Peking gecko

The Peking gecko (Gekko swinhonis) is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to China.^[2]

Peking gecko
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Gekkota
Family:	Gekkonidae
Genus:	Gekko
Species:	G. swinhonis
Binomial name
Gekko swinhonis Günther, 1864
Synonyms[2]
Gecko swinhonis R. Swinhoe, 1863 (nomen nudum) Gecko swinhonis Günther, 1864 Gekko swinhonis — Schmidt, 1927 Gekko (Japonigekko) swinhonis — Wood et al., 2019

Etymology

The specific name, swinhonis, is in honor of English naturalist Robert Swinhoe.^[3]

Geographic range

G. swinhonis occurs in northern China, north of the Yangtze River.^[1] But they had also been introduced to Incheon, South Korea via ships.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of G. swinhonis are arid and moist grasslands and plains.^[1]

Reproduction

G. swinhonis is oviparous.^[2]

Taxonomy

The species G. swinhonis was first described by British herpetologist Albert Günther in 1864.^[2]

Conservation status

G. swinhonis has been assessed as "Vulnerable" due to an inferred 30% population decline over the last three generations due to harvest levels. This species has a relatively wide distribution but it is exploited for traditional medicine and is impacted by habitat loss and degradation.^[1]