The Tobago least gecko (Sphaerodactylus molei), also known commonly as Mole's gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is native to the Caribbean and northern South America.
Etymology
The specific name, molei is in honor of British naturalist Richard Richardson Mole (1860âÂÂ1926) of Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Geographic distribution
Sphaerodactylus molei is found in the Antilles, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela including Margarita Island.
Habitat
The preferred habitat of Sphaerodactylus molei is forest at altitudes of .
Description
Adults of Sphaerodacrtlus molei have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about .
Reproduction
Sphaerodactylus molei is oviparous. The adult female usually lays one egg, rarely two, in a rotten stump. Average egg size is by .
References
Further reading
- Barbour T (1921). "Sphaerodactylus ". Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 47 (3): 215âÂÂ283. (Sphaerodactylus molei, pp. 237âÂÂ238 + Plate 1, figure 4; Plate 13, figures 5âÂÂ8).
- Boettger O (1894). "Sphærodactylus molei, Bttgr., n. sp.". p. 80. In: Mole RR, Urich FW (1894). "A Preliminary List of the Reptiles and Batrachians of the Island of Trinidad. With Descriptions of Two New Species by Professor Dr. O. Boettger". Journal of the Field Naturalists' Club, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad 2: 77âÂÂ90. (Sphaerodactylus molei, new species, p. 80). (in English and Latin).
- King W (1962). "Systematics of Lesser Antillean lizards of the genus Sphaerodactylus ". Bulletin of the Florida State Museum 7 (1): 1âÂÂ52. (Sphaerodactylus molei, pp. 35âÂÂ38, Figures 13AâÂÂ13E).