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Cochran's croaking gecko

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Cochran's croaking gecko
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Aristelliger
Species:
A. cochranae
Binomial name
Aristelliger cochranae
Grant, 1931[2]

Cochran's croaking gecko (Aristelliger cochranae), also commonly known as Cochran's Caribbean gecko[3] and the Navassa gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species was described in 1931 by Chapman Grant and named after notable American herpetologist and artist Doris Mable Cochran.[3] The species received one of its common names from the loud croaking call of the male during the mating period.

Description

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A. cochranae has a snout to vent length (SVL) up to 63 mm (2.5 in) in males and 53 mm (2.1 in) in females.[4] It has relatively short and massive legs.[citation needed] The colour of its body varies from beige brown to chestnut red and the back exhibits light spots. A dark chestnut crossband extends from the snout to the head, the nape, and the eyes. The largest part of the tail is dark grey to black.[citation needed] The hatchlings have clear white crossbands on the tail.[citation needed]

Occurrence and biology

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Cochran's croaking gecko is endemic to Navassa Island,[1][4] an island between Haiti and Jamaica. It is relatively common despite its small habitat of 5.2 km² (2 sq mi).[citation needed] It is nocturnal and arboreal, which means that it lives and preys entirely on the branches or under the bark of ficus trees or fan palms (Thrinax morrisii ).[citation needed] Its diet consists of insects.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b Powell, R.; Landestoy, M.; Inchaustegui, S. (2016). "Aristelliger cochranae (errata version published in 2017)". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T203167A115347625. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T203167A2761346.en. Downloaded on 13 February 2019.
  2. ^ Grant C (1931). "A new species of Aristelliger from Navassa". Journal of the Department of Agriculture of Porto [sic] Rico 4: 399-400. (Aristelliger cochranae, new species).
  3. ^ a b Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Aristelliger cochranae, pp. 55-56).
  4. ^ a b Species Aristelliger cochranae at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading

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