Goggia rupicola, also known as the Namaqua dwarf leaf-toed gecko or the Namaqua pygmy gecko, is a southern African leaf-toed gecko first described by Vivian FitzSimons from a specimen collected on the 23 August 1937[2] where it was found in cracks of rocks of small outcrops in the arid Namakwaland in South Africa and Namibia.

Goggia rupicola
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Goggia
Species:
G. rupicola
Binomial name
Goggia rupicola
(FitzSimons, 1938)
Synonyms
  • Phyllodactylus rupicolus
  • Phyllodactylus lineatus rupicolus

Name

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Rupicolous refers to inhabiting rocks and stones.\\

Description

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On the dorsal (upper) sideG. rupicola is a dark greyish brown with pale salmon-coloured semicircular spots with a dark edge on the front arranged in more or less regular series down the back. A thin black streak runs from the nostril through the eye to just above ear-opening. The belly is a greyish white.

It is related to Goggia essexi from which it can be distinguished mainly by the dorsal and ventral scaling and the colour markings.

Dimensions: Body length about 30 mm, tail length 30 mm, head length 6 to 7 mm, head breadth 5.2 mm, forelimb 9 mm, hindlimb 12 mm.[3]

Reproduction

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The three elliptical-shaped eggs originally collected in 1937 between Okiep and Springbok averaged 7.8 x 6.0 mm.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Bates, M.F.; Branch, W.R. (2018). "Goggia rupicola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T120695014A115655589. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T120695014A115655589.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ Fitzsimons, V.F.M. "Transvaal Museum Expedition to South-West Africa and Little Namaqualand, May to August 1937. Reptiles and Amphibians". Annals of the Transvaal Museum: 162.
  3. ^ "www.pachydactylus.com". Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  4. ^ Fitzsimons, V.F.M. "Transvaal Museum Expedition to South-West Africa and Little Namaqualand, May to August 1937. Reptiles and Amphibians". Annals of the Transvaal Museum: 162.