Chilean marked gecko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chilean marked gecko |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Garthia
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| Species: |
gaudichaudii
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| Synonyms | |
The Chilean marked gecko (Garthia gaudichaudii) is a type of lizard in the family called Phyllodactylidae. This gecko lives only in Chile, in a special dry area known as the Chilean matorral ecoregion. Scientists recognize three different kinds, or subspecies, of this gecko.
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About the Chilean Marked Gecko
How Scientists Name Animals
Every living thing gets a special scientific name. This helps scientists all over the world know exactly which animal they are talking about. The Chilean marked gecko was first described in 1836. Two scientists, André Marie Constant Duméril and Gabriel Bibron, gave it the name Gymnodactylus gaudichaudii.
Over the years, as scientists learned more, they sometimes moved this gecko into different groups, or genera. This happens when new information changes how we understand animal relationships. Now, it is placed in the genus called Garthia.
What Does Its Name Mean?
The scientific name gaudichaudii honors a French botanist named Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré. He was a plant expert from France.
One of the subspecies is named klugei. This part of the name honors an American scientist who studied reptiles, Arnold G. Kluge.
Where Do They Live?
The Chilean marked gecko lives in several regions of Chile. You can find them in the Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo, and Valparaíso regions.
What Is Their Home Like?
These geckos prefer to live in deserts and shrublands. These are dry areas with lots of low-growing plants. They can be found from sea level all the way up to about 1,100 meters (about 3,600 feet) high.
How Do They Behave?
The Chilean marked gecko is a terrestrial animal, which means it lives on the ground. It is also saxicolous, meaning it likes to live among rocks. These geckos are nocturnal, so they are most active at night. They hunt for food and move around when it's dark.
How Do They Have Babies?
Chilean marked geckos are oviparous. This means that the female gecko lays eggs, and the baby geckos hatch from these eggs.
Different Kinds of Chilean Marked Geckos
Scientists recognize three different subspecies of the Chilean marked gecko. A subspecies is a group of animals within a species that has small differences, often because they live in different areas.
- Garthia gaudichaudii dorbignii (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1836)
- Garthia gaudichaudii gaudichaudii (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1836)
- Garthia gaudichaudii klugei Donoso-Barros, 1970
Sometimes, you might see a scientific name with three parts, like the ones above. If the name of the scientist who first described it is in parentheses, it means they originally put that subspecies in a different genus than Garthia.
