Cape Cross thick-toed gecko

The Cape Cross thick-toed gecko (Pachydactylus kochii), also known commonly as Koch's gecko and Koch's thick-toed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.

Etymology

The specific name, kochii, is in honor of Austrian-born South African entomologist .

Geographic range

P. kochii is found in Namibia and in South Africa (southern Namaqualand).

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of P. kochii are desert and savanna, at altitudes of .

Description

Adults of P. kochii have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of . The body is slender. Dorsally, the ground color is grayish with a lavender tinge, and there are five reddish-brown crossbands. Ventrally it is white.

Behavior

P. kochii is terrestrial. It shelters in burrows dug by other animals.

Reproduction

P. kochii is oviparous.

References

Further reading

• , (2005). "Phylogenetic relationships of southern African geckos in the Pachydactylus group (Squamata: Gekkonidae)". African Journal of Herpetology 54 (2): 105–129. (Colopus kochii, new combination, p. 105).
• FitzSimons V (1959). "Some new reptiles from southern Africa and southern Angola". Annals of the Transvaal Museum 23: 405–409. (Pachydactylus kochii, new species, p. 405).
• (1995). Geckos der Welt – Alle Gattungen [= Geckos of the World – All Genera ]. Leipzig: Urania. 256 pp. (Pachydactylus kochii, p. 136). (in German).