Sphaerodactylus argus explained

Sphaerodactylus argus, also known commonly as the ocellated gecko, the ocellated sphaero, and the stippled sphaero, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae native to the Caribbean and surrounding regions. There are two recognized subspecies.

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.^[1]

Geographic range

S. argus is found in Jamaica,^[2] Cuba and on adjacent islets, The Bahamas, San Andres and Providencia in Colombia and in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. S. argus can also be found in the Florida Keys, where it has well-established populations, though introduced.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of S. argus is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 100m (300feet). A climbing species, it can also be seen on walls and in buildings.

Diet

S. argus feeds on insects and other small invertebrates.

Reproduction

S. argus is oviparous.^[3]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominate subspecies.^{[2] [3]}

• S. a. argus
• S. a. andresensis

Further reading

• Dunn ER, Saxe LH (1950). "Results of the Catherwood-Chaplin West Indies Expedition, 1948. Part 5. Amphibians and Reptiles of San Andrés and Providencia". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 102: 141–165. (Sphaerodactylus argus andresensis, new subspecies, p. 148).
• Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 Plates, 207 Figures. . (Sphaerodactylus argus, p. 269 + Plate 24).

External links

• http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Sphaerodactylus+argus

Notes and References

1. [Richard Allen "Bo" Crombet-Beolens|Beolens B]
2. [Albert Schwartz (zoologist)|Schwartz A]
3. www.reptile-database.org.