NATURAL HISTORY · CATALOGUE RECORD
Paroedura tanjaka Nussbaum & Raxworthy, 2000
Source-backed taxonomic record
Accepted species in Catalogue of Life’s 11 September 2026 base release. This preserves the source classification and available supporting data; it is not a completed species monograph.
geographic distribution of Paroedura tanjaka (Native: Madagascar)
compiled by rbrausse with Quantum GIS Map data: Made with Natural Earth. Free vector and raster map data @ naturalearthdata.com. Range data: Raxworthy, C.J., Ratsoavina, F., Rabibisoa, N., Rakotondrazafy, N.A. & Bora, P. 2011. Paroedura tanjaka. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 April 2013. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Image sourceProvider-generated thumbnail requested at 800 pixels; no local editing Local WebP display rendition; resized without cropping.
Open encyclopedia reference
Paroedura tanjaka is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. It is endemic to northwestern Madagascar, and is currently known only to occur in Bemaraha and Namoroka. This nocturnal species is found in karstic dry forests at night, and is known to dwell in caves during the day. It is one of the largest species in the genus Paroedura, reaching up to 18 cm in length.
The species was first discovered in 1996 and officially named in 2000. Because its range is extremely limited and its habitat is declining, it is listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List. While it is not the subject of any conservative measures, its known locations have been designated as national parks.
Wikipedia contributors, Paroedura tanjaka; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T14:42:48.444297+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.
Identity & source status
- Scientific name
- Paroedura tanjaka Nussbaum & Raxworthy, 2000
- Name authority
- Nussbaum & Raxworthy, 2000
- Rank
- species
- Accepted status
- accepted
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Family
- Gekkonidae
- Genus
- Paroedura
- Extinction status
- Not supplied by this source
Classification family tree
Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.
- domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- subphylumVertebrata
- infraphylumGnathostomata
- parvphylumOsteichthyes
- megaclassTetrapoda
- classReptilia Laurenti, 1768
- orderSquamata Oppel, 1811
- suborderGekkota
- familyGekkonidae
- genusParoedura
- speciesParoedura tanjaka Nussbaum & Raxworthy, 2000
Close classified relatives
These entries share the source’s genus, Paroedura. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.
| Species | Classification | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Grandidier's Madagascar Ground GeckoParoedura androyensis (Grandidier, 1867) | GekkonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Mocquard's Madagascar Ground GeckoParoedura bastardi (Mocquard, 1900) | GekkonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Graceful Madagascar Ground GeckoParoedura gracilis (Boulenger, 1896) | GekkonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Hordies’ Ground GeckoParoedura hordiesi Glaw, Rösler, Ineich, Gehring, Köhler & Vences, 2014 | GekkonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Ibity Ground GeckoParoedura ibityensis Rösler & Krüger, 1998 | GekkonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Paroedura masobe Nussbaum & Raxworthy, 1994 | GekkonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| NosyBe Ground GeckoParoedura oviceps (Boettger, 1881) | GekkonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Paroedura picta (Peters, 1854) | GekkonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Comoro Ground GeckoParoedura sanctijohannis Günther, 1879 | GekkonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Paroedura stellata Hawlitschek & Glaw, 2012 | GekkonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Paroedura stumpffi (Boettger, 1879) | GekkonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Paroedura neglecta Köhler, Vences, Scherz & Glaw, 2019 | GekkonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
Documented distribution
Source distribution statements, not a complete range map. A listed locality is not necessarily a place of origin.
Source literature & publication evidence
References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.
- https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Paroedura&species=tanjaka Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references
Origins, evidence & remaining research
Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.
Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record.
Dataset citation & attribution
This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11
Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Stable key: col:4DR57. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.