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Paroedura lohatsara

About

Paroedura lohatsara is named after the Malagasy words “Loha” which means head and “tsara” which means beautiful.

Paroedura lohatsara is a small to medium sized gecko endemic to Madagascar, reaching only around 6-8 cm in length. It is a member of the Gekkonidae family which diverged from all other reptile families 65 million years ago, around the time when humans and tamarins shared a common ancestor!

This species is endemic to the Montagne des Français massif in Madagascar and is only found between elevations of 140m and 320m above sea level. The main threat to this species is habitat degradation from logging for timber and charcoal and as a result of migrant communities moving into the area.

Paroedura lohatsara cannot tolerate forest loss and so it is assumed the population is declining as a result. However, the site where this species is found is subject to active conservation and is currently being developed into a new protected area. Improved protection and management of this site is necessary to ensure persistence of this species.

  • Order: Squamata
  • Family: Gekkonidae
  • Population: Common
  • Trend: decreasing
  • Size: 6-8cm

EDGE Score

EDGE Score: 5.83 (?)
ED Score: 20.373 (?)
GE / IUCN Red List (?)
Not Evaluated Data Deficient Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in the Wild Extinct

Distribution

The species is found from Montagne des Français between elevations of 140 and 320 metres above sea level in Madagascar

Habitat and Ecology

This species lives in karstic dry forest and is active at night on boulders and branches up to two metres from the ground. It can be found in undisturbed tsingy (stone forest), but is not present in degraded forest.

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