''Bavayia'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

lizard Lizard is the common name used for all Squamata, squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most Island#Oceanic isla ...

s in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Diplodactylidae The Diplodactylidae are a Family (biology), family in the suborder Gekkota (geckos), with over 150 species in 25 Genus, genera. These geckos occur in Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. Diplodactylids are the most ecologically diverse and ...

Species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

in the genus ''Bavayia'' are also known commonly as New Caledonian geckos or bavayias. The genus is native to the remote

New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, southwest of Vanuatu and east of Australia. Located from Metropolitan France, it forms a Overseas France#Sui generis collectivity, ''sui generis'' collectivity of t ...

and

Loyalty Islands Loyalty Islands Province (, ) is one of the three top-level administrative subdivisions of New Caledonia. It encompasses the Loyalty Islands () archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, located northeast of the New Caledonian mainland of Grande Terre. ...

. The 41 species are moderately small to medium-sized geckos, and are distinguished from other

genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

by their tail length and the shape of their digits.

Etymology

The generic name, ''Bavayia'', is in honor of Arthur Bavay, a French

pharmacist A pharmacist, also known as a chemist in English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English, is a healthcare professional who is knowledgeable about preparation, mechanism of action, clinical usage and legislation of medications in ...

and

herpetologist Herpetology (from Ancient Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is a branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, salamanders, and caecilians (Gymnophiona)) and reptiles (in ...

Description

All species of ''Bavayia'' have elongated digits, with each

claw A claw is a curved, pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most amniotes (mammals, reptiles, birds). Some invertebrates such as beetles and spiders have somewhat similar fine, hooked structures at the end of the leg or Arthro ...

on the edge of each

seta In biology, setae (; seta ; ) are any of a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms. Animal setae Protostomes Depending partly on their form and function, protostome setae may be called macrotrichia, chaetae, ...

. They are fairly drab in coloration.

Behavior

''Bavayia'' species are

nocturnal Nocturnality is a ethology, behavior in some non-human animals characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnality, diurnal meaning the opposite. Nocturnal creatur ...

, and spend the daylight hours hiding under bark or rocks, or in tree holes.

Species

These 41 described species are recognized as being valid: *''

Bavayia ashleyi ''Bavayia ashleyi'' is a species of geckos endemic to New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, southwest of Vanuatu and east of Australia. Located from Metropolitan France, it forms a Over ...

'' *''

Bavayia astrongatti ''Bavayia astrongatti'' is a species of geckos endemic to New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, southwest of Vanuatu and east of Australia. Located from Metropolitan France, it forms a ...

'' *''

Bavayia borealis ''Bavayia borealis'' is a species of geckos endemic to New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, southwest of Vanuatu and east of Australia. Located from Metropolitan France, it forms a Ove ...

'' *''

Bavayia boulinda ''Bavayia boulinda'' is a species of geckos endemic to New Caledonia. There are two known populations of this species, found on elevated ultramafic Ultramafic rocks (also referred to as ultrabasic rocks, although the terms are not wholly equi ...

'' *''

Bavayia caillou ''Bavayia caillou'' is a species of geckos endemic to New Caledonia. This species is believed to have a range restricted to approximately 400 sq km, reduced by clearance of land by burning for use in agriculture and forestry, and the range is th ...

'' *''

Bavayia campestris ''Bavayia campestris'' is a species of geckos endemic to New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, southwest of Vanuatu and east of Australia. Located from Metropolitan France, it forms a O ...

'' *''

Bavayia centralis ''Bavayia centralis'' is a species of geckos endemic to New Caledonia. The range of ''Bavayia centralis'' is along the border between New Caledonia's South Province and North Province, with its remaining extent of occurrence estimated in 2022 ...

'' *''

Bavayia cocoensis ''Bavayia cocoensis'' is a species of geckos endemic to New Caledonia. At the time of its description in 2022 this species was only known from one area of the Koniambo Massif with an area of 2 km2, and was considered to meet the IUCN Red List c ...

'' *''

Bavayia crassicollis ''Bavayia crassicollis'', also known as the strand bavayia is a gecko endemic to the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, southwest of Vanuatu and east of Australia. ...

'' – strand bavayia *''

Bavayia cyclura ''Bavayia cyclura'', also known as Günther's New Caledonian gecko or the forest bavayia is a gecko endemic to Grande Terre and Ile des Pins including their neighboring islets in New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands ...

'' – Günther's New Caledonian gecko *'' Bavayia endemia'' *'' Bavayia exsuccida'' – Sclerophyll bavayia *'' Bavayia geitaina'' – gracile bavayia *'' Bavayia goroensis'' *'' Bavayia insularis'' *'' Bavayia jourdani'' *'' Bavayia kanaky'' *'' Bavayia koniambo'' *'' Bavayia kopeto'' *'' Bavayia kunyie'' *'' Bavayia lepredourensis'' *'' Bavayia loyaltiensis'' *'' Bavayia mandjeliensis'' *'' Bavayia menazi'' *'' Bavayia montana'' – mountain New Caledonian gecko *'' Bavayia nehoueensis'' *'' Bavayia nubila'' *'' Bavayia occidentalis'' *'' Bavayia ornata'' – ornate bavayia *'' Bavayia periclitata'' *'' Bavayia pulchella'' – pretty bavayia *'' Bavayia renevierorum'' *'' Bavayia rhizophora'' *'' Bavayia robusta'' – robust forest bavayia *''

Bavayia sauvagii ''Bavayia'' is a genus of lizards in the Family (biology), family Diplodactylidae. Species in the genus ''Bavayia'' are also known Common name, commonly as New Caledonian geckos or bavayias. The genus is native to the remote New Caledonia and Loya ...

'' – Sauvage's New Caledonian gecko *''

Bavayia septuiclavis ''Bavayia septuiclavis'' , also known as Sadlier's New Caledonian gecko or the pale-stripe bavayia, is a gecko endemic to southern Grande Terre (New Caledonia), Grande Terre in New Caledonia. References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2892106 Bavayia R ...

'' – Sadlier's New Caledonian gecko *'' Bavayia stephenparki'' *'' Bavayia tanleensis'' *'' Bavayia tchingou'' *'' Bavayia ultramaficola'' *'' Bavayia whitakeri'' ''

Nota bene ( ; plural: ) is the Latin language, Latin phrase meaning ''note well''. In manuscripts, ''nota bene'' is abbreviated in upper-case as NB and N.B., and in lower-case as n.b. and nb; the editorial usages of ''nota bene'' and ''notate bene'' fi ...

'': A

binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, altho ...

in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Bavayia''.

Taxonomy

The species formerly known as ''Bavayia madjo'' is now known as '' Paniegekko madjo''. The species formerly known as ''Bavayia validiclavis'' is now known as '' Dierogekko validiclavis''.Bauer AM, Jackman T, Sadlier RA, Whitaker AH (2006). "A revision of the ''Bavayia validiclavis'' group (Squamata: Gekkota: Diplodactylidae), a clade of New Caledonian geckos exhibiting microendemism". ''Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Fourth Series'' 57 (18): 503-547
PDF

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2712228 Geckos of New Caledonia Lizard genera Taxa named by Jean Roux

Etymology

Description

Behavior

Species

Taxonomy

References

Further reading

External links