- Coleonyx variegatus
-
Coleonyx variegatus 
San Diego Banded Gecko, Coleonyx variegatus abbotti Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Gekkonidae Subfamily: Eublepharinae Genus: Coleonyx Species: C. variegatus
Baird, 1858[1]Binomial name Coleonyx variegatus The Western Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus) is a species of gecko found in the southwestern United States (southern California, southwest New Mexico, southern Arizona, Utah, Nevada) and northern Mexico (Sonora, northwest Baja California).
Contents
Description
Western banded geckos are terrestrial lizards, ranging in length from 4–6 inches (10–15 cm). Hatchlings measure 1 inch (2.5 cm).[2] The body is sandy coloured with dark bands broken into patches. The tiny scales give its skin a silky texture. Unlike typical geckos, it has prominent eyes with movable lids.
Behavior
The western banded gecko is secretive and nocturnal, foraging at night for small insects and spiders, and is one of the few reptiles that control scorpion populations by eating baby scorpions. If captured, they squeak and may discard their tail. As a defense mechanism, they can also curl their tails over their bodies to mimic a scorpion.[2] Females lay up to three clutches of one to two soft-shelled eggs in the spring and summer. Emerging on warm nights around 80 degrees F, they can be seen around porch lights looking for an easy meal, retreating if the tempature rises too high or drops too low. [3] Eggs hatch after six weeks.[2]
Subspecies
Seven subspecies of the western banded gecko have been identified:
- C.v.abbotti
- C.v.bogerti
- C.v.peninsularis
- C.v.slevini
- C.v.sonoriensis
- C.v.utahensis
- C.v.variegatus
References
- ^ Baird,S.F. 1859. Description of new genera and species of North American lizards in the museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1858: 253-256
- ^ a b c "Western Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus)". Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_cloeonyx.html. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
- ^ Brennan, Thomas C. "Western Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus)". Online Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Arizona. http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Lizards-Subpages/h-c-variegatus.html. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
- Species Coleonyx variegatus at The Reptile Database
Categories: Gekkonidae | Reptiles of the United States | Reptiles of Mexico | Fauna of the Southwestern United States | Fauna of Northern Mexico
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
