What animal makes a perfect familiar for an ecologist/wiccan, well if this week has taught me anything, it’s that baby hares are adorable. Last week’s animal, while not cute, the Noble Sea Pen, was impressive, as was the range of endangered molluscs covered in the same issue. This week’s issue is an island giant, and a creature of some conversation on the Fan-Fic board. Hope you guys enjoy.

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Issue #75 – Leach’s Giant Gecko

Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum - Chordata

Class – Reptilia

Order – Squamatra

Family – Diplodactylidae

Genus – Rhacodactylus

Species – leachianus

Related Species – Leach’s Giant Gecko is one of five species in the genus Rhacodactylus (1)

Range

Devil in the Trees

At a length of just over a foot and a weight of 400 grams, Leach’s Giant Gecko, also known as the New Caledonian Giant Gecko, it the largest extant gecko in the world. The gecko’s mottled skin is relatively soft, and has a baggy appearance, with many loose folds running down its flanks and short tail. Like many geckos, the Leach’s Giant Gecko is arboreal, although it lacks the adhesive pads that most species possesses, save for a sticky strip at the end of the tail and instead climbs using long claws on its toes.

Leach’s Giant Geckos are nocturnal, and are omnivorous, with the diet varying throughout the year. In summer the species consists almost predominantly of nectar, fruit and flower buds, whilst in winter the geckos become obligate carnivores, eating insects, rodents, sleeping birds and smaller geckos. Despite its size, these giant geckos are prey to diurnal birds and reptiles such as the New Caledonian Crow (Corvus moneduloides) and the Terror Skink (Phoboscincus bocourti). As such, to reduce predation, the Leach’s Giant Gecko is rarely seen during the day, often spending this time resting in tree cavities (2).

The geckos worst enemy however, is other members of its species, Leach’s Giant Geckos are highly territorial outside the mating season, with fights accompanied with barking and hissing, earning the species the nickname ‘the devil in the trees, often resulting in death of one or both the competitors. Breeding occurs several times a year, with the female depositing two eggs on a branch or in a hollow, before abandoning them to hatch without any assistance from her.

Five Groovy Geckos

The name Gecko comes from the Malay word gekoq, but even in that language the word has no meaning. It’s suspected that it simply is an imitation of the mating call of the Tokay Gecko (Gecko gecko) (3)

The Parachute Gecko (Ptychozoon lionoturn) is one of a number of unrelated species that has evolved flaps for gliding. This species can glide up to 60m in a single jump.

The Spiