineata/

Further reading
  • Boulenger GA. 1885. Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. Geckonidæ, Eublepharidæ, Uroplatidæ, Pygopodidæ, Agamidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. (Phyllodactylus lineatus, pp. 92–93).
  • Branch, Bill. 2004. Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition. Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Goggia lineata, pp. 241–242 + Plate87).
  • Gray JE. 1838. "A new species of lizard and land shells from South Africa". pp. 268–269. In: Alexander JE. 1838. An Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa, through the hitherto Undescribed Countries of the Great Namaquas, Boschmans, and Hill Daramas, Performed under the Auspices of Her Majesty's Government, and the Royal Geographical Society. Volume II, Appendix I. London: Henry Colburn. (Phyllodactylus lineatus, new species).
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