Elasmodactylus tetensis

Elasmodactylus tetensis, commonly known as the Tete thick-toed gecko or Zambezi thick-toed gecko, is a species of gecko endemic to East Africa.^[1][2]

Elasmodactylus tetensis
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:	Elasmodactylus
Species:	E. tetensis
Binomial name
Elasmodactylus tetensis Loveridge, 1953
Synonyms
Pachydactylus tetensis Loveridge, 1953

Description

E. tetensis, unlike any other species in the genus Elasmodactylus, is very large, and males have 8-14 preanal pores.^[3]

Geographic range & habitat

E. tetensis is found in Mopane bushveld in the Zambezi river valley from Lake Kariba to Tete. There is a disjunct population in southern Tanzania.^[1][2]

Behaviour

E. tetensis is a highly gregarious species and often roosts side by side with numerous other individuals during the day in rock cracks or hollow tree trunks like hollow baobab trees.^[1]

They are nocturnal insectivores but may forage within a short distance of their roost during daylight. Once it is dark, they extend the territory they patrol in search of arthropods.^{[citation needed]}

Reproduction

Sexually mature females lay two eggs at a time but can produce several clutches a season depending on food supply.^{[citation needed]}

Subspecies

There is an isolated population in southern Tanzania in similar habitat that is very likely a subspecies or another species forming a complex with tetensis.^{[citation needed]}