Electric blue gecko | |
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Male | |
Female | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Gekkonidae |
Genus: | Lygodactylus |
Species: | L. williamsi |
Binomial name | |
Lygodactylus williamsi Loveridge, 1952 | |
Lygodactylus williamsi is restricted to a few square kilometers of Tanzania. |
Lygodactylus williamsi is a critically endangered species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to a small area of Tanzania. Common names include turquoise dwarf gecko, William's dwarf gecko and, in the pet trade, electric blue gecko or electric blue day gecko. [3]
Illegally wild-caught specimens are widely sold in the pet trade, often falsely promoted as captive-bred. Although L. williamsi breeds in captivity, [4] the young have specific care requirements, making large-scale breeding difficult. [5] A captive breeding project and studbook was initiated by EAZA-registered zoos in 2013. [4]
L. williamsi, as a species, was placed under EU Appendix B protection (December 2014) and EU Appendix A protection (January 2017), and given CITES Appendix I protection in January 2017, as well. [6] [7] [8] [9] The gecko may not be kept or sold in the EU without documentation and permits, renewable every three years, and geckos must now be registered. [6] [10] [7] Similar restrictions apply in some other jurisdictions.
The survival of L. williamsi is mostly threatened by (entirely illegal) collection for the international pet trade. [3] It is critically endangered and the population is thought to be declining rapidly. [1]
Although trade in wild-caught turquoise day geckos is illegal, wild-caught geckos are commonly sold in pet shops. It is estimated that between December 2004 and July 2009, at least 32,310 to 42,610 geckos were taken by one collecting group, ~15% of the wild population at the time. [3] However, a small number of individuals are working with L. williamsi, fine-tuning proper husbandry to promote the captive-breeding of healthy, hardy animals. [11] Captive-bred animals also do not experience a stressful readjustment period (to captivity) as they were never taken from the wild; the offspring of captive bred geckos will innately be accustomed to human care, as opposed to the shock (and possible death) of truly wild-caught geckos. A standout among modern breeders is Frank Payne (of Living Arts), who has stated that ″...All of my [L.] williamsi offered for sale are captive bred by me in my home, none of the williamsi I have ever owned have been taken from the wild.″ [12] Mr. Payne has gone on to produce nearly 1,000 L. williamsi geckos through his home breeding project. [13]
L. williamsi is only found in 8 km2 (3.1 sq mi) of the Kimboza Forest, Ruvu Forest Reserve, Mbagalala and Muhalama at an altitude of 170–480 m (560–1,570 ft). [14] These are located at the foothills of the Uluguru Mountains in eastern Tanzania. [14]
The subpopulation in Kimboza Forest Reserve was estimated at 150,000 adults in 2009. The size of the remaining subpopulations is unknown, but their size is not thought to contribute significantly to the total population. [1] The two known sites outside protected areas are tiny: one consists of 14 Pandanus trees (the rest has been cleared for banana plantations) and the other is equally close to disappearing. [4]
In the wild, the turquoise day gecko lives exclusively on the (redlisted endemic) [15] screwpine, Pandanus rabaiensis , [3] mostly in the leaf crown. It only lives on large trees, those with leaves more than 1 m (3.3 ft) long. [16] A single leaf crown will typically contain a single individual, or an adult male, an adult female, and juveniles. [16] It eats small insects and drinks water from leaves. It is also fond of nectar.
Collectors commonly cut down screwpine trees to reach the geckos living in the leaf crest, destroying the gecko's habitat. Many geckos are thought to die while being shipped to market. The pet trade is likely a worse threat than habitat loss. [3] The gecko is now restricted to the forest in Tanzania and is at risk of extinction in the wild as the forests are cleared.
L. williamsi's tropical forest habitat is also shrinking and fragmenting. [17] Neither of the Catchment Forest Reserves where it occurs is well-protected. [1] The forest is seriously threatened by pet collectors, [3] clearing for farmland, illegal logging, increasingly frequent fires, [1] mining of rubies, tourmaline, rhodolite, gold [16] and dolomite and limestone from outcrops on which the screwpines grow. [1] Invasive trees such as Cedrela are also a threat. [16] There is little forest left unaffected. [17]
Males of L. williamsi are bright blue with heavy black throat stripes, visible preanal pores, and hemipenile bulges. Females range from brown or bronze to bright green, and have little to no black on the throat. Females can easily be confused with juvenile or socially suppressed males that are also green, sometimes with a bluish cast. The underside of both sexes is orange. Colours of individuals vary according to mood and temperature. Males may range from black or gray to brilliant electric blue. Females may range from dark brown to brilliant green with turquoise highlights. Adult snout-vent length (SVL) is 5 to 8 cm (2.0 to 3.1 in).
A Lygodactylus spp. identification guide has been published online by CITES, [18] largely for the use of customs officers (illegal shipments of these geckos are often intentionally mislabelled). [16]
Like all geckos of the genera Lygodactylus and Phelsuma , L. williamsi is diurnal. It is bold, active, and social. Males are territorial, and do not generally tolerate the presence of other males. [16] Social gestures include lateral flattening, puffing out of the throat patch, head shaking and head bobbing, and tail-wagging.
