Cope's least gecko

Cope's least gecko (Sphaerodactylus copei) is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the West Indies.

Cope's least gecko
Sphaerodactylus copei, drawing by E.N. Fischer from Barbour, 1921
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Gekkota
Family:	Sphaerodactylidae
Genus:	Sphaerodactylus
Species:	S. copei
Binomial name
Sphaerodactylus copei Steindachner, 1867
Synonyms[2]
Sphaerodactylus anthracinus Cope, 1862 Sphaerodactylus copei Steindachner, 1867 Sphaerodactylus copii [sic] — Boulenger, 1885 Sphaerodactylus asper Garman, 1888 Sphaerodactylus copei — Schwartz & Henderson, 1991

Etymology

The specific name, copei, is in honor of American herpetologist and paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope.^[3]

Geographic range

S. copei is found in Haiti and the Bahamas.^[2] Whether the Bahamian populations result from introductions or natural dispersal is debated.^[1]

Habitat

The preferred habitat of S. copei is forest at altitudes of 0–900 m (0–2,953 ft).^[1] Through findings in the terms of biogeographic and other relationships, it was found that the West Indian Geckos belong to the genus Sphaerodactylus by the analysis of protein variation. ^[4]

Reproduction

S. copei is oviparous.^[2]

Subspecies

Nine subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies^[2]

• Sphaerodactylus copei astreptus Schwartz, 1975
• Sphaerodactylus copei cataplexis Schwartz & Thomas, 1965
• Sphaerodactylus copei copei Steindachner, 1867
• Sphaerodactylus copei deuterus Schwartz, 1975
• Sphaerodactylus copei enochrus Schwartz & Thomas, 1965
• Sphaerodactylus copei pelates Schwartz, 1975
• Sphaerodactylus copei picturatus Garman, 1887
• Sphaerodactylus copei polyommatus Thomas, 1968
• Sphaerodactylus copei websteri Schwartz, 1975