The West Indian leopard gecko (''Eublepharis fuscus'') is a species of
leopard gecko
The leopard gecko or common leopard gecko (''Eublepharis macularius'') is a ground-dwelling lizard native to the rocky dry grassland and desert regions of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. The leopard gecko has become a popular pet, ...
found in western
India
India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...
, with its range possibly extending to southeastern Pakistan.
[
]
Description
It has a robust habitus and can reach in snout–vent length.[
]
Distribution
The gecko is widely distributed in western India: it is known from the Western Ghats (northern Karnataka
Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Kar ...
and parts of Maharashtra) as well as from Gujarat
Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the nin ...
. It might occur in Pakistan.[
]
Habitat and behavior
It can be found in forested hill tracts, scrub, boulders and scrubland. It is a nocturnal
Nocturnality is an ethology, animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnality, diurnal meaning the opposite.
Nocturnal creatures generally have ...
, terrestrial gecko that feeds on scorpions and other arthropods.[
]
References
* Börner, A. R. 1981 Third contribution to the systematics of the southwest Asian lizards of the geckonid genus ''Eublepharis'' Gray 1827: Further materials from the Indian subcontinent. Saurologica, (3):1-7
* Das, I. 1997 Resolution of the systematic status of ''Eublepharis macularius fuscus'' Boerner, 1981 (EublepharidaSauria: Squamata). Hamadryad 22 (1): 13-20
* Mirza, Z. & Upadhye, R. 2010. Zur Verbreitung und Lebensweise des in Indien endemischen Lidgeckos ''Eublepharis fuscus'' Börner 1981. Sauria 32 (3): 15–23.
External links
*
Eublepharis
Reptiles of India
Endemic fauna of India
Reptiles described in 1981
Taxa named by Achim-Rüdiger Börner
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