Sphaerodactylus argus

The ocellated gecko, ocellated sphaero, or stippled sphaero, (Sphaerodactylus argus) is a species of gecko found in the Caribbean.

For the African species called ocellated gecko, see Pachydactylus geitje

Ocellated gecko
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Sphaerodactylus
Species:
S. argus
Binomial name
Sphaerodactylus argus
Gosse, 1850[2]

Etymology

The specific name, argus, refers to Argus, the many-eyed giant in Greek mythology, an allusion to the ocelli (eye spots) of this species.[3]

Geographic range

S. argus is native only to Tobago and is mainly found in Main Ridge Forest Reserve.[4] It is also found in Cuba and Hispaniola. The ocellated gecko can be found in the Florida Keys, where it has well-established populations, though it was not native there.

Habitat

Sphaerodactylus argus is a climbing species, and it can also be seen in buildings.

Diet

The ocellated gecko feeds on insects and other small invertebrates.

References
  1. Caicedo, J.R., Lee, J., Mandujano, R.C., Wilson, B.S., Hedges, B. & Fong, A. 2017. Sphaerodactylus argus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T198439A2526550. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T198439A2526550.en. Downloaded on 26 February 2019.
  2. Gosse PH (1850). "Description of a new genus and six new species of Saurian Reptiles". Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Second Series 6: 344-348. ("Sphærodactylus Argus ", new species, p. 347).
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Sphaerodactylus argus, p. 11).
  4. Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Sphaerodactylus argus, p. 144).
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