Males of L. williamsi court females with lateral flattening, puffing out of the throat pouch, and head bobbing. Two to three weeks after copulation, the female lays a clutch of 1 or 2 pea-sized white, hard-shelled eggs which are glued to a surface in a secure, hidden location. Eggs hatch in 60 to 90 days.
The specific name, williamsi, given to the gecko by British zoologist Arthur Loveridge, [19] honours American herpetologist Ernest Edward Williams. [20]
Herpetoculture is the keeping of live reptiles and amphibians in captivity, whether as a hobby or as a commercial breeding operation. "Herps" is an informal term for both reptiles and amphibians, shortened from the scientific umbrella term “herptiles”. It is undertaken by people of all ages and from all walks of life, including career herpetologists, professional reptile or amphibian breeders, and casual hobbyists.
The yellow-headed day gecko, also commonly called Klemmer's day gecko, the neon day gecko, or the cheerful day gecko, is a small diurnal species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. This endangered species is endemic to northwestern Madagascar and inhabits coastal forests, dwelling on bamboo. The yellow-headed day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.
Lygodactylus is a genus of diurnal geckos with 82 species. They are commonly referred to as dwarf geckos. They are mainly found in Africa and Madagascar although two species are found in South America. Lygodactylus picturatus, the best known species, is found in Kenya and commonly known as the white-headed dwarf gecko. Recently, illegal importation from Tanzania of brightly colored, Lygodactylus williamsi, known as electric blue geckos, has been gaining attention for Lygodactylus geckos in the reptile trade.
The tokay gecko is a nocturnal arboreal gecko in the genus Gekko, the true geckos. It is native to Asia and some Pacific Islands.
The blue-throated macaw, also known as the Caninde macaw or Wagler's macaw, is a macaw endemic to a small area of north-central Bolivia, known as Los Llanos de Moxos. In 2014 this species was designated by law as a natural patrimony of Bolivia. Until 2010, it was hunted by native people to make feathered "Moxeño" headdresses for "machetero" ritual dances.
Meyer's parrot, also known as the brown parrot, is a species of parrot native to Africa. A Meyer's parrot has grey feathers, turquoise belly, blue rump, and bright yellow markings on the carpal joint of the wings. Most subspecies have some yellow on the top of the head as well. Forshaw (1989) recognizes six subspecies of P. meyeri which vary in home range, size and in markings, including the extent of yellow markings to the head and wings, and the intensity of turquoise markings on the belly and rump.
Kimboza Forest is a lowland forest in Tanzania located at the foothills of the Uluguru Mountains 7°2′S37°47′E. The large Ruvu River crosses the reserve and the forest stretches to the top of the nearby hills. It is interspersed by massive rock outcrops and has several permanent small streams.
The Cape dwarf gecko ('lygodactylus' = 'flexible fingers') is a species of dwarf gecko found in the woodlands and forests of central and southern Africa. It also occurs commonly in towns and cities and is sometimes kept as a pet.
The western dwarf gecko, also known commonly as Guibé's dwarf day gecko, is a small species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.
Matschie's dwarf gecko, also known commonly as Conradt's dwarf gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to East Africa. There are no valid subspecies.
Varanus macraei, the blue-spotted tree monitor or blue tree monitor, is a species of monitor lizard found on the island of Batanta in Indonesia. It is named after herpetologist Duncan R. MacRae, founder of the reptile park Rimba on Bali.
The angonoka tortoise is a critically endangered species of tortoise severely threatened by poaching for the illegal pet trade. It is endemic to Madagascar. It is also known as the angonoka, ploughshare tortoise, Madagascar tortoise, or Madagascar angulated tortoise. There may be fewer than 400 of these tortoises left in the wild. It is found only in the dry forests of the Baly Bay area of northwestern Madagascar, near the town of Soalala. A captive-breeding facility was established in 1986 by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust in collaboration with the Water and Forests Department. In 1996, 75 tortoises were stolen, which later appeared for sale in the Netherlands. The project was ultimately successful, achieving 224 captive-bred juveniles out of 17 adults in 2004. Project Angonoka developed conservation plans that involved local communities making firebreaks, along with the creation of a park to protect the tortoise and the forests. Monitoring of the angonoka tortoise in the global pet trade has also continued to be advocated.
Lygodactylus gutturalis, also known as the Uganda dwarf gecko or chevron-throated dwarf gecko, is a species of gecko. It is widely distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa from near the Equator northward. Subspecies Lygodactylus gutturalis dysmicus is endemic to Cameroon, and subspecies Lygodactylus gutturalis paurospilus to Tanzania.
Mann's dwarf gecko is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to East Africa.
Scheffler's dwarf gecko is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to East Africa. There are three recognized subspecies.
Lygodactylus williamsi are a beautiful small day gecko from the remote Kimboza forest in Tanzania. Due to deforestation and overcollection williamsi are critically endangered in the wild. All of my williamsi offered for sale are captive bred by me in my home, none of the williamsi I have ever owned have been taken from the wild.
I have produced and shared more care information on this species than anyone in the world (care videos, podcasts, Reptiles magazine, etc.). All of it is available for free on my website. I have also quite likely produced more of this endangered species than anyone in the world. I have produced well over 1000 at this point!