Natal pygmy gecko explained

The Natal pygmy gecko (Coleodactylus natalensis) is a species of South American lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae.

Etymology

The specific epithet, natalensis, refers to Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, the location of its first discovery.

Geographic range

C. natalensis is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.^[1]

Description

With a total length (including tail) of 35mm, C. natalensis is one of the smallest known lizards.

Reproduction

C. natalensis is oviparous. Females probably have a clutch size just one egg. Size at hatching is 111NaN1 in snout–vent length; the tail adds to this only one millimeter.^[1]

Further reading

• Geurgas, Silvia Rodrigues; Rodrigues, Miguel Trefaut; Moritz, Craig (2008). "The genus Coleodactylus (Sphaerodactylinae, Gekkota) revisited: A molecular phylogenetic perspective". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 49: 92–101.
• Lima Santos, Roberto (2004). "Life in the leaf litter: the Natal pigmy gecko Coleodactylus natalensis ". Reptilia 37: 52-56.
• Lima Santos, Roberto (2004). "Viviendo entre la hojarasca. El geco pigmeo de Natal Coleodactylus natalensis". Reptilia 50: 56-60.
• Lisboa, Carolina M. C. A.; Freire, Eliza M. X. (2012). "Population Density, Habitat Selection and Conservation of Coleodactylus natalensis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae) in an Urban Fragment of Atlantic Forest in Northeastern Brazil". South American Journal of Herpetology 7 (2): 181-190.

Notes and References

1. Carolina M. C. A. Lisboa . Pablo Augusto Gurgel De Sousa . Leonardo B. Ribeiro . Eliza M. X. Freire . amp . 2008 . Coleodactylus natalensis (ncn). Clutch size; hatchling size . Herpetological Review . 39 . 2 . 221 .