Geckolepis megalepis | |
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A & B: Adults with scales intact C: Adult without scales | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Gekkonidae |
Genus: | Geckolepis |
Species: | G. megalepis
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Binomial name | |
Geckolepis megalepis Scherz, Daza, Köhler, Vences & Glaw, 2017
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Geckolepis megalepis is a species of gecko found in the limestone karst formations of northern Madagascar. It is the first addition to the Geckolepis genus since 1942.[1] This species of gecko has the largest scales of any known gecko and can detach them as a defence mechanism when a predator attacks, leaving the predator with a mouthful of scales rather than itself;[1] a character it shares with all other members of the genus Geckolepis. Its scales were reported to come away with greater ease than its congeners.[1]