Peraiba gecko

The Paraíba gecko (Phyllopezus periosus), also commonly called the Peraiba gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. The species is endemic to Brazil.

Peraiba gecko
in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Gekkota
Family:	Phyllodactylidae
Genus:	Phyllopezus
Species:	P. periosus
Binomial name
Phyllopezus periosus Rodrigues, 1986

Etymology

The specific name, periosus, is Latin from the Greek περισσότερο, meaning "big, huge".^[2] The common name, "Paraíba gecko", refers to the Brazilian state of Paraíba.

Geographic range

P. periosus is found in the Brazilian states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Rio Grande do Norte.^[3]

Description

Dorsally, P. periosus has six or seven, dark brown, irregular-shaped crossbars, on a light gray ground color. Ventrally, adults are golden yellow, but juveniles are milky white.^[4]

Average snout-to-vent length (SVL) is 8 cm (3.1 in), but may reach 11 cm (4.3 in).^[5]

Diet

P. periosus preys on insects and spiders.^[6]

Reproduction

P. periosus is oviparous.^[3]