ヤモリ - カラフルでユニークな爬虫類 | 種類、食事、その他

Gecko - The Colorful, Unique Reptile | Types, Diet, And More Gecko – Habitat, Behavior, Types, and Much More! Monika Martyn January 20, 2023 WorldAnimalFoundation.org is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More Introduction Although geckos exist on every continent except for Antarctica, people associate geckos with holidays in the tropics. The Gekko gecko is a unique lizard with a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns. They live in forests, deserts, mountainous areas, and people’s homes. Geckos are survivors with the uncanny ability to shed their tails in times of danger. Their tail may be long and tapering or short and blunt. Their versatile physical features developed through evolution make them agile enough to climb smooth and vertical surfaces. Their highly developed adhesive toe pads allow them to thrive in relative safety. Their tail is also a weight-balancing tool and stores extra fat for fuel. Of course, the gecko’s triumphant camouflage skill can make them vanish into their surrounding to evade danger and make them into stealthy predators. Geckos are part of the reptile family, the same as lizards and snakes, and are truly unique and interesting. Etymology Gecko is a borrowed word from the Javanese tokek . The word tokek mimics the sound of some gecko species. The New Latin word Gekko or English Gecko is from the Indonesian-Malasian word for gēkoq. Popular Pet Gecko Species Most Geckos of the kingdom Animalia are primarily carnivores and belong to the lizard family Gekkonidae of the infra-order Gekkota. In fact, geckos are any of more than 1,000 species of lizards making up six families of the suborder Gekkota. Most are small, ranging from 1.6cm to 60 cm (0.6″ to 23.6″). Some lizards use vocalization, which sets them apart. They chirp or click to communicate. Some make a boisterous mating call or alarming hissing noises. Geckos are the largest lizard group, with 1500 species in the order Squamata. Leopard Geckos Leopard Geckos are the first captive-bred domestic lizard. They’re native to rocky desert habitats in Afghanistan, India, Iran, and Pakistan. Their spotted skins resemble a leopard pattern. A Leopard Gecko makes a regular appearance in pet stores. African-Fat Tailed Geckos Fat-tailed Geckos have a vast terrain in West Africa, Cameroon, Senegal, and Nigeria. These versatile geckos survive dry and wet-dry Savannah habitats. They prefer dark, humid hiding crevices. What sets Fat-tailed Geckos apart aside from their broad tail, is that they’re terrestrial and have movable eyelids and vertical pupils. Fat-tails are larger, with pale pink or off-white underside, but their scale pattern and color vary depending on location. They don’t have adhesive pads. Crested Geckos Often called the Eyelash Gecko and believed to be extinct until it resurfaced in 1994, the New Caledonian giant gecko inhabits the tip of the island (Pacific Ocean region). The Crested falls under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna Protection. Though slightly larger than other geckos, 15-25cm (6″ -10″) with a tail nearly half its body size, Cresteds have a prominent hair-like feature that resembles eyelashes. They don’t have eyelids, and a transparent scale moisturizes the eye. If a Crested Gecko drops its tail, it will not regrow. Their toes are covered in hair and have claws to help them cling when their toes can’t. Common House Geckos Common house geckos have many names: wall gecko, house lizard, tayoto, chipkali, moon lizard, Asian house gecko, and Pacific house gecko. They’re nocturnal and feast on insects at night. They gravitate toward light fixtures and make chirping-clicking noises. They’re medium size (7.5-15 cm /3″ -6″) with an average lifespan of 7 years. Common house geckos are non-venomous but can bite. Like many species, they’re tropical lizards that prefer warm, humid terrain like deteriorating wood rich with insect life and urban locations. They resemble the Dubious Dtella, a native lizard in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Gargoyle Geckos Knob-headed giant geckos or New Caledonia bumpy geckos live on the southern tip of New Caledonia. Due to massive deforestation, this small species is threatened by habit loss. The Gargoyle Gecko is the smallest of its genus (6) and is on the list for CITES to receive the protected status and restrictions on export. This fascinating reptile gets its moniker from the cranial lesions that look like horns or external ears. Its prehensile tail regenerates and has a small toe pad that allows it to grip vines and twigs. It is an arboreal species and lives in a scrub forest. It can’t climb smooth surfaces or vertical glass. Some are only one inch in length but reach 18-23cm (7″ -9″). Tokay Geckos Tokay-tokay is the unique sound of Tokay Gecko males. This species is unique to Asia and a few Pacific Islands. Its extensive territory includes India, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia. It’s a rainforest dweller and thrives on cliffs and trees. But, it adapts to human invasion and roams on ceilings and walls to hunt for insects. Although not native to the USA, it’s found in Florida, Hawaii, Martinique, and the islands of Belize. It is a nocturnal animal that grows 25-30 cm (10″ -12″) and is as long as 40cm (16″), and is one of the largest species (3rd). It has soft bluish-gray skin with unique red and orange spots. It can camouflage well and has foot pads that make it a proficient climber. Giant Day Geckos Diurnal arboreal day geckos belong to the Phelsuma group of 70 species and subspecies. True to its name, the Madagascar giant is native to tropical and subtropical forest regions in the north of Madagascar. It’s part of the thriving breeding exotic pet trade. Large and bright green (or blueish green on occasion), this lizard with a red stripe across the nostril to the eye measures 23-28cm (9″ -11″). Not all Giant Day Gekko geckos have the distinguishing red mark; others have tiny blue freckles. Adults might develop large calcium storage sacs on their necks. When this lizard expresses stress, it darkens in color. Common Traits Gecko from the suborder of Gekkota is a lizard species within six families of the Gekkota suborder (sounds like a Mafia family). Most geckos are nocturnal and small. They have short bodies and large heads. Their limbs are developed for climbing, and they have setae pads. Geckos are very adaptable and live in urban areas, deserts, and jungles and feed on insects and sometimes flower nectar. Like other reptiles, they’re ectothermic and can’t produce much metabolic heat. Their body temperature is relevant to their environment. Shedding or Molting Like other reptiles and lizards, geckos shed at intervals. However, each species develops its own rhythm and method. Leopard geckos, for example, shed every two to four weeks in humid conditions. A gecko helps the shedding process by eating and detaching loose skin. Young geckos shed once a week until they reach maturity. Ability to Adhere Geckos are an evolutionary masterpiece. The ability to adhere to most surfaces exists in about 60% of geckos and appears and disappears in the geckos’ evolutionary trajectory. Adhesive toepads became non-existent in at least nine lineages and evolved independently in about eleven groups. This ability to adhere to flat surfaces stumped biologists and scientists who mistakenly believed that some chemical force (Van der Waals’ forces) was at work. However, since 2014 further evaluation suggests that this unique mechanism works with electrostatic interaction. These adhesive footpads, called setae, are self-cleaning. Some poly materials with low surface energy make it difficult for gecko feet to adhere to. Setae work best in higher humidity, yet don’t work in water. Further study into surface energy and molecular water layers is ongoing. Another exciting feature is the geckos’ digital hyperextension. In essence, when a gecko moves its adhesive setae, it’s similar to removing the adhesive tape and reapplying it with the same adhesion. Gecko Lifespan Geckos, like most animals, live in constant threat from human invasion into their fragile ecosystem. Yet geckos have learned to adapt and live among us. This explains why the oldest fossil found is 100 million years old. Geckos, as pets, live an average of 10-20 years, but some have lived well past this range. Other factors are gender and whether it lives in the wild or captivity. Since geckos are relatively new to the pet trade industry, there’s much to discover about their lifespan. It’s difficult to predict how long geckos survive in the wild, but estimates suggest, on average, seven years. Chart courtesy Reptile Hero The Ideal Gecko Habitat The ideal gecko habitat is in the wild. However, since keeping geckos as pets have become a widespread trade, a gecko needs a few necessities. Since geckos have a long lifespan, it takes a commitment. Experts suggest a 76-liter or 20-gallon glass tank. There are many benefits to choosing the glass. For starters, glass allows gecko owners to watch their gecko in action, which in most cases is at night. Glass is easy to clean and decorate. Glass tanks are functional and provide a location to attach and monitor the thermometer. The optimum temperature for geckos is essential. Tank Size Creating the ideal environment for your gecko is paramount to its health and survival. Some people have great success keeping their gecko pets in these tank-size habitats. 38-liter or 10-gallon tanks 57-liter or 15-gallon tanks 76-liter or 20-gallon tanks The tank shape also impacts the type of gecko you bring home. Leopard geckos like long and shallow tanks. Leos like ground space, while chameleons or tree-dwelling geckos like taller, more narrow tank shapes. Material is another consideration for gecko owners. If the gecko has adhesive pads, remember that some poly plasti