Gecko, Osga (Hemidactylus angulatus)

Small reptile (snout-vent length to 50 mm), dorsally variable in colour, greyish-pink with darker spots or the same colour but with brown stripes unevenly distributed over the head, body and tail; all toes have claws, a distinguishing feature of geckos of the genus Hemidactylus. A species found in tropical Africa, generally throughout the Sahel (where it comes from) and many other areas of continental Africa, where it has been introduced. In Macaronesia, it is only present in the Cape Verde Islands, more specifically in Santo Antão, São Vicente, São Nicolau, Sal, Boavista, Santiago, Fogo, Brava, the islets of Rombos and possibly in Maio. It lives in rural and urban settings (cities, towns, airports) and in more or less natural surroundings (e.g., stony flatlands), seeking shelter in buildings, walls and under stones, and is active at dusk and at night. Very little is known about the biology and ecology of this species in Cape Verde, even though it is common in many islands and is closely connected to man-made environments. The taxonomy of this species has been the subject of much controversy; consequently, some authors have raised doubts about the identity of populations in Cape Verde.