Golden Gecko

The Gold Gecko or Vietnam Gold Gecko ( Gekko badenii; synonym Gekko ulikovskii ) is a nocturnal gecko, medium size up to 25 cm in length. It is a species of the genus Gekko.

The species was described in 1994 in quick succession by two research groups: the first time on 15 April 1994 by Shcherbak & Nekrasova as G. badenii and on May 15 of Darevsky & Orlov as G. ulikovskii. As is common in biological nomenclature, the first name and thus G. badenii has priority.

Features

The gold gecko is a medium to large nocturnal gecko with a body length of up to 25 cm. 21 by Nguyen et al. examined animals have a head-body length of up to 10.8 cm and a tail length of up to 11.2 cm. The ratio of head-body length varies to tail length from 0.81 to 1.28; the tail may therefore be slightly longer or slightly shorter than the head-body length. He is smaller than the also living in Vietnam Tokay ( Gekko gecko ), which is characterized by a head -body length greater than 11 cm. The Gold Gecko has small, flat scales. Around the middle of the body the examined animals have shed 114-136. Between the nose scales ( Scutum nasal ) 0-3 scales ( Scutum international sale). Males have before the cloaca 10-18 pores. On the top it is light yellow to light orange colored with 4-8 light, almost whitish -acting horizontal stripes from the neck to the tail. The extremities are brightly colored pink to whitish. The belly is also white. The females remain slightly smaller than the males and usually have a more brownish color.

Dissemination

The Gold Gecko lives in Vietnam. Shcherbak and Nekrasova described animals from the province of Tay Ninh, Darevsky and Orlov found the geckos in the province of Kon Tum. Exact data on the distribution are not known. It is known that the type of sandstone formations in transition areas occurs for the jungle.

Reproduction

The pairing of gold geckos found seasonally from March to September. The Gold Gecko sets like all geckos of the genus Gekko two hard-shelled eggs. These are bonded to the substrate. The young hatch at a temperature of 25-30 ° C after 60-90 days. Parental care is not operated by the gold geckos. The boys are actively hunted by the adult animals.

Food

The Gold Gecko eats next to insects, arachnids and small vertebrates from time to fruit such as bananas, too.