Carphodactylus laevis

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Gekkota
Infraordo: Pygopodomorpha

Familia: Carphodactylidae
Genus: Carphodactylus
Species: Carphodactylus laevis
Name

Carphodactylus laevis Günther, 1897

References

Günther, A. 1897: Descriptions of new species of lizards and of a tree-frog from north-eastern Queensland. Novitates zoologicae, 4: 403–406, plates XI-XII. BHL

Links

Australian Faunal Directory
EoL

Vernacular names
English: chameleon gecko

Carphodactylus is a monotypic genus of geckos in the family Carphodactylidae. The genus consists of the sole species Carphodactylus laevis, commonly known as the chameleon gecko. The species is endemic to the rainforests of northeastern Australia. It is rated as Least Concern, as it is common (albeit secretive) within its range and occurs within protected areas. It currently experiences no major threats, though long-term climate change may alter or reduce its geographic distribution under some scenarios.[1][3]

Description
Carphodactylus laevis, illustration from original description, 1897

C. laevis has an average snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 13 cm (5.1 in). The head has large labial (lip) scales, relatively small postmental scales (behind the chin), and rounded rostral and mental shields (at the tip of the snout). The body and tail are slender and mediolaterally compressed (flattened from the side), with a thin vertebral ridge extending from the nape to the tapered tail. The limbs are long and thin, and the five-toed feet have thin and narrow digits with distinct claws and an angular profile from the side. The claws are surrounded by five enlarged scales at their base. The underside of each digit has a single row of small lamellae, each of which are slightly broadened sideways. The genus possesses preanal pores.[4]

Coloration includes a broad black streak from the snout to the eye, and a pair of narrower streaks (black above and pale below) towards the tympanum. Dorsally, the head and body are brown, speckled with small paler brown spots and black specks concentrated around the vertebral line. The original tail is dark brown or black with four to five complete whitish vertical crossbands.[4]
Distribution and ecology

C. laevis is found in cool rainforests of northeastern Queensland, at altitudes of 400–1,400 m (1,300–4,600 ft).[3][1] It is nocturnal, foraging on the leaf litter or low shrubs at night. C. laevis is oviparous.[5] Mitochondrial DNA has been used to argue that different C. laevis populations experienced significant genetic isolation during dry periods in the Pleistocene, but that this did not result in significant phenotypic change between populations.[6]
Etymology

The generic name, Carphodactylus, is Latin meaning "twig finger". The specific name, laevis, is Latin meaning "smooth".

References

Hoskin C, Couper P, Amey A (2018). "Carphodactylus laevis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T102662790A102662811. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T102662790A102662811.en. Downloaded on 8 April 2021.
Günther A (1897). "Descriptions of New Species of Lizards and of a Tree-Frog from North-Eastern Queensland". Novitates Zoologicae, Zoological Museum, Tring 4: 403–406 + Plates XI–XII. (Carphodactylus, new genus, p. 403; C. laevis, new species, pp. 403–404 + Plate XI).
Meynecke, Jan-Olaf (2004-06-01). "Effects of global climate change on geographic distributions of vertebrates in North Queensland". Ecological Modelling. 174 (4): 347–357. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2003.07.012. ISSN 0304-3800.
Cogger, H.G. (2018). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Updated Seventh Edition. Clayton South VIC, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. 1060 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350 (Carphodactylus laevis, p. 262).
Carphodactylus laevis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database

Schneider, Chris; Moritz, Craig (1999-01-22). "Rainforest refugia and Australia's Wet Tropics". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences. 266 (1415): 191–196. doi:10.1098/rspb.1999.0621. PMC 1689665.