Northern Elegant Gecko
\nStenodactylus mauritanicus<\/span><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Guichenot, 1850<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n\nPor\u00a0Gabriel Mart\u00ednez del M\u00e1rmol Mar\u00edn<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nUpdated: 23\/12\/2012<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nTaxonomy: Gekkota | Geckonidae | Stenodactylus | Stenodactylus mauritanicus<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n![\"Stenodactylus](\"http:\/\/moroccoherps.com\/files\/fichas\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus_1.jpg\")
Stenodactylus mauritanicus. Assa. Foto: \u00a9 Baudilio Rebollo Fern\u00e1ndez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n![\"Mapa](\"http:\/\/moroccoherps.com\/files\/fichas\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus_mapa.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/moroccoherps.com\/files\/images\/red.jpg\")
\u00a0\u00a0Stenodactylus mauritanicus<\/span><\/em><\/p>\nDistribution map of
\nStenodactylus mauritanicus<\/span><\/em>
\nin Morocco.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n
Photo gallery: 22 photographies. [ENTRAR]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nPhylogenetic frame<\/h2>\n
Traditionally it was considered a subspecies of Stenodactylus sthenodactylus<\/em> (Lichtenstein, 1823), it was elevated to species by Baha el Din (2006) due to morphological differences and the existence of several localities where both forms live in sympathy, which seems to have been recently accepted by the authors age (de Pous et al., 2010; Fujita and Papenfuss, 2011) and has recently been confirmed by genetic analysis (Mettalinou et al., 2012).<\/p>\nDescription<\/h2>\n
Stenodactylus mauritanicus<\/em> is a small gecko with a known maximum snout to vent lengh of 4.3 cm.<\/p>\nThe head is large, well differentiated from the body and the eyes stand out: large and with a spectacular design. These are surrounded by a light colored line that thickens in the part closest to the snout. This is short and rounded, and in its front part the two nostrils are located, which are not in contact with the rostral scale and protrude slightly.<\/p>\n
\n![\"Stenodactylus](\"http:\/\/www.moroccoherps.com\/files\/fichas\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus_2.jpg\")
Stenodactylus mauritanicus. Tan-Tan. Foto: \u00a9 Javier Aznar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe body is short and relatively thick. The dorsal scales are rough and granular, mixed with some slightly elongated scales. The ventral scales are uniform and slightly less elongated than the dorsal ones. It has short, thick limbs and fingers. The tail is thick and relatively short in proportion to the snout-vent length (tail \/ snout-vent length ratio = 0.62; Baha el Din, 2006).<\/p>\n
The coloration is very variable. On the head and dorsal area it is composed of grayish, reddish, pink, beige tones … dotted with light circular and other dark markings that can be rounded or very frequently merge forming very elegant bands and designs that give the name to this gecko and that can be bordered with a darker shade. The ventral part is white. The unregenerate tail has a design and color similar to the dorsal part.<\/p>\n
\n![\"Stenodactylus](\"http:\/\/www.moroccoherps.com\/files\/fichas\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus_3a.jpg\")
Stenodactylus petrii. Merzouga. Foto: \u00a9 Mario Schweiger.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"Stenodactylus](\"http:\/\/www.moroccoherps.com\/files\/fichas\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus_3b.jpg\")
Stenodactylus mauritanicus. Tarfaya. Foto: \u00a9 Gabri Mtnez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe most similar species in Morocco are Stenodactylus petrii<\/span> <\/em>and Stenodactylus sthenodactylus<\/span><\/em>. The 3 can be differenciated according to the following table:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/th>\n S. petrii<\/span><\/em><\/th>\nS. sthenodactylus<\/span><\/em><\/th>\nS. mauritanicus<\/span><\/em><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\nTail<\/th>\n thin<\/td>\n thick and relatively large
\n(average tail\/SVL of 0,88)<\/td>\n thick and relatively\u00a0 short
\n(average tail\/SVL of 0,62)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nCloacal tubers<\/th>\n in several rows and protuding strongly at the base of the tail<\/td>\n almost always in a row and without protuding excessively<\/td>\n almost always in a row and without protuding excessively<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nRows of transverse subdigital scales<\/th>\n \u00a03-5<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nNasal area<\/th>\n <\/td>\n almost always stands out strongly<\/td>\n only slightly protuding<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nSnout<\/th>\n <\/td>\n almost always convace in profile<\/td>\n almost always convex in profile<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nMaximum Snout-Vent Lenght\u00a0 (SVL)<\/th>\n <\/td>\n Over 4,5 cm<\/td>\n Less than 4,5 cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nDorsal scales<\/th>\n <\/td>\n Very smooth and homogeneous<\/td>\n rough and a bit heterogeneous<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\u00a0Preanal pores<\/th>\n <\/td>\n only in some populations<\/td>\n missing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nTable based in Schleich et al.<\/em>, 1996; Geniez\u00a0et al.<\/em>, 2004 and Baha el Din, 2006.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nEcology and habits<\/h2>\n
Eminently land and night gecko. Most encounters with this specis occur in spring, in the early hours of the night. During the day it hides under stones or in burrows\u00a0 (Bons & Geniez, 1996).<\/p>\n
As a defensive mechanism, it can release the tail\u00a0 (Baha el Din, 2006).<\/p>\n
Distribution, habitat and abundance<\/h2>\n
It inhabits the arid and Saharan zones of the south and east of the High Atlas. In Western Sahara it occupies the north, reaching Mauritania from the coast (Bons & Geniez, 1996; Geniez et al.<\/em>, 2004; P.\u00a0Geniez, com. pers.).<\/p>\n\n![\"H\u00e1bitat](\"http:\/\/www.moroccoherps.com\/files\/fichas\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus_4.jpg\")
Habitat of Stenodactylus mauritanicus. Tarfaya. Foto: \u00a9 Gabri Mtnez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nIt has been found in numerous habitats: coastal dunes (Tarfaya, Aoreora\u2026), sandy areas alternated with rocks\u00a0 (Fask), earthy steppes with an abundance of mammal galleries and Euphorbia officinarum ssp. echinus<\/span><\/em> (Guelmim, Sidi Ifni\u2026) or strictly rocky areas such as hammadas and reg (Assa, Tata\u2026).<\/p>\nIt\u00b4s considered a sparse species in Morocco and Western Sahara (Bons & Geniez, 1996), although in some parts of its distribution it is locally abundant. It present the same conservation problems as most reptiles in the study area, having been found dropped in water holes and very frequently in roads, where being a slow animal, it must be frequently run over.<\/p>\n
Bibliography<\/h3>\n\n- \n
\n- Baha el Din, S. 2006.<\/strong>\u00a0A guide to the reptiles and amphibians of Egypt. The American University in Cairo Press, Cairo. 359 pp.<\/li>\n
- Bons, J. & Geniez, P. 1996.<\/strong>\u00a0Anfibios y Reptiles de Marruecos (Incluido Sahara Occidentales). Atlas Biogeogr\u00e1fico. Asociaci\u00f3n Herpetol\u00f3gica Espa\u00f1ola. Barcelona. 319 pp<\/li>\n
- de Pous, P.E.; Beukema, W.; Weterings, M.; Dummer, I. & Geniez, P. 2010.<\/strong>\u00a0Area prioritization and performance evaluation of the conservation area network for the Moroccan herpetofauna: a preliminary assessment. Biodiversity and Conservation 20(1): 89-118<\/li>\n
- Fujita, M.K. & Papenfuss, T.J. 2011.<\/strong>\u00a0Molecular systematics of Stenodactylus (Geckonidae), an Afro-Arabian gecko species complex. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 58: 71-75.<\/li>\n
- Geniez, P.; Mateo, J.A.; Geniez, M. & Pether, J. 2004.<\/strong>\u00a0The amphibians and reptiles of the Western Sahara (former Spanish Sahara) and adjacent regions. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt, 228 pp.<\/li>\n
- Metallinou, M.;Arnold, E.N.; Crochet, P.A.; Geniez, P.; Brito, J.C.; Lymberakis, P.; Baha El Din, S.; Sindaco, R.; Robinson, M. & Carranza, S. 2012.<\/strong>\u00a0Conquering the Sahara and Arabian deserts: systematics and biogeography of Stenodactylus geckos (Reptilia: Gekkonidae). BMC Evolutionary Biology, 12.<\/li>\n
- Pleguezuelos, J.M.; Fari\u00f1a, B.; Mateo, J.A. & Geniez, P. 2004.<\/strong>\u00a0Nuevos datos sobre los anfibios y reptiles de Mauritania y el S\u00e1hara Occidental. Bol. Asoc. Herpetol. Esp., 15 (2): 76-80<\/li>\n
- Schleich, H.H., K\u00e4stle, W. & Kabisch, K. 1996.<\/strong>\u00a0Amphibians and Reptiles of North Africa. Biology, Systematics, Field Guide. Koeltz Scientific Books. 630 pp.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
To cite this species page:<\/b>
\nGabriel Mart\u00ednez del M\u00e1rmol Mar\u00edn\u00a0(2012):\u00a0Stenodactylus mauritanicus<\/span> Guichenot, 1850. En: Mart\u00ednez, G., Le\u00f3n, R., Jim\u00e9nez-Robles, O., Gonz\u00e1lez De la Vega, J. P., Gabari, V., Rebollo, B., S\u00e1nchez-T\u00f3jar, A., Fern\u00e1ndez-Cardenete, J. R., G\u00e1llego, J. (Eds.). Moroccoherps. Anfibios y Reptiles de Marruecos y Sahara Occidental. Disponible en www.moroccoherps.com\/ficha\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus\/<\/a>. Versi\u00f3n 23\/12\/2012.<\/p>\nTo cite www.morocoherps.com <\/a>as a whole:<\/b>
\nMart\u00ednez, G., Le\u00f3n, R., Jim\u00e9nez-Robles, O., Gonz\u00e1lez De la Vega, J.P., Gabari, V., Rebollo, B., S\u00e1nchez-T\u00f3jar, A., Fern\u00e1ndez-Cardenete, J.R., G\u00e1llego, J. (Eds.). Moroccoherps. Anfibios y Reptiles de Marruecos y Sahara Occidental. Disponible en\u00a0www.moroccoherps.com<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Northern Elegant Gecko Stenodactylus mauritanicus\u00a0Guichenot, 1850 Por\u00a0Gabriel Mart\u00ednez del M\u00e1rmol Mar\u00edn Updated: 23\/12\/2012 Taxonomy: Gekkota | Geckonidae | Stenodactylus | Stenodactylus mauritanicus \u00a0\u00a0Stenodactylus mauritanicus Distribution map of Stenodactylus mauritanicus in Morocco. Photo gallery: 22 photographies. [ENTRAR] Phylogenetic frame Traditionally it was considered a subspecies of Stenodactylus sthenodactylus (Lichtenstein, 1823), it was elevated to … <\/p>\n
Por\u00a0Gabriel Mart\u00ednez del M\u00e1rmol Mar\u00edn<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Updated: 23\/12\/2012<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Taxonomy: Gekkota | Geckonidae | Stenodactylus | Stenodactylus mauritanicus<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Distribution map of <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo gallery: 22 photographies. [ENTRAR]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Traditionally it was considered a subspecies of Stenodactylus sthenodactylus<\/em> (Lichtenstein, 1823), it was elevated to species by Baha el Din (2006) due to morphological differences and the existence of several localities where both forms live in sympathy, which seems to have been recently accepted by the authors age (de Pous et al., 2010; Fujita and Papenfuss, 2011) and has recently been confirmed by genetic analysis (Mettalinou et al., 2012).<\/p>\n Stenodactylus mauritanicus<\/em> is a small gecko with a known maximum snout to vent lengh of 4.3 cm.<\/p>\n The head is large, well differentiated from the body and the eyes stand out: large and with a spectacular design. These are surrounded by a light colored line that thickens in the part closest to the snout. This is short and rounded, and in its front part the two nostrils are located, which are not in contact with the rostral scale and protrude slightly.<\/p>\n The body is short and relatively thick. The dorsal scales are rough and granular, mixed with some slightly elongated scales. The ventral scales are uniform and slightly less elongated than the dorsal ones. It has short, thick limbs and fingers. The tail is thick and relatively short in proportion to the snout-vent length (tail \/ snout-vent length ratio = 0.62; Baha el Din, 2006).<\/p>\n The coloration is very variable. On the head and dorsal area it is composed of grayish, reddish, pink, beige tones … dotted with light circular and other dark markings that can be rounded or very frequently merge forming very elegant bands and designs that give the name to this gecko and that can be bordered with a darker shade. The ventral part is white. The unregenerate tail has a design and color similar to the dorsal part.<\/p>\n The most similar species in Morocco are Stenodactylus petrii<\/span> <\/em>and Stenodactylus sthenodactylus<\/span><\/em>. The 3 can be differenciated according to the following table:<\/p>\n Table based in Schleich et al.<\/em>, 1996; Geniez\u00a0et al.<\/em>, 2004 and Baha el Din, 2006.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Eminently land and night gecko. Most encounters with this specis occur in spring, in the early hours of the night. During the day it hides under stones or in burrows\u00a0 (Bons & Geniez, 1996).<\/p>\n As a defensive mechanism, it can release the tail\u00a0 (Baha el Din, 2006).<\/p>\n It inhabits the arid and Saharan zones of the south and east of the High Atlas. In Western Sahara it occupies the north, reaching Mauritania from the coast (Bons & Geniez, 1996; Geniez et al.<\/em>, 2004; P.\u00a0Geniez, com. pers.).<\/p>\n It has been found in numerous habitats: coastal dunes (Tarfaya, Aoreora\u2026), sandy areas alternated with rocks\u00a0 (Fask), earthy steppes with an abundance of mammal galleries and Euphorbia officinarum ssp. echinus<\/span><\/em> (Guelmim, Sidi Ifni\u2026) or strictly rocky areas such as hammadas and reg (Assa, Tata\u2026).<\/p>\n It\u00b4s considered a sparse species in Morocco and Western Sahara (Bons & Geniez, 1996), although in some parts of its distribution it is locally abundant. It present the same conservation problems as most reptiles in the study area, having been found dropped in water holes and very frequently in roads, where being a slow animal, it must be frequently run over.<\/p>\n To cite this species page:<\/b> To cite www.morocoherps.com <\/a>as a whole:<\/b> Northern Elegant Gecko Stenodactylus mauritanicus\u00a0Guichenot, 1850 Por\u00a0Gabriel Mart\u00ednez del M\u00e1rmol Mar\u00edn Updated: 23\/12\/2012 Taxonomy: Gekkota | Geckonidae | Stenodactylus | Stenodactylus mauritanicus \u00a0\u00a0Stenodactylus mauritanicus Distribution map of Stenodactylus mauritanicus in Morocco. Photo gallery: 22 photographies. [ENTRAR] Phylogenetic frame Traditionally it was considered a subspecies of Stenodactylus sthenodactylus (Lichtenstein, 1823), it was elevated to … <\/p>\n<\/p>\n\u00a0\u00a0Stenodactylus mauritanicus<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
\nStenodactylus mauritanicus<\/span><\/em>
\nin Morocco.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nPhylogenetic frame<\/h2>\n
Description<\/h2>\n
\n\n
\n <\/th>\n S. petrii<\/span><\/em><\/th>\n S. sthenodactylus<\/span><\/em><\/th>\n S. mauritanicus<\/span><\/em><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n \n Tail<\/th>\n thin<\/td>\n thick and relatively large
\n(average tail\/SVL of 0,88)<\/td>\nthick and relatively\u00a0 short
\n(average tail\/SVL of 0,62)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n Cloacal tubers<\/th>\n in several rows and protuding strongly at the base of the tail<\/td>\n almost always in a row and without protuding excessively<\/td>\n almost always in a row and without protuding excessively<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Rows of transverse subdigital scales<\/th>\n \u00a03-5<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Nasal area<\/th>\n <\/td>\n almost always stands out strongly<\/td>\n only slightly protuding<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Snout<\/th>\n <\/td>\n almost always convace in profile<\/td>\n almost always convex in profile<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Maximum Snout-Vent Lenght\u00a0 (SVL)<\/th>\n <\/td>\n Over 4,5 cm<\/td>\n Less than 4,5 cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Dorsal scales<\/th>\n <\/td>\n Very smooth and homogeneous<\/td>\n rough and a bit heterogeneous<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \u00a0Preanal pores<\/th>\n <\/td>\n only in some populations<\/td>\n missing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Ecology and habits<\/h2>\n
Distribution, habitat and abundance<\/h2>\n
Bibliography<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\nGabriel Mart\u00ednez del M\u00e1rmol Mar\u00edn\u00a0(2012):\u00a0Stenodactylus mauritanicus<\/span> Guichenot, 1850. En: Mart\u00ednez, G., Le\u00f3n, R., Jim\u00e9nez-Robles, O., Gonz\u00e1lez De la Vega, J. P., Gabari, V., Rebollo, B., S\u00e1nchez-T\u00f3jar, A., Fern\u00e1ndez-Cardenete, J. R., G\u00e1llego, J. (Eds.). Moroccoherps. Anfibios y Reptiles de Marruecos y Sahara Occidental. Disponible en www.moroccoherps.com\/ficha\/Stenodactylus_mauritanicus\/<\/a>. Versi\u00f3n 23\/12\/2012.<\/p>\n
\nMart\u00ednez, G., Le\u00f3n, R., Jim\u00e9nez-Robles, O., Gonz\u00e1lez De la Vega, J.P., Gabari, V., Rebollo, B., S\u00e1nchez-T\u00f3jar, A., Fern\u00e1ndez-Cardenete, J.R., G\u00e1llego, J. (Eds.). Moroccoherps. Anfibios y Reptiles de Marruecos y Sahara Occidental. Disponible en\u00a0www.moroccoherps.com<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"