Showing posts with label Reptiles - Lizards/Geckos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reptiles - Lizards/Geckos. Show all posts

27 June 2008

Marbled Gecko - Christinus marmoratus

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Marbled Gecko - Christinus marmoratus

A common gecko in the Esperance region and often found in and around human habitation, although any crack or small hole elsewhere will suffice. A very good climber, scaling vertical glass and polished surfaces with ease, particularly while hunting moths attracted to a light. Like most geckos they will also eat soft-bodied insects and spiders.

Growing between 4-5 inches (140 mm total length), they are very agile and can be found in sheltered positions at anytime of the year, although more commonly in warmer weather. The body color varies from a dark marbled brown to an almost transparent pale pink. Some males also have red bars on the tail although not all do, and only those with an original undamaged tail. These small soft-bodied lizards commonly drop their tails to escape predators and the regrown ones usually have a noticeable junction between the original and the new tail, the latter often with a different pattern or color.
 

For further details see: http://natureitems.blogspot.com/2007/01/17-esperance-geckos-one-agile-one-not.html

Soft Spiny-tailed Gecko - Strophurus spinigerus inornatus

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Soft Spiny-tailed Gecko - Strophurus spinigerus inornatus

A small lizard with very attractive gold speckled and orange rimmed eyes, and is the only species in the Esperance region with two rows of black (soft) spines either side of the tail. Between 4-5 inches (130 mm in total length), it is commonly found on or near the ground, although it will also climb into shrubs or sedge/grass tussocks. It seldom enters houses, preferring to remain outside, sheltering under bark or in small hollows. Not as common as the Marbled Gecko, although usually only seen at night during spring and early summer.

I have never seen this gecko species without a tail although they are capable of dropping it if required. In self-defence they prefer to squirt a sticky, quick drying fluid from glands within the tail, but will only do so in dire emergencies. For more details see:
http://natureitems.blogspot.com/2007/01/17-esperance-geckos-one-agile-one-not.html