Hemidactylus bouvieri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hemidactylus bouvieri |
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Hemidactylus
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bouvieri
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The Hemidactylus bouvieri, often called the Bouvier's leaf-toed gecko or the Cape Verde leaf-toed gecko, is a type of lizard. It belongs to the Gekkonidae family, which includes all geckos. This special gecko lives only in the Cape Verde Islands. Sadly, it is listed as critically endangered, meaning it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. There are two different kinds, or subspecies, of this gecko.
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Where Does It Live?
The Bouvier's leaf-toed gecko can only be found on certain islands in Cape Verde. These islands include São Vicente, Santo Antão, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Santiago, and a small island called Ilhéu Raso.
Naming the Gecko
Scientists give every animal a special two-part name. The Bouvier's leaf-toed gecko was first described and named by a scientist named Marie Firmin Bocourt in 1870. The second part of its name, bouvieri, was chosen to honor a French zoologist named Aimé Bouvier.
What is Its Habitat?
This gecko likes to live in places with lots of grassland and shrubland. These are areas with grasses and small bushes. It prefers to live at certain heights, usually between 250 and 700 meters (about 820 to 2,300 feet) above sea level.
How Does It Reproduce?
Like many reptiles, the Bouvier's leaf-toed gecko is oviparous. This means that the female gecko lays eggs, and the baby geckos hatch from these eggs.
Different Kinds of Bouvier's Geckos
Scientists have found two valid subspecies of the Bouvier's leaf-toed gecko. A subspecies is a group of animals within a species that has small differences, often because they live in different areas.
- Hemidactylus bouvieri bouvieri (Bocourt, 1870)
- Hemidactylus bouvieri razoensis Gruber & Schleich, 1982
Another gecko that was once thought to be a subspecies, Hemidactylus bouvieri boavistensis, is now considered its own separate species called Hemidactylus boavistensis.
