Botel gecko

The Botel gecko (Gekko kikuchii) is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Orchid Island (also known as Botel Tobago Island) of Taiwan.^[1][2][3]

Botel gecko
Gekko kikuchii
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Gekkonidae
Genus:	Gekko
Species:	G. kikuchii
Binomial name
Gekko kikuchii (Ōshima, 1912)
Synonyms[2]
Gecko kikuchii Ōshima, 1912 Gekko kikuchii — Okada, 1936 Gekko monarchus — Kuntz & D.Z. Ming, 1970 Gekko kikuchi — Ota, 1989

Etymology

The specific name, kikuchiii, is in honor of Yonetarō Kikuchi (1869–1921), who collected natural history specimens for the Taipei Museum.^[4]

Habitat

The preferred habitat of G. kikuchii is the coastal cliffs of the southern part of the island, flanked with shrubs and secondary forests. It can also penetrate into the forest habitat, but has low density there.^[1]

Reproduction

G. kikuchii is oviparous.^[2]

Conservation status

G. kikuchii is classified as "endangered" by the Taiwan Wildlife Conservation Act.^[3]

References

1. Lorenzo, A.; del Prado, Y.; Shang, G.; Maglangit, E.P. (2022). "Gekko kikuchii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T221825874A127944340. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
2. Gekko kikuchii at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 May 2018.
3. Shao KT (ed.). "Gekko kikuchii Oshima, 1912". Catalogue of life in Taiwan. Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. Retrieved 16 May 2018. (in Chinese and English).
4. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Gekko kikuchii, p. 141).

Further reading

• Ōshima M (1912). "Description of a new gecko from Botel Tobago Island". Philippine Journal of Science, Section D, General Biology, Ethnology and Anthropology 7: 241–242 + Plates I–II. (Gecko kikuchii, new species).