Bavayia Explained

Bavayia is a genus of lizards in the family Diplodactylidae. Species in the genus Bavayia are also known commonly as New Caledonian geckos or bavayias. The genus is native to the remote New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands. The 41 species are moderately small to medium-sized geckos, and are distinguished from other genera by their tail length and the shape of their digits.

Etymology

The generic name, Bavayia, is in honor of Arthur Bavay, a French pharmacist and herpetologist.^[1]

Description

All species of Bavayia have elongated digits, with each claw on the edge of each seta. They are fairly drab in coloration.

Behavior

Bavayia species are nocturnal, and spend the daylight hours hiding under bark or rocks, or in tree holes.

Species

These 41 described species are recognized as being valid:^{[2] [3]}

• Bavayia ashleyi
• Bavayia astrongatti
• Bavayia borealis
• Bavayia boulinda
• Bavayia caillou
• Bavayia campestris
• Bavayia centralis
• Bavayia cocoensis
• Bavayia crassicollis – strand bavayia
• Bavayia cyclura – Günther's New Caledonian gecko
• Bavayia endemia
• Bavayia exsuccida – Sclerophyll bavayia
• Bavayia geitaina – gracile bavayia
• Bavayia goroensis ^[4]
• Bavayia insularis
• Bavayia jourdani
• Bavayia kanaky
• Bavayia koniambo
• Bavayia kopeto
• Bavayia kunyie
• Bavayia lepredourensis
• Bavayia loyaltiensis
• Bavayia mandjeliensis
• Bavayia menazi
• Bavayia montana – mountain New Caledonian gecko
• Bavayia nehoueensis
• Bavayia nubila ^[5]
• Bavayia occidentalis
• Bavayia ornata – ornate bavayia
• Bavayia periclitata
• Bavayia pulchella – pretty bavayia
• Bavayia renevierorum
• Bavayia rhizophora
• Bavayia robusta – robust forest bavayia
• Bavayia sauvagii – Sauvage's New Caledonian gecko
• Bavayia septuiclavis – Sadlier's New Caledonian gecko
• Bavayia stephenparki
• Bavayia tanleensis
• Bavayia tchingou
• Bavayia ultramaficola
• Bavayia whitakeri

Nota bene

A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Bavayia.

Taxonomy

The species formerly known as Bavayia madjo is now known as Paniegekko madjo.^[6]

The species formerly known as Bavayia validiclavis is now known as Dierogekko validiclavis.^[7]

Further reading

• Roux J (1913). "Les Reptiles de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et des îles Loyalty." pp. 80–146. In: Sarasin F, Roux J (1913). Nova Caledonia: Forschungen in Neu-Caledonien und auf den Loyalty Inseln: Recherches scientifiques en Nouvelle Calédonie et aux Iles Loyalty. A. Zoologie. Vol. I., L. 2. Wiesbaden: C.W. Kreidels Verlag. 449 pp. (Bavayia, new genus, pp. 85–87). (in French).

Notes and References

1. [Richard Allen "Bo" Crombet-Beolens|Beolens B]
2. www.reptile-database.org.
3. "Bavayia ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
4. [:fr:Aaron Matthew Bauer|Bauer AM]
5. Bauer AM, Sadlier RA, Jackman TR, Shea G (2012). "A new member of the Bavayia cyclura species group (Reptilia: Squamata: Diplodactylidae) from the southern ranges of New Caledonia". Pacific Science 66 (2): 239–247.
6. Bauer AM, Jackman TR, Sadlier RA, Whitaker AH (2012). "Revision of the giant geckos of New Caledonia (Reptilia: Diplodactylidae: Rhacodactylus)". Zootaxa 3404: 1-52. Preview
7. Bauer AM, Jackman T, Sadlier RA, Whitaker AH (2006). "A revision of the Bavayia validiclavis group (Squamata: Gekkota: Diplodactylidae), a clade of New Caledonian geckos exhibiting microendemism". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Fourth Series 57 (18): 503-547. PDF