Pedernales least gecko explained

The Pedernales least gecko (Sphaerodactylus randi) is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Dominican Republic.

Etymology

The specific name, randi, is in honor of American herpetologist Austin Stanley Rand (1932–2005).^[1]

The subspecific name, strahmi, is in honor of herpetologist Michael H. Strahm.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred habitat of S. randi is forest at altitudes of 9-. This species inhabits dry forests and coastal scrubs, where it has been found beneath piles of organic debris like piles of coconut husks.^[3]

Reproduction

S. randi is oviparous.

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.

• Sphaerodactylus randi methorius
• Sphaerodactylus randi randi
• Sphaerodactylus randi strahmi

Further reading

• Rösler H (2000). "Kommentierte Liste der rezent, subrezent und fossil bekannten Geckotaxa (Reptilia: Gekkonomorpha)". Gekkota 2: 28–153. (Sphaerodactylus randi, p. 113). (in German).
• Schwartz A (1977). "The geckoes (Sauria, Gekkonidae) of the genus Sphaerodactylus of the Dominican Península de Barahona, Hispaniola". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 90 (2): 243–254. (Sphaerodactylus randi, new status, pp. 247–248; S. r. methorius, new subspecies, pp. 248–251; S. r. strahmi, new subspecies, pp. 251–253).
• Schwartz A, Henderson RW (1991). Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida Press. 720 pp. . (Sphaerodactylus randi, p. 525).
• Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Sphaerodactylus difficilis randi, new combination, pp. 149–150).
• Shreve B (1968). "The notatus group of Sphaerodactylus (Sauria, Gekkonidae) in Hispaniola". Breviora (280): 1-28. (Sphaerodactylus notatus randi, new subspecies, pp. 5–7).

Notes and References

1. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Sphaerodactylus randi, p. 217).
2. Schwartz (1977). p. 245.
3. Book: Schwartz, Albert. Amphibians and reptiles of the West Indies : descriptions, distributions, and natural history. 1991. University of Florida Press. Robert W. Henderson. 0-585-19242-1. Gainesville. 44958544.