The Paraíba gecko (Phyllopezus periosus), also commonly called the Peraiba gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. The species is endemic to Brazil.

Peraiba gecko
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Phyllodactylidae
Genus: Phyllopezus
Species:
P. periosus
Binomial name
Phyllopezus periosus
Rodrigues, 1986

Etymology

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The specific name, periosus, is Latin from the Greek περισσότερο, meaning "big, huge".[2] The common name, "Paraíba gecko", refers to the Brazilian state of Paraíba.

Geographic range

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P. periosus is found in the Brazilian states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Rio Grande do Norte.[3]

Description

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Dorsally, P. periosus has six or seven, dark brown, irregular-shaped crossbars, on a light gray ground color. Ventrally, adults are golden yellow, but juveniles are milky white.[4]

Average snout-to-vent length (SVL) is 8 cm (3.1 in), but may reach 11 cm (4.3 in).[5]

Diet

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P. periosus preys on insects and spiders.[6]

Reproduction

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P. periosus is oviparous.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Colli, G.R.; Fenker, J.; Tedeschi, L.; Bataus, Y.S.L.; Uhlig, V.M.; Silveira, A.L.; da Rocha, C.; Nogueira, C. de C.; Werneck, F.; de Moura, G.J.B.; Winck, G.; Kiefer, M.; de Freitas, M.A.; Ribeiro Junior, M.A.; Hoogmoed, M.S.; Tinôco, M.S.T.; Valadão, R.; Cardoso Vieira, R.; Perez Maciel, R.; Gomes Faria, R.; Recoder, R.; Ávila, R.; Torquato da Silva, S.; de Barcelos Ribeiro, S.; Avila-Pires, T.C.S. (2019). "Phyllopezus periosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T48443938A48443942. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  2. ^ Rodrigues (1986), p. 238.
  3. ^ a b Phyllopezus periosus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
  4. ^ Rodrigues (1986), p. 239.
  5. ^ Rodrigues (1986), Figure 1 on p. 240.
  6. ^ Rodrigues (1986), p. 243.

Further reading

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  • Rodrigues MT (1986). "Uma nova espécie do gênero Phyllopezus de Cabaceiras: Paraíba: Brasil; com comentários sobre a fauna de lagartos da área (Sauria Gekkonidae) ". Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, Museu de Zoologia da Univeridade de São Paulo 36 (20): 237–250. (Phyllopezus periosus, new species). (in Portuguese, with an abstract in English).