Lawder's bent-toed gecko
Lawder's bent-toed gecko is a slender, elongate gecko species found in northern India's western Himalayas. It is characterized by granular scales intermixed with small tubercles and a greyish-brown coloration with dark brown marbling and indistinct whitish cross bands. This oviparous species is endemic to the Kumaon region.
Key Facts
- ›Endemic to the western Himalayas of northern India, specifically the Kumaon region.
- ›Possesses a slender, depressed body covered in granules and small tubercles.
- ›Its coloration is greyish-brown, densely marbled with dark brown, featuring indistinct whitish cross bands.
- ›Males have two pairs of preanal pores.
- ›It is an oviparous species, meaning it reproduces by laying eggs.
Lawder's Gecko
India
Himalayan Foothills
- Body Is Rather Slender and Elongate, and Depressed.
- Covered Above With Numerous Granules Intermixed With Small Roundish Tubercles.
- Upper Side of the Head Is Granular.
- Rostral Scale Is Large and Broad.
- Nostril Is Pierced Between the Rostral, First Labial, and Two Nasals.
- Has 9 Upper and 8 Lower Labials.
- Mental Scale Is Triangular, Partially Wedged Between Two Elongate Chin-Shields.
- Ear-Opening Is Small and Rounded.
- Ventral Scales Are Small.
- Males Have Two Pairs of Preanal Pores, Close Together, Forming An Angle.
- General Color Above Is Greyish Brown, Very Densely Marbled and Spotted With Dark Brown.
- Features Some Indistinct Undulating, Whitish Cross Bands On the Body, Margined On Anterior Edges With Blackish Brown.
- A Somewhat Indistinct Dark Band Runs From the Nostril Through the Eye To the Ear.
- Front and Hind Edges of the Eye Are White.
- Labials Are Spotted and Speckled With Brown.
- Underside of the Body Is Whitish.
- Length of the Body Is Nearly 2 Inches.
Insects
Likely Insectivorous
About Lawder's bent-toed gecko
Lawder's bent-toed gecko, scientifically known as Cyrtodactylus lawderanus, is a species of gecko native to the western Himalayas of northern India. This lizard is characterized by its slender, depressed body, which is covered in granular scales interspersed with small tubercles. Its coloration is a distinctive greyish-brown, heavily marked with dark brown marbling and spotting, and adorned with subtle, undulating whitish cross bands. A faint dark band often extends from the nostril through the eye to the ear.
Description and Features
The body of C. lawderanus is notably elongate and flattened. The head is also granular, with scales becoming slightly larger on the snout. It possesses a large, broad rostral scale and has specific arrangements of labial and chin shields. Males of the species can be identified by the presence of two pairs of preanal pores positioned close together. The ventral side of the gecko is a pale whitish color.
Habitat and Reproduction
This species is endemic to the Kumaon region of India. Lawder's bent-toed gecko is oviparous, meaning it reproduces by laying eggs. While specific details about its preferred microhabitats within the Himalayan foothills are not extensively detailed, its classification as a gecko suggests a reliance on terrestrial environments, potentially with access to crevices or rocky outcrops for shelter and hunting small invertebrates.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lawder's bent-toed gecko found?
Lawder's bent-toed gecko is endemic to northern India, specifically inhabiting the western Himalayan region of Kumaon. The type locality was originally designated as Kumaon and later restricted to Almora.
What does Lawder's bent-toed gecko look like?
This gecko has a rather slender and elongate body that is depressed. Its upper surface is covered with numerous granules mixed with small, roundish tubercles. The general color above is greyish-brown, heavily marbled and spotted with dark brown, and features some indistinct whitish cross bands.
How does Lawder's bent-toed gecko reproduce?
Lawder's bent-toed gecko is oviparous. This means that the species reproduces by laying eggs.
What are the distinguishing physical features of Lawder's bent-toed gecko?
Distinguishing features include its slender, depressed body shape, the granular scales intermixed with small tubercles, and a specific coloration pattern of greyish-brown with dark brown marbling and whitish cross bands. Males also possess two pairs of preanal pores.
What is the scientific classification of Lawder's bent-toed gecko?
Lawder's bent-toed gecko belongs to the family Gekkonidae and is scientifically known as Cyrtodactylus lawderanus. It is sometimes placed in the genus Cyrtopodion.
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