Black-eyed gecko

Black-eyed gecko
Conservation status

Near Threatened  (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Diplodactylidae
Genus: Hoplodactylus
Species: H. kahutarae
Binomial name
Hoplodactylus kahutarae
Whitaker, 1985

The black-eyed gecko, Hoplodactylus kahutarae, is a species of alpine gecko endemic to New Zealand. The specific epithet, "kahutarae", is taken from "Kahutara saddle", the locale where the type specimen was found.[1] The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[2]

The black-eyed gecko is named for its unusually melanised irises. These could be an evolutionary response to a higher UV alpine environment above 1300m, but nocturnal habit and other newly discovered alpine geckos without this feature do not support this

See also

References

  1. ↑ New Zealand Frogs and Reptiles, Brian Gill and Tony Whitaker, David Bateman limited, 2001
  2. ↑ "Hoplodactylus kahutarae Whitaker, 1985; holotype". Collections Online. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 17 July 2010.

External links