REPRODUCTIVE DATA ON THE CAPE THICK-TOED GECKO, PACHYDACTYLUS CAPENSIS CAPENSIS (A. SMITH, 1845)

Abstract

Ninety-two Pachydactylus c. capensis were collected near Pretoria and kept in captivity in order to obtain information on reproduction. Gravid females measuring 38.5–45.5 mm were collected from November to February, and clutches of 1–2 hard-shelled, white, oval-shaped eggs were laid from November to early March. Eggs laid in the wild and captivity measured 8–10 × 6–8.5 mm. Hatchlings from eggs incubated in captivity measured 16–19 mm SVL + 13–18.5 mm tail length. The first gravid female was collected in early November and juveniles (20 mm SVL or smaller) were collected from late November to late April, indicating a breeding season of about six months. Females probably produce more than one clutch of eggs per season.