Leaf-toed gecko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leaf-toed gecko |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Phyllodactylus
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| Species: |
xanti
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The Phyllodactylus xanti is a cool type of lizard from the gecko family. It's often called the leaf-toed gecko because of its special toe pads. You can only find this gecko in northwestern Mexico. There are four different types, or subspecies, of this gecko known today.
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Where This Gecko Lives
This gecko, P. xanti, lives in the Baja California Peninsula and nearby islands in Mexico. Sometimes, people thought they saw this gecko in southern California, USA. But those geckos actually belong to a different species called Phyllodactylus nocticolus.
Gecko Homes
The P. xanti gecko likes to live in natural places like hot, dry deserts and areas with lots of shrubland. These are its favorite habitats.
What This Gecko Looks Like
The P. xanti gecko has some unique features. It has eyes with vertical pupils, like a cat's, and its eyelids don't move. Its toes have special leaf-like pads that help it climb.
Its back can be brownish, grey, or pinkish, while its belly is light-colored. Its skin has tiny bumps, called tubercles, mixed with smaller, grainy scales.
If you pick up this gecko, it might make a squeaking sound. It also has a very delicate tail that can break off easily if it feels threatened.
These geckos are usually between 2.5 and 6.2 centimeters (about 1.5 to 2.5 inches) long. This measurement is taken from its snout (nose) to its vent (the opening near its tail).
Reproduction
The P. xanti gecko is an oviparous animal. This means that the female gecko lays eggs, and the baby geckos hatch from these eggs.
Different Types of P. xanti
Scientists recognize four different types of P. xanti geckos. These are called subspecies. Each subspecies is a slightly different version of the main species.
- Phyllodactylus xanti acorius
- Phyllodactylus xanti sloani
- Phyllodactylus xanti xanti
- Phyllodactylus xanti zweifeli
How This Gecko Got Its Name
The specific name, xanti, was chosen to honor a naturalist named John Xantus de Vesey. He was a scientist who worked in the United States in the 1800s.
The names of two subspecies, sloani and zweifeli, honor two American scientists who studied reptiles and amphibians. Their names were Allan John Sloan and Richard G. Zweifel.
About Its Scientific Name
The official scientific name for this gecko, Phyllodactylus xanti, was first published in 1863. It was described by a scientist named Edward Drinker Cope.
