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Chondrodactylus angulifer

{{Short description|Species of lizard}}

{{redirect|Namib sand gecko|another species with this common name|Pachydactylus rangei}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Giant Ground Gecko (Chondrodactylus angulifer) (31145329777).jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Tolley, K.A. |author2=Alexander, G.J. |date=2021 |title=Chondrodactylus angulifer |volume=2021 |page=e.T178743A120635185 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T178743A120635185.en |access-date=18 November 2021}}

| genus = Chondrodactylus

| species = angulifer

| authority = W. Peters, 1870

| synonyms =

| range_map = Chondrodactylus angulifer distribution.png

| range_map_caption = range

}}

Chondrodactylus angulifer, also known as the common giant ground gecko, the South African ground gecko, or the Namib sand gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.

Geographic range

Chondrodactylus angulifer is found in Namibia, southernmost Botswana, and western South Africa.{{cite web|url=http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Chondrodactylus&species=angulifer&search_param=%28%28search%3D%27Chondrodactylus+angulifer%27%29%29 |title=Chondrodactylus angulifer |website=The Reptile Database|accessdate=2017-11-11}}

Description

Chondrodactylus angulifer is a large gecko. Adults average {{convert|7|to|9|cm|in|abbr=on}} snout-to-vent length (SVL). The record size is a male {{convert|11.3|cm|in|abbr=on}} SVL.Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. {{ISBN|0-88359-042-5}}. (Chondrotactylus angulifer, pp. 237-238 + Plate79).

Reproduction

An adult female C. angulifer may lay a clutch of one or two eggs. The eggs are almost spherical, {{convert|18|by|16|mm|in|abbr=on}}. Each hatchling is approximately {{convert|7|cm|in|abbr=on}} total length (including tail).

Subspecies

There are two subspecies which are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

  • Haacke WD (1976). "The burrowing geckos of southern Africa, 4 (Reptilia: Gekkonidae). Annotated taxonomic account (cont.) E. Genus Chondrodactylus Peters". Annals of the Transvaal Museum 30: 53–70. (Chondrodactylus angulifer namibensis, new subspecies).
  • Peters W (1870). "Beitrag zur Kenntnis der herpetologischen Fauna von Südafrika ". Monatsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zur Berlin 1870: 110–115. (Chondrodactylus angulifer, new species, p. 111). (in German and Latin).

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2964426}}

Category:Chondrodactylus

Category:Reptiles described in 1870

Category:Taxa named by Wilhelm Peters

{{Gekkonidae-stub}}