Chondrodactylus fitzsimonsi

Chondrodactylus fitzsimonsi, also known commonly as the button-scaled gecko, FitzSimons' thick-toed gecko,^[2] Fitzsimons's thick-toed gecko, and FitzSimons' tubercled gecko,^[1] is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to southwestern Africa.

Chondrodactylus fitzsimonsi
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Infraorder:	Gekkota
Family:	Gekkonidae
Genus:	Chondrodactylus
Species:	C. fitzsimonsi
Binomial name
Chondrodactylus fitzsimonsi (Loveridge, 1947)
Synonyms[2]
Pachydactylus laevigatus tesselatus V. FitzSimons, 1938 Pachydactylus laevigatus fitzsimonsi Loveridge, 1947 (nomen novum) Pachydactylus fitzsimonsi — Benyr, 1995 Chondrodactylus fitzsimonsi — Bauer & Lamb, 2005

Etymology

The specific name, fitzsimonsi, is in honor of South African herpetologist Vivian Frederick Maynard FitzSimons.^[3]

Geographic range

C. fitzsimonsi is found in Angola and Namibia.^[2]

Description

C. fitzsimonsi is a large, heavy-bodied gecko. Adults average 6.5 to 8.5 cm (2.6 to 3.3 in) snout-to-vent length (SVL). The record size is a male 9.0 cm (3.5 in) SVL. Dorsally, it is olive-colored, with four or five dark undulating crossbands. Ventrally, it is white.^[4]

Habitat

The preferred habitat of C. fitzsimonsi is rocky outcrops in arid savanna or in semidesert,^[4] at altitudes of 20–1,000 m (66–3,281 ft).^[1]

Reproduction

C. fitzsimonsi is oviparous.^[2]