Barahona big-scaled sphaero
The Barahona big-scaled sphaero ("Sphaerodactylus plummeri)", also known commonly as the Barahona big-scaled geckolet, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species, which is a very small gecko, is endemic to the Dominican Republic. Taxonomic history. Originally described as a species new to science in 1992 by herpetologists and Blair Hedges, it is named after Nicholas Plummer who was one of the collectors of the holotype. Morphology. "S. plummeri" is a relatively small species of "Sphaerodactylus" that has very large, flattened, keeled dorsal scales. This character is diagnostic, and distinguishes this  species from "S. streptophorus", "S. armstrongi" and "S. ariasae", all of which are closely related to "S. plummeri", but have considerably smaller dorsal scales. Dosal ground color is pale brownish to grayish, distinctly speckled with darker brown to black scales. These markings can be aligned forming fragmented dorsolateral stripes which are more defined in the scapular and sacral region. This species is sexually dichromatic, as males usually develop orange heads as they mature. Distribution and habitat. "S. plummeri" is endemic to the south-western portions of the Barahona peninsula. This species inhabits karstic, xeric scrublands at altitudes of . Ecology. "S.  plummeri" is a terrestrial species that has been found under piles of organic debris including the decaying rosettes of dead "Agave", and under piles of dry palm fronds. It is sympatric with other reptiles including another species of the same genus, "S. thompsoni." Although they share the same habitat, niche segregation is especially evident in these two species, as "S. plummeri" is usually associated with decaying organic matter, while "S. thompsoni" is saxicolous and associated with the karst itself. Other reptiles and amphibians known to be sympatric with "S. plummeri" include: "Leiocephalus barahonensis", "Anolis brevirostris", "A. olssoni", "A. longitibialis", "Pholidoscelis  lineolatus", "P. taeniurus", "P. chrysolaemus", "Celestus curtissi", "Hypsirhynchus parvifrons", "Uromacer frenatus" and "Eleutherodactylus alcoae". "S. plummeri" is oviparous.