Crested gecko

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Crested gecko
Crested gecko - 1.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Diplodactylidae
Genus: Correlophus
Species:
C. ciliatus
Binomial name
Correlophus ciliatus
Guichenot, 1866
Rhacodactylus ciliatus range map.jpg
Approximate distribution of the crested gecko
Synonyms [2]

The crested gecko or eyelash gecko (Correlophus ciliatus) is a species of gecko native to southern New Caledonia (France). In 1866, the crested gecko was described by French zoologist Alphonse Guichenot. [1] [2] This species was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994 during an expedition led by Robert Seipp. [3] [4] Along with several other New Caledonian gecko species, it is being considered for protected status by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.

Contents

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1866 as Correlophus ciliatus by the Alphone Guichenot in an article entitled "Notice sur un nouveau genre de sauriens de la famille des geckotiens du Muséum de Paris" ("Notes on a new species of lizard in the gecko family") in the Mémoires de la Société Scientifique Naturelle de Chérbourg.

It was later renamed Rhacodactylus ciliatus in 1883. [5] Recent phylogenetic analysis indicates that R. ciliatus and R. sarasinorum are not closely related to each other, so these 55 species have been reclassified from Rhacodactylus back to the genus Correlophus . [6]

The specific name, ciliatus, is Latin, from cilia ("fringe" or "eyelashes") and refers to the crest of skin over the animal's eyes that resembles eyelashes.

Distribution and habitat

The crested gecko is endemic to South Province, New Caledonia. There are three disjunct populations, one found on the Isle of Pines and surrounding islets, and there are two populations found on the main island of Grande Terre. [7] One population is around the Blue River, which is a protected provincial park, and the other is further north, just south of Mount Dzumac. They are seen around many tropical climates.

Physical description

Wild crested gecko displaying eye-cleaning behavior Correlophus ciliatus 33604770.jpg
Wild crested gecko displaying eye-cleaning behavior

Crested geckos typically range from 8–10 inches (20–25 cm) in length, including 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) of tail length. [3] Among the most distinctive features of these geckos are the hair-like projections found above the eyes, which greatly resemble eyelashes. These projections continue as two rows of spines that run from the eyes to the sides of their wedge-shaped head and continue to the base of their tail. Crested geckos do not have eyelids. Instead, a transparent scale, or spectacle, keeps each eye moist, and the geckos use their tongues to clear away debris. [8]

These geckos possess a semi-prehensile tail which they use to assist in climbing. The tail can be dropped (via caudal autotomy) to distract predators. Crested geckos do not regenerate their tails once lost; most adults in the wild lack tails. [4]

The toes and the tip of the semi-prehensile tail are covered in small hairs called setae. Each seta is divided into hundreds of smaller (approximately 200 nanometres in diameter) hairs called spatulae. It is believed these structures exploit the weak van der Waals force to help the gecko climb on most solid surfaces, most easily on flatter, smoother surfaces such as glass or wood. The toes have small claws which aid in climbing surfaces to which their toes cannot cling.

The crested gecko has many naturally occurring color groups, including grey, brown, red, orange, and yellow of various shades. They have three color morphs in the wild, which include pattern-less, white-fringed, and tiger. [9]

Ecology and behavior

Jumping crested gecko Rhacodactylus ciliatus IMG 7638-3s.jpg
Jumping crested gecko

Crested geckos are a mostly arboreal species, preferring to inhabit the canopy of the New Caledonia rainforests. They are able to jump long distances between branches to move to new locations. Crested geckos are nocturnal, and will generally spend the daylight hours sleeping in secure spots in high branches. [1] [10] [11] [12] Crested geckos are omnivores, and will opportunistically feed on fruit, nectar, pollen, and a variety of insects. [10]

