Eublepharis pictus

Eublepharis pictus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Eublepharidae
Genus:	Eublepharis
Species:	E. pictus
Binomial name
Eublepharis pictus

Eublepharis pictus, the painted leopard gecko, is a species of gecko that lives in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, in India. The species E. pictus is 117mm (4.6 inches) in length. The species lives in dry evergreen forest mixed in with scrubs and meadows. Eublepharis pictus is nocturnal and has been observed foraging along trails after dusk using its tongue as a sensory organ by licking surfaces. Eublepharis pictus has 23 to 26 rows of large flat tubercle-like keeled scales across the dorsum intermixed with smaller scales. A single pale band between the nuchal loop and the caudal constriction. Smooth subdigital lamellae on digital IV of pes 19; 17-18 precloacal pores in an angulate series lacking a diastema. E. pictus was discovered on the year of 2022 in Andhra Pradesh, in india. The species is widespread in the forest but may be near threatened due to wildlife trade and the illegal smuggling of Eublepharis pictus. E. pictus is listed on the ICUN conservation list as an near threatened species.

Eublepharis pictus was discovered when a dead female of the species was found in a water tank in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. The specimen was collected washed and then placed in 4% formaldehyde for two days and later placed into 70% ethanol and deposited in the collection of the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India.

Morphology

Eublepharis angramainyu is a sister to all other Eublepharis species and the Eublepharis hardwickii group is sister to the Eublepharis macularius clade. Relationships between the E. macularius clade have poor to moderate support. The E. hardwickii group show two distinct well-supported clades corresponding to the population from the north and south. The northern population represents E. hardwickii while the south represents an unnamed taxon which was described as E. pictus.