New insights into the geographical distribution, ecology and conservation status of South Africa’s endemic Coastal Leaf-toed Gecko, Cryptactites peringueyi (Boulenger, 1910)

Nicolau, Gary K; Petford, Melissa; Edwards, Shelley; Busschau, Theo; Lynch, Kier; Kemp, Luke; Balmer, Jonathan P; Keates, Chad; Hundermark, Courtney R; Weeber, Joshua; Conradie, Werner C

Title: New insights into the geographical distribution, ecology and conservation status of South Africa’s endemic Coastal Leaf-toed Gecko, Cryptactites peringueyi (Boulenger, 1910)
Creator: Nicolau, Gary K
Creator: Petford, Melissa
Creator: Edwards, Shelley
Creator: Busschau, Theo
Creator: Lynch, Kier
Creator: Kemp, Luke
Creator: Balmer, Jonathan P
Creator: Keates, Chad
Creator: Hundermark, Courtney R
Creator: Weeber, Joshua
Creator: Conradie, Werner C
Subject: To be catalogued
Date Issued: 2021
Date: 2021
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461517
Identifier: vital:76209
Identifier: xlink:href="https://www.biotaxa.org/hn/article/view/63908"
Description: Range-restricted species are generally poorly known and at higher risk of extinction than species with wider distributions. In the past, the Coastal Leaf-toed Gecko, Cryptactites peringueyi (Boulenger, 1910) caused much confusion and was once referred to as “one of the herpetological mysteries of the region”. Knowledge on the species has grown substantially, predominately due to new insights into its ecological preferences. Surveys from 2018 through early 2020 re-established the presence of C. peringueyi at three of four historical localities, as well as documenting four new localities. In 2018, preliminary data from these surveys resulted in an IUCN Red List downgrading from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened. However, with further investigation into the distribution of the species, the results from the present study more than doubled the previously estimated Extent of Occurrence from 785 km2 to 1504 km2 and the populations appear to be stable, despite environmental and anthropogenic disturbance. By incorporating environmental niche modelling, we further discuss the distribution, habits and ecology of C. peringueyi. The results presented here highlight the importance of fully understanding a species’ ecology to address its conservation status and we suggest that a new listing of Least Concern is appropriate for C. peringueyi.
Format: computer
Format: online resource
Format: application/pdf
Format: 1 online resource (12 pages)
Format: pdf
Publisher: Herpetology notes
Language: English
Relation: Herpetology Notes
Relation: Nicolau, G.K., Petford, M., Edwards, S., Busschau, T., Lynch, K., Kemp, L., Balmer, J., Keates, C., Hundermark, C.R., Weeber, J. and Conradie, W., 2021. New insights into the geographical distribution, ecology and conservation status of South Africa’s endemic Coastal Leaf-toed Gecko, Cryptactites peringueyi (Boulenger, 1910). Herpetology Notes, 14, pp.439-450
Relation: Herpetology Notes volume 14 p. 439 2021
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Herpetology Notes Statement (https://www.biotaxa.org/hn/about)
Rights: Open Access

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Edwards, Shelley (Ms)

SDG 15. Life On Land

RU Department of Zoology and Entomology

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