Tokay gecko

Taxobox
name = Tokay Gecko

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image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Sauria
familia = Gekkonidae
genus = "Gekko"
species = "G. gecko"
binomial = "Gekko gecko"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)The Tokay Gecko ("Gekko gecko") is a nocturnal arboreal gecko, ranging from northeast India and Bangladesh, throughout Southeast Asia, to Indonesia and western New Guinea. Its native habitat is rainforest trees and cliffs, and it also frequently adapts to rural human habitations, roaming walls and ceilings at night in search of insect prey. Increasing urbanisation is reducing its range. In the late 1980s and early 1990s it was introduced into Hawaii, Florida, Texas, Belize, and several Caribbean islands, where it can be considered an invasive species.

Physical characteristics

The Tokay Gecko is the second largest Gecko species, attaining lengths of about 30–40cm (11–15.6 inches) for males, and 20–30cm (7–12 inches) for females, with weights of 150–300g (5–10 oz). They are distinctive in appearance, with a bluish or greyish body, sporting spots ranging from light yellow to bright red. The male is more brightly coloured than the female. They have large eyes with a vertical slit pupil.

Males are very territorial, and will attack other males Tokays as well as other Gecko species. They are solitary and only meet during the mating season. Females lay clutches of one or two hard shelled eggs which are guarded until they hatch. [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/tokay-gecko-1 tokay gecko: Information and Much More from Answers.com ] ] Tokay Geckos feed on insects and small vertebrates. [Corl, J. 1999. "Gekko gecko" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed July 12, 2008 at [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Gekko_gecko.html] ]

The typical lifespan is 7–10 years, however in captivity some Tokays have been known to live over 18 years.

Call

Tokays are renowned for their their loud vocalizations. Their mating call, a loud croak, is variously described as sounding like "tokeh" or "gekk-gekk," where both the common and the scientific name (deriving from onomatopoeic names in Malay, Sundanese, or Javanese), as well as the family name "Gekkonidae" and the generic term "gecko" come from. The call is similar to the call made by "Gekko smithii" (Large Forest Gecko).

Listen
filename= Mating_call_of_a_male_Tokay_gecko_(Gekko_gecko).ogg
title="Tokay Gecko mating call"
description=Mating call of a male Tokay gecko
format=Ogg

The Tokay is also considered the "pit bull" of the Gecko world due to the fact that when they bite their human handlers, they often won't let go for up to several hours at a time, and generally cannot be forcibly removed without causing harm to the Gecko. One way of getting a Tokay to release its hold is to submerge the animal in water, which will encourage the lizard to let go, without causing it any harm or undue stress Fact|date=August 2008.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are currently recognised [ [http://www.tigr.org/reptiles/species.php?genus=Gekko&species=gecko Reptile Database] ] .
*G. g. gecko : tropical Asia from northeastern India to eastern Indonesia.
*G. g. azhari (Mertens 1955): found in Bangladesh

External links

* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Gekko_gecko.html University Of Michigan detailed description]
* [http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/lizards/tokay_gecko.htm Ecology Asia description and pictures]
* [http://biological-diversity.info/tokay.htm Introduction into Belize]
* [http://www.pet-care-portal.com/tokay-gecko-care-sheet.html Tokay Geckos as Pets]

References