Gargoyle Gecko

Hump ​​head Gecko ( Rhacodactylus auriculatus )

The hump head Gecko ( Rhacodactylus auriculatus ) belongs to the family of double finger geckos and is found only in the southern part of the island of New Caledonia. Was first described Rhacodactylus auriculatus of Bavay 1869. The habitat of geckos is threatened by deforestation, they still are not under the CITES Convention.

Features

The gecko reaches a length of 20 centimeters and is slightly stockier than other species of the genus Rhacodactylus. The German name of R. auriculatus is derived by the two humps on the head and over the eyes. Hump ​​head geckos have well trained suckers on its toes, but can not climb smooth surfaces so. They have a prehensile tail, which remains functional after a loss as regrind. The male differs from the female by a broadened anal region. Hump ​​head geckos can be brown gray or beige and have wavy horizontal stripes. Other animals have a network drawing or a reddish or brown longitudinal stripes from head to tail.

Way of life

Hump ​​head geckos are shrub and tree dwellers. Often they keep hanging upside down on in heights of 3 to 4 feet. Especially at night they also look at the ground.

They breed from January to May and then place four to five times per two eggs in the damp ground. The young hatch after 50 to 60 days and are then 5 inches long.

In the terrarium eats this gecko live food such as crickets, wax worms. Also fruit pulp is very welcome.