Rhacodactylus

Rhacodactylus
Rhacodactylus leachianus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Gekkota
Infraorder:	Pygopodomorpha
Family:	Diplodactylidae
Genus:	Rhacodactylus Fitzinger, 1843
Species
See text.

Rhacodactylus is a genus of medium to large geckos of the family Diplodactylidae. All species in this genus are found on the islands that make up New Caledonia.

Genus characteristics include long limbs and toes with well-developed lamellae. Some webbing occurs on the hind limbs and toes. Rhacodactylus possess prehensile tails which also have lamellae to assist in climbing. These are for the most part arboreal geckos. Rhacodactylus are nocturnal geckos.

The species are egg layers with the exception of R. trachyrhynchus which gives live birth. Rhacodactylus geckos are sexually dimorphic, with the males possessing larger preanal pores than the females as well as a distinct hemipenis pocket.

Males tend to be stockier than females with the exception of R. auriculatus in which species the males are much slimmer than the females.

Classification

• Gargoyle gecko, Rhacodactylus auriculatus
• New Caledonia giant gecko, Rhacodactylus leachianus
  • Rhacodactylus leachianus aubrianus
  • Rhacodactylus leachianus henkeli
  • Rhacodactylus leachianus leachianus
• Greater rough-snouted giant gecko, Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus
• Lesser rough-snouted giant gecko, Rhacodactylus trachycephalus

Formerly placed here

• Correlophus ciliatus, crested gecko; formerly R. ciliatus
• Correlophus sarasinorum; formerly R. sarasinorum
• Mniarogekko chahoua; formerly R. chahoua

Literature

• Bauer AM, Jackman TR, Sadlier RA, Whitaker AH. (2012). Revision of the giant geckos of New Caledonia (Reptilia: Diplodactylidae: Rhacodactylus). Zootaxa 3404: 1–52.
• Fitzinger L. (1843). Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Genus Rhacodactylus, p. 100).
• Seipp, Robert; Henkel, Friedrich Wilhelm. (2000). Rhacodactylus - Biologie, Haltung und Zucht; mit einem farbigen Anhang weiterer Geckoarten Neukaledoniens. Frankfurt am Main: Edition Chimaira. 173 pp. ISBN 3-930612-23-2.
• de Vosjoli, Phillippe; Fast, Frank; Repashy, Allen. (2003). Rhacodactylus - The Complete Guide to their Selection and Care. Vista, California: Advanced Vision Inc. 296 pp. ISBN 0-9742971-0-0.