Sphaerodactylus macrolepis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sphaerodactylus macrolepis |
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| Sphaerodactylus macrolepis | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Sphaerodactylidae |
| Genus: | Sphaerodactylus |
| Species: |
S. macrolepis
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| Binomial name | |
| Sphaerodactylus macrolepis Günther, 1859
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| Synonyms | |
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The Sphaerodactylus macrolepis, also known as the big-scaled least gecko, big-scaled dwarf gecko, or cotton ginner, is a tiny gecko. It lives in the United States Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, and Culebra, Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. This gecko is one of more than 100 different species in the Sphaerodactylus group.
Contents
Meet the Big-Scaled Least Gecko
The big-scaled least gecko is a small lizard. It gets its name from the slightly larger scales on its body compared to some other geckos. These geckos are known for being very small, often fitting on a human fingertip!
Where Does It Live?
This special gecko calls the beautiful Virgin Islands and Culebra, Puerto Rico its home. These islands are located in the warm Caribbean Sea. It likes to live in places where it can hide, like under rocks, leaves, or in cracks.
What Do Scientists Know About It?
Scientists are always learning new things about animals. For a long time, some geckos that looked similar were thought to be the same species or just different types of the same species. However, with new tools like genetic testing, scientists can now look at an animal's DNA. This helps them understand how different species are related.
For example, a gecko called S. m. parvus, which lived on other islands like Anguilla and Saint Martin, was once thought to be a type of Sphaerodactylus macrolepis. But in 2001, scientists found enough differences to make it its own species, now called S. parvus.
Also, other geckos from Puerto Rico and Vieques were once considered types of Sphaerodactylus macrolepis. But after more studies, they were also found to be unique species. This means the Sphaerodactylus macrolepis is now known to live only in Culebra, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It's pretty cool how science helps us understand the animal world better!
What Does It Eat?
Like many small geckos, the big-scaled least gecko is a carnivore. This means it eats other small creatures. It likely hunts tiny insects and other small invertebrates. For example, it might eat springtails, which are very small insects often found in soil. It might also eat small ants, like the ones shown in the images. These geckos are important parts of their island ecosystems, helping to control insect populations.
Images for kids
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Prey of the S. macrolepis
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Solenopsis invicta
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See also
In Spanish: Sphaerodactylus macrolepis para niños
 | Jessica Watkins |
 | Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. |
 | Mae Jemison |
 | Sian Proctor |
 | Guion Bluford |
