Pachydactylus capensis
Cape Gecko
Alternative Names
Cape Thick-toed Gecko (English)
Kaapse Geitjie (Afrikaans)
Species: Pachydactylus capensis (Smith, 1846)
Distribution: Botswana; Lesotho; Namibia; South Africa
Distribution extended: Potentially occurs in Zimbabwe
Type Locality: “South Africa.”
Notes:
Habitat: Savanna, Shrubland, Grassland
Habitat extended:
Natural History: Terrestrial geckos, seeking refuge underneath rocks, logs, and within abandoned termitaria. They are primarily nocturnal and feed on insects and likely other arthropods. They exhibit synanthropic behaviour, found on the sides of houses and other structures.
Biology: Oviparous (2 eggs), often laid underneath rocks and other structures.
Conservation Status: According to the IUCN Red List, this species is classified as "Least Concern," indicating that it is not currently considered to be at high risk of extinction.
Additional reading
The Reptile Database (See here)
IUCN Red List (See here)
iNaturalist (See here)
LITERATURE
Ambrose D. 2006. Lesotho Annotated Bibliography Section 166: Reptiles Including Annotated Checklist. Mamhlongo Productions, Roma. pp 21-22
Bates, M. F. (1989). Tail-break frequency, tail size and the extent of caudal autotomy in the Cape thick-toed gecko, Pachydactylus capensis capensis (Sauria: Gekkonidae): discussion. Navorsinge van die Nasionale Museum: Researches of the National Museum, 6(7), 236-239.
Bates, M. F. (1991). Reproductive data on the Cape Thick-toed Gecko, Pachydactylus capensis capensis (A. Smith, 1845). The Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa, 39(1), 6-7.
Bauer, A. M. (1999). Evolutionary scenarios in the Pachydactylus group geckos of southern Africa: new hypotheses. African Journal of Herpetology, 48(1-2), 53-62.
Bauer, A. M., & Lamb, T. (2002). Phylogenetic relationships among members of the Pachydactylus capensis group of southern African geckos. African Zoology, 37(2), 209-220.
Bauer, A. M., & Lamb, T. (2005). Phylogenetic relationships of southern African geckos in the Pachydactylus group (Squamata: Gekkonidae). African Journal of Herpetology, 54(2), 105-129.
De Waal, S. W. P. (1977). The Squamata (Reptilia) of the Orange Free State, South Africa (Doctoral dissertation).
Jacobsen, N. (1978). Colloquial names for southern African reptiles and amphibians. The Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa, 18(1), 7-13.
Smith, A. (1849). Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa; Consisting Chiefly of Figures and Descriptions of the Objects of Natural History Collected During an Expedition Into the Interior of South Africa, in the Years 1834, 1835, and 1836: Fitted Out by" The Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa." (Vol. 1). Smith, Elder.
Lamb, T., & Bauer, A. M. (2002). Phylogenetic relationships of the large-bodied members of the African lizard genus Pachydactylus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae). Copeia, 2002(3), 586-596.