Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Sauria Scientific name Phyllodactylus xanti Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Infraorder Gekkota Higher classification Phyllodactylus | |
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Similar Phyllodactylus, Reptile, Scaled reptiles, Phyllodactylidae, Gekkota | ||
Xantus' leaf-toed gecko, or the leaf-toed gecko (Phyllodactylus xanti ), is a species of New World gecko.
Contents
Geographic range
P. xanti is found in California and Mexico.
Description
P. xanti has vertical pupils, immovable eyelids, and leaf-like toe pads. It has a brownish, grey, or pinkish dorsum, with a light venter. The granular dorsal scales are interspersed with tubercles.
It often squeaks when handled, and it has a very fragile tail which is readily lost.
This gecko is between 2.5 and 6.2 cm (1.5 and 2.5 inches) in snout-to-vent length (SVL).
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Etymology
The common name, Xantus' leaf-toed gecko, and the specific epithet, xanti, commemorate John Xantus, a nineteenth century naturalist active in the United States of America. It is also referred to, ambiguously, as the leaf-toed gecko.
The subspecific names, sloani and zweifeli, are in honor of American herpetologists Allan John Sloan and Richard G. Zweifel, respectively.
Taxonomy
The accepted scientific name and original description were published in 1863 by Edward Drinker Cope.