Satara gecko
Species of lizard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Satara gecko (Hemidactylus sataraensis) is a species of gecko. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.[1][2] The species was described in 2008, from Chalkewadi in Maharashtra[3]. The habitat is lateritic rock outcrop, characterized by extreme climatic conditions during monsoon and summer periods in the Western India[4]. They are mostly found under boulders, in a landscape mostly dominated by windmills, and tourism activities.
| Satara gecko | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Gekkota |
| Family: | Gekkonidae |
| Genus: | Hemidactylus |
| Species: | H. sataraensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Hemidactylus sataraensis | |
The individuals are known to retain their ‘S’-shaped body posture[3][4]. Other species occurring in the habitat are Hemidactylus cf. brookii, Echis carinatus, Sarada superba, and many predatory arthropods including spiders, scorpions, and centipedes[4]. It is estimated that the species breed more than once per year, and many morphological and behavioral characters are similar to the sister species Hemidactylus albofasciatus[4]. The species is different from Hemidactylus albofasciatus by ecological parameters such as elevation[4]. Morphologically it can be distinguished by the large size and a set of specific scale patterns and colors[3].
Assessments by IUCN has shown the species is on decline due to rock extraction, wind farm development, fragmentation by roads, and potentially also, climate change[1].