rekordy: List of largest extant lizards

Evidence: 100 • authority: 72

Currently there are about 40 extant families of Lacertilia. These vary considerably, e.g. in shades, colours, and sizes. For example, the largest representative among Geckos, the New Caledonian giant gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus), has a length of up to 36 cm (14 in), while the largest species in the family Varanidae, Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), has a length up to 3 metres (10 ft), and a body mass of 70 kg (154 lbs).

Evidence: 34 • authority: 88

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS–PULMONARY‐TRACHEOBRONCHIAL PROLAPSE IN A NEW CALEDONIAN GIANT GECKO (<i>RHACODACTYLUS LEACHIANUS</i>). A 3‐year‐old male N ew Caledonian giant gecko, or L each's gecko ( Rhacodactylus leachianus ) presented with acute lethargy and coelomic distention. Findings from survey radiographs and an upper gastrointestinal tract contrast study were consistent with severe aerophagia, a collapsed left lung, and hyperinflation of the right lung due to suspected bronchial obstruction. The gecko was treated with conservative medical management, but was found dead 5 days after presentation. Necropsy findings showed intussusception of the proximal left lung into the left mainstem bronchus…

Evidence: 30 • authority: 88

Allozyme Evidence for the Phylogeny of Giant New Caledonian Geckos (Squamata: Diplodactylidae: <i>Rhacodactylus</i> ), with Comments on the Status of <i>R. leachianus henkeli</i>. The phylogenetic analysis of allozyme characters within the New Caledonian giant geckos, genus Rhacodactylus , yields a pattern of relationships that is largely congruent with that derived from morphological data. A ‘total evidence’ approach, incorporating 13 allozyme and 29 morphological characters, yields a single most-parsimonious tree with the pattern: R. auriculatus (( R. leachainus ( R. ciliatus , R. chahoua )) ( R. sarasinorum , R. trachyrhynchus )). A phenetic analysis based on Nei’s genetic distance data…

Evidence: 30 • authority: 80

Vocalizations of the New Caledonian giant gecko, Rhacodactylus leachianus

Evidence: 28 • authority: 88

Haemoparasitic protozoans (Plasmodiidae and Haemogregarinidae) from a New Caledonian gekkonid lizard, <i>Rhacodactylus leachianus</i>. A Plasmodium sp. and a haemogregarine were found in Giemsa-stained blood smears of a Rhacodactylus leachianus, an endemic New Caledonian gekkonid lizard. Both parasites were observed in mature erythrocytes only. The haemogregarines were found in a lateral position and the stages of Plasmodium sp. were polar or lateropolar in the cells. Mature schizonts of the latter were often fan-shaped, producing 4–10 merozoites. This is the first record of blood parasites in a New Caledonian vertebrate and the first record of a Plasmodium from a carphodactyline gecko. The…

Evidence: 25 • authority: 80

Novel Eggshell of the New Caledonian Diplodactylid Gecko Species<i>Correlophus ciliatus</i>(=<i>Rhacodactylus ciliatus</i>)