Crested geckos were believed to be extinct prior to rediscovery in 1994. [4] The species is currently being assessed for CITES protection and vulnerable status. [13] The biggest single threat to the wild population appears to be the introduction of the little fire ant (Wassmania auropunctata) to New Caledonia. [10] The ants prey on the geckos, stinging and attacking in very large numbers, and they also compete with the geckos for food by preying on arthropods. Other threats to the wild population include habitat damage from wildfires, rodent predation, and habitat degradation from introduced deer and pigs. [14]

Reproduction

Crested geckos mating Crested mating.jpg
Crested geckos mating

Little is known about the wild reproductive behavior of crested geckos; available information has been obtained from captive animals. Females generally lay two eggs per clutch, which hatch 60–150 days after they are laid. A female crested gecko only has to mate with a male once in order to lay 2 eggs every 4–6 weeks for a breeding cycle of upwards of 8–10 months. After a breeding cycle females in the wild go through a "cooling" cycle, usually prompted by slight temperature and daylight changes over the winter season. [15] During this time, the females are able to regain the body mass and nutrients they lost during egg-laying.

Crested geckos have two small sacs for calcium on the roof of their mouths. If an egg-laying female does not have enough calcium her sac will be depleted, and she can suffer from calcium deficiency. This can lead to a calcium crash, where the female appears shaky or wobbly, lethargic, has a lack of appetite, and can even result in death. [10]

Newly hatched crested geckos will generally not eat until after they have shed and eaten their skin for the first time, relying on the remains of their yolk sack for nutrition. [10]

As a pet

Juvenile female crested gecko Crested gecko juvenile.jpg
Juvenile female crested gecko

Though the export of wild crested geckos is now prohibited, biologists exported several specimens for breeding and study before New Caledonia stopped issuing permits to export the species. From these specimens, different breeding lines were established, both in Europe and the United States. The crested gecko is now one of the most widely-kept and bred species of gecko in the world, second only to the common leopard gecko. [10]

Crested geckos can be very long-lived. While they have not been kept in captivity long enough for a definitive life span to be determined, they have been kept for 15–20 years or more. [16] [17]

Related Research Articles

<i>Phelsuma</i> Genus of lizards

Phelsuma is a large genus of geckos in the family Gekkonidae. Species in the genus Phelsuma are commonly referred to as day geckos.

<i>Bavayia</i> Genus of lizards

Bavayia is a genus of lizards in the family Diplodactylidae. Species in the genus Bavayia are also known commonly as New Caledonian geckos or bavayias. The genus is native to the remote New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands. The 41 species are moderately small to medium-sized geckos, and are distinguished from other genera by their tail length and the shape of their digits.

<i>Eurydactylodes</i> Genus of lizards

Eurydactylodes is a small genus of geckos commonly referred to as chameleon geckos from the subfamily Diplodactylidae, endemic to New Caledonia and few adjacent islands. Within the Diplodactylidae, Eurydactylodes resides in the Carphodactylini tribe, and consists of four species. All species share similar morphology as well as lifestyle and habits. The first of the Eurydactylodes species to be classified, E. vieillardi, was discovered in 1869.

<i>Rhacodactylus</i> Genus of lizards

Rhacodactylus is a genus of medium to large geckos of the family Diplodactylidae. All species in this genus are found on the islands that make up New Caledonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solomon Islands skink</span> Species of lizard

The Solomon Islands skink, also known as prehensile-tailed skink, monkey-tailed skink, giant skink, zebra skink, and monkey skink, is an arboreal species of skink endemic to the Solomon Islands archipelago. It is the largest known extant species of skink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gargoyle gecko</span> Species of lizard

The gargoyle gecko, knob-headed giant gecko, New Caledonia bumpy gecko, or New Caledonian bumpy gecko is a species of gecko found only on the southern end of the island of New Caledonia. Its habitat is threatened by deforestation on the island. This species of gecko is the smallest of the six recognized species in its genus where they often reach about 125 mm in size. This gecko, along with several other Rhacodactylus species are being considered for protective measures by CITES, which would put restrictions on their exportation. This gecko was first described by Bavay in 1869.

<i>Rhacodactylus leachianus</i> Species of lizard

Rhacodactylus leachianus, commonly known as the New Caledonian giant gecko, Leach's giant gecko, leachianus gecko, or simply Leachie, is the largest living species of gecko and a member of the family Diplodactylidae. It is native to most of New Caledonia.

<i>Mniarogekko chahoua</i> Species of lizard

Mniarogekko chahoua is commonly known as the mossy New Caledonian gecko, short-snouted New Caledonian gecko, Bavay's giant gecko, or mossy prehensile-tailed gecko. It is an arboreal gecko found natively on the southern portion of the island of New Caledonia and on the outlying islands of Île des Pins.

<i>Correlophus sarasinorum</i> Species of lizard

Correlophus sarasinorum, also called commonly Roux's giant gecko, Sarasins' giant gecko, Sarasin's [sic] giant gecko (incorrectly), and the suras gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is native to the southern portions of the outlying New Caledonian island of Grande Terre.

The rough-snouted giant gecko, also known as the greater rough-snouted gecko or tough-snouted gecko, is a species of gecko found in New Caledonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leopard gecko</span> Species of reptile

The leopard gecko or common leopard gecko is a ground-dwelling gecko native to the rocky dry grassland and desert regions of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. The leopard gecko has become a popular pet, and due to extensive captive breeding it is sometimes referred to as the first domesticated species of lizard but no lizards are actually domesticated.

<i>Uroplatus phantasticus</i> Species of gecko endemic to Madagascar

Uroplatus phantasticus, the satanic leaf-tailed gecko, eyelash leaf-tailed gecko or the phantastic leaf-tailed gecko, is a species of gecko indigenous to the island of Madagascar. First described in 1888 by George Albert Boulenger, U. phantasticus is the smallest in body of the Uroplatus geckos, though there is an ongoing debate as to whether one of its cousins, U. ebenaui, is smaller because of its shorter tail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle of Pines (New Caledonia)</span> Pacific island of New Caledonia

The Isle of Pines is an island in the Pacific Ocean, in the archipelago of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France. The island is part of the commune (municipality) of L'Île-des-Pins, in the South Province of New Caledonia. The Isle of Pines is nicknamed l'île la plus proche du paradis.

Antoine Alphonse Guichenot was a French zoologist who taught, researched, and participated in specimen collecting trips on behalf of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (Paris), including an extensive biological survey of Algeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diplodactylidae</span> Family of lizards

The Diplodactylidae are a family in the suborder Gekkota (geckos), with over 150 species in 25 genera. These geckos occur in Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. Diplodactylids are the most ecologically diverse and widespread family of geckos in both Australia and New Caledonia, and are the only family of geckos found in New Zealand. Three diplodactylid genera have recently been split into multiple new genera.

<i>Saltuarius salebrosus</i> Species of lizard

Saltuarius salebrosus, also known as the rough-throated leaf-tailed gecko or Central Queensland leaf-tailed gecko, is a gecko found in Australia. It is endemic to dry areas in mid-eastern and south-central Queensland.

Correlophus belepensis is a species of geckos endemic to New Caledonia. They can reach a snout–vent length of 100 mm. They have a similar appearance to their sister taxon Correlophus ciliatus. They only occur in a 8 kilometer area on the province of Belep; In which they are found on hard lateritic soils covered with closed or paraforestier forest. Part of the reason for their Endangerment is their involvement in the illegal French pet trade

Paniegekko is a monotypic genus of geckos in the family Diplodactylidae, containing the species Paniegekko madjo. It is endemic to humid montane forests on Mont Ignambi and Mont Panié in the Panié massif of New Caledonia. It was once considered a species of Bavayia, a similar genus of arboreal geckos. Paniegekko madjo is endangered, owing to predation by introduced rodents and cats combined with habitat degradation by wildfires and introduced pigs and deer. It has not been observed since 1998.

<i>Rhacodactylus trachycephalus</i> Species of lizard

Rhacodactylus trachycephalus, commonly known as the lesser rough-snouted giant gecko, dwarf rough-snouted giant gecko, or tough-snouted giant gecko, is a species of gecko endemic to two small areas of islands in New Caledonia. Its body grows to around 10 centimetres (3.9 in) and has a mosaic pattern with a variety of colors. Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus is a closely related species, but R. trachycephalus is smaller and has a number of other noticeable differences. R. trachycephalus is viviparous, giving birth to only one or two young a year. Its restricted humid forest habitat is vulnerable due to multiple threats. As a result of habitat reduction, low reproduction rate and small population, it is one of the rarest geckos in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pygopodoidea</span> Superfamily of lizards

Pygopodoidea is a gecko superfamily and the only taxon in the gekkotan subclade Pygopodomorpha. The clade includes three Australasian families: Diplodactylidae, Carphodactylidae, and Pygopodidae. Traditional gekkotan systematics had considered Diplodactylidae and Carphodactylidae as subfamilies of the family Gekkonidae, but recent molecular work have placed Pygopodidae within Gekkonidae making it paraphyletic. These analyses have shown support of Pygopodidae and Carphodactylidae being sister taxa, with Diplodactylidae occupying a basal position in Pygopodoidea.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Sadlier, R.A.; Bauer, A.M.; Jourdan , H.; Astrongatt, S.; Deuss, M.; Duval, T.; Bourguet, E.; McCoy, S.; Bouteiller, A.; Lagrange, A. (2021). "Correlophus ciliatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T176173A123253756. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T176173A123253756.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Correlophus ciliatus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 18 April 2019.
  3. 1 2 Robbie, Hamper (2003). The crested gecko, Rhacodactylus ciliatus, in captivity. Lansing, Mich.: ECO Publishing. ISBN   0971319758. OCLC   190641818.
  4. 1 2 3 Seipp, Robert; Klemmer, Konrad (1994). "Wiederentdeckung von Rhacodactylus ciliatus Guichenot 1866 im Süden Neukaledoniens (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae)". Senckenbergiana Biologica. 74 (1/2): 199–204.
  5. ↑ Smith, Kaytee (2014-07-14). "Creature Feature: The New Caledonian Crested Gecko". NC Museum of Natural Sciences Education Blog. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  6. ↑ Aaron M. Bauer; Todd R. Jackman; Ross A. Sadlier; Anthony H. Whitaker (2012). "Revision of the giant geckos of New Caledonia (Reptilia: Diplodactylidae: Rhacodactylus)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3404: 1–52. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3404.1.1.
  7. ↑ Brusso, Kristin. "Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Gecko, Eyelash Gecko)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  8. ↑ Black, Adam (2006-02-28). Crested Geckos. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN   978-0-7938-2881-4.
  9. ↑ Badger, Netherton, David, John (2002). Lizards: A Natural History of Some Uncommon Creatures - Extraordinary Chameleons, Iguanas, Geckos, and more. Stillwater, MN: Voyageur Press.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 De Vosjoli, Phillipe; Repashy, Allen; Fast, Frank (2003), Rhacodactylus: The Complete Guide to their Selection and Care, Advanced Vivarium Inc, ISBN   978-0-9742971-0-1
  11. ↑ Exo Terra - The Crested Gecko Expedition , retrieved 2021-09-26
  12. ↑ Gamble, Tony; Greenbaum, Eli; Jackman, Todd R.; Bauer, Aaron M. (2015-08-01). "Into the light: diurnality has evolved multiple times in geckos". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 115 (4): 896–910. doi: 10.1111/bij.12536 . ISSN   0024-4066.
  13. ↑ Fox, Rebecca (10 March 2013) Greater protection sought for geckos. The New Zealand Herald.
  14. ↑ "Crested Gecko". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 26 August 2010. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  15. ↑ "Crested Gecko Breeding Basics". Acreptiles. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  16. ↑ "How long can crested geckos live". Archived from the original on 2018-01-16. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  17. ↑ Brusso, Kristin. "Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Gecko, Eyelash Gecko)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
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