Branch et al. (1995) described this species as follows: Holotype. PEM R7829, adult female: Head dorso-ventrally flattened (width 7.19, depth 3.21, length 9.41 mm); snout rounded, and at nearly twice (0.91) the eye diameter (1.87 mm); ear opening small, obliquely rounded, and without enlarged lobules or a tympanic shield; rostra! subpentagonal with a median cleft above; nostril pierced between rostral, 1st supralabial and three nasals, the largest bordering the rostral; a single nasorostral granule; pupil vertical, constricting to two pin holes; nine supralabials and eight infralabials on each side; mental subpentagnlar bordered by three chinshields, the middle being considerably smaller than those on either side; chinshields bordered by seven granules that are much smaller than largest chinshields. A series of 12 granules between nostril and anterior margin of orbit, and a series of 17 granules across the crown between dorsal margin of orbit at the front of the eye. Body short (snout-vent length 37.47 mm) and dorsoventrally flattened, covered dorsally with uniform, smooth, flattened, subimbricate granules; belly covered in smooth, hexagonal, imbricate scales that are much larger than on back; 91 scales around mid-body. Limbs moderate and covered in uniform, flattened, subimbricate granules; digits flattened basally, with three rows of subdigital granules, the median series (10 in longitudinal series under 4th toe) slightly broader; toe tips rounded, only slightly expanded, and bearing a pair of large, subrectangular scansors and small claws. Preanal pores absent; a series of three slightly enlarged tubercles on either side of the tail base. Tail (30.2 mm) partly regenerated (last 22 mm) and covered above and below with regular rows of uniform, smooth granules. Colour (in preservative): Dorsum light brown-tan with seven irregular darks drown, slightly oblique, crossbars, formed by fusion of the anterior dark margins of palecentred scallops. A vague dark brown band extends from the nostril, through the eye and temporal region, and fading on the neck. The ventrum is pale cream with a faint dark stipple that is heaviest below the hind limbs and margin of the throat. The general brown, tan colour of the dorsum extends on to the regenerated tail, which is heavily stippled (especially below) and has scattered dark flecks. The uoregenerated basal section bears three 'cross bars' from the fusion in the midline of two scallops.
This information was extracted from Branch et al. (1995): Distinguished from other members of the P. linealus complex by a combination of the following features: usually four preanal pores in males, a high number of midbody scale rows (77-91), 10-13 scales between the nostril and anterior margin of the orbit, usually only 1 (0-3) nasorostrals, and a dorso-ventrally flattened head and body. In addition, it differs by 4-7 fixed alleles from the other taxa examined electrophoretically.
Type locality: 3 km east from Swartberg Pass along summit road on Groot Swartberg (33° 20’ 40’’ S, 22° 04’ 17’’ E), elevation 1403 m. Holotype: PEM R7829.
No taxonomic issues, although this species is morphologically similar to G. essexi, leading to confusion between the two species (Tolley et al., 2023).
South Africa
This species occurs across the central and eastern Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa (Tolley et al., 2023).
This species has a pair of very distinctive leaf-shaped adhesive toe pads (scansors) under each toe-tip plus a small, retractible claw on each foot, which allow them to stick onto even smooth surfaces, making them extremely good climbers (Branch, 1998).
Carnivore - Insectivore (insect-eating)
This species feeds on small insects (Branch, 1998).
Hewitt’s Pygmy Gecko is oviparous, laying clutches of two eggs during summer under rock flakes (Branch, 1998).
No data.
Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, Albany Thicket
This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations
Occurrence in African countries and South African provinces. Residence status indicates if a taxon is indigenous, endemic, or alien in a specific region. This data is based on specimen records and literature.
FSA
SA
BOT
NAM
ESW
LES
WC
EC
NC
FS
GA
KZN
LP
MP
NW
Absent
Indigenous
Endemic
Naturalised
Invasive
Names and Sources
| Common Name | Language |
|---|---|
| Hewitt’s Pygmy Gecko- Hewitt's Leaf-toed Gecko | En |
| Hewitts Pygmy Gecko | En |
| Hewitt se Pigmeegeitjie | En |
No results found for Goggia hewitti (Branch, Bauer & Good, 1995)
No data.
11 results for Goggia hewitti (Branch, Bauer & Good, 1995)
This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations
1995
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Species limits in the Phyllodactylus lineatus complex (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), with the elevation of two taxa to specific status and the description of two new speciesBranch, W., Bauer, A., Good, D.. 1995. Species limits in the Phyllodactylus lineatus complex (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), with the elevation of two taxa to specific status and the description of two new species Vol. 44(2) pp.33-54.
1998
BOOK
Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern AfricaBranch, B.. 1998. Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Cape Town. Struik Publishers.
2023
BOOK
Conservation status of the reptiles of South Africa, Eswatini and LesothoTolley, K., Burger, M., Alexander, G., Pietersen, D., Conradie, W., Weeber, J.. 2023. Conservation status of the reptiles of South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho Vol. Suricata 10. Pretoria. South African National Biodiversity Institute.
1990
JOURNAL ARTICLE
The herpetofauna of the Cape Province, South Africa: New distribution records and zoogeographyBranch, W.. 1990. The herpetofauna of the Cape Province, South Africa: New distribution records and zoogeography Vol. 37 pp.17-44.
1995
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Herpetofauna of the Little Karoo, Western Cape, South Africa with notes on life history and taxonomyBauer, A., Branch, W.. 1995. Herpetofauna of the Little Karoo, Western Cape, South Africa with notes on life history and taxonomy Vol. 3(1) pp.47-89.
Status and criteria
LC
Assessor(s)
Michael Bates
Contributors
Josh Weeber
Reviewer(s)
Adrian Armstrong
