Monica's gecko

Monica's gecko (Pachydactylus monicae), also known commonly as Monica's thick-toed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to southern Africa.

Etymology

The specific name, monicae, is in honor of Monica Frelow Bauer who is the wife of Aaron M. Bauer.

Habitat

Pachydactylus monicae is found in mesic microhabitats near rivers and adjacent rocky outcrops in arid habitats. P. monicae is generally found below elevations of 100 meters (328 feet), but also can be found on the lower slopes of mountains up to .

Geographic range

Pachydactylus monicae is found in the Lüdertiz and Karasburg districts of Namibia and the most northwestern part of the Northern Cape in South Africa.

Description

Relatively large for its genus, Pachydactylus monicae may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of .

Reproduction

Pachydactylus monicae is oviparous.

References

Further reading

• (2011). "The Thick-toed geckos of Southern Africa. Part XII. Pachydactylus monicae Bauer, Lamb & Branch, 2006". Sauria Terraristik und Herpetologie, Berlin 33 (2): 9–14.
• Bauer, Aaron M.; Lamb, Trip; Branch, William R. (2006). "A Revision of the Pachydactylus serval and P. weberi Groups (Reptilia: Gekkota: Gekkonidae) of Southern Africa, with the Description of Eight New Species". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Fourth Series 57 (23): 595–709. (Pachydactylus monicae, new species, pp. 664–667 + Figures 82–87 on pp. 634–637).