Cape Cross thick-toed gecko

The Cape Cross thick-toed gecko (Pachydactylus kochii), also known commonly as Koch's gecko and Koch's thick-toed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.

Cape Cross thick-toed gecko
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Gekkota
Family:	Gekkonidae
Genus:	Pachydactylus
Species:	P. kochii
Binomial name
Pachydactylus kochii (V. FitzSimons, 1959)
Synonyms[2]
Pachydactylus kochii V. FitzSimons, 1959 Colopus kochi — Bauer & Lamb, 2005

Etymology

The specific name, kochii, is in honor of Austrian-born South African entomologist Charles Koch.^[3]

Geographic range

P. kochii is found in Namibia and in South Africa (southern Namaqualand).^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of P. kochii are desert and savanna, at altitudes of 10–800 m (33–2,625 ft).^[1]

Description

Adults of P. kochii have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 4–5 cm (1.6–2.0 in). The body is slender. Dorsally, the ground color is grayish with a lavender tinge, and there are five reddish-brown crossbands. Ventrally it is white.^[4]

Behavior

P. kochii is terrestrial. It shelters in burrows dug by other animals.^[1]

Reproduction

P. kochii is oviparous.^[2]