Cape Cross thick-toed gecko explained

The Cape Cross thick-toed gecko (Pachydactylus kochii), also known commonly as Koch's gecko and Koch's thick-toed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.

Etymology

The specific name, kochii, is in honor of Austrian-born South African entomologist Charles Koch.^[1]

Geographic range

P. kochii is found in Namibia and in South Africa (southern Namaqualand).^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of P. kochii are desert and savanna, at altitudes of .

Description

Adults of P. kochii have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 4–. The body is slender. Dorsally, the ground color is grayish with a lavender tinge, and there are five reddish-brown crossbands. Ventrally it is white.^[3]

Behavior

P. kochii is terrestrial. It shelters in burrows dug by other animals.

Reproduction

P. kochii is oviparous.^[2]

Further reading

• Bauer AM, Lamb T (2005). "Phylogenetic relationships of southern African geckos in the Pachydactylus group (Squamata: Gekkonidae)". African Journal of Herpetology 54 (2): 105–129. (Colopus kochii, new combination, p. 105).
• FitzSimons V (1959). "Some new reptiles from southern Africa and southern Angola". Annals of the Transvaal Museum 23: 405–409. (Pachydactylus kochii, new species, p. 405).
• Rösler H (1995). Geckos der Welt – Alle Gattungen [= ''Geckos of the World – All Genera'' ]. Leipzig: Urania. 256 pp. (Pachydactylus kochii, p. 136). (in German).

Notes and References

1. [species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]
2. http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Pachydactylus&species=kochii "Pachydactylus kochii "
3. [William Roy Branch|Branch, Bill]