Largely nocturnal, but often remains active in the daytime in sheltered locations and during colder weather. More nocturnal than other Egyptian congeners. Frankenberg (1978) qualifies it as nocturnal. Almost all foraging takes place at night. Foraging animals are usually found on vertical surfaces with their snouts pointing downward near the wadi floor, or sometimes on the wadi bed itself, even among vegetation. Females have a clutch of two eggs. Eggs are glued to rocks in secure localities. Sometimes lays eggs communally. Vocalization consists of a series of loud clicks.
Least Concern
Medium-sized slender species. Maximum SVL 98 mm. Head narrow and relatively flat; snout elongate. Rostral, 3 nasals, and the first supralabial enter the nostril. Limbs and digits relatively short and slender. Terminal pads on digits small or medium, each having an average of 18 lamellae below. 110-170 scales at mid-body . Dorsal tubercles are indistinctly keeled. Tail long and slender, longer than SVL. Color varies greatly according to surroundings, but is generally light pink-gray. Pattern is an important diagnostic feature of the species, composed of fairly well-defined dark transverse bands on dorsum and the tail. Head often with reddish marbling intermixed with whitish spots. Tubercles on the back are often white.
In 3 almost discrete geographic units: the Nile Valley, Eastern Desert and South Sinai. In the Nile Valley found from Cairo to Abu Simbel. In the Eastern Desert it is found in basement complex and sandstone mountains, but appears to be lacking in sedimentary country in the northwest. It has been found as far north as Gebel Qattar, where it has been collected, and along the Red Sea coast from Halaib to Hurghada. It probably extends further north along the Gulf of Suez coast. In South Sinai it is confined to lowland hills overlooking the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba, up to about 900 m. A small population of robust and coarsely scaled Nile Valley type animals was discovered recently in Zaranik, North Sinai (Baha El Din and Attum 2000). The animals were probably introduced with goods and building materials from the Nile Valley.
Known from northern Sudan, Egypt east of the Nile, southern Israel and Jordan, and Arabia.
In at least Egypt and Israel the species is largely confined to areas within the Sudanian phytogeographic penetration zone. Inhabits a wide variety of habitats. In the Nile Valley and along the Red Sea coast it associates with man and is found on and in buildings. In the wadis of South Sinai and the Eastern Desert it is found on boulders, vertical rocky faces, under ledges, and in caves. Often in very dense populations especially near vegetation or sources of water.
Common. Baha El Din and Baha El Din (2000d) found it to be the most abundant of all lizards inhabiting lowland wadis of South Sinai.
Ptyodactylus hasselquistii, commonly known as the fan-footed gecko, Hasselquist's fan-footed gecko, and the yellow fan-fingered gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. The species is endemic to northern Africa and western Asia.
The specific name, hasselquistii, is in honor of Swedish naturalist Fredrik Hasselquist.[3]
P. hasselquistii grows to a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 98 mm (3.9 in).
P. hasselquistii is found in Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Eritrea, eastern Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia (including the Farasan Islands), northern Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Togo.
The type locality is Cairo, Egypt.[2]
P. hasselquistii is oviparous.[2]
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]
Ptyodactylus hasselquistii, commonly known as the fan-footed gecko, Hasselquist's fan-footed gecko, and the yellow fan-fingered gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. The species is endemic to northern Africa and western Asia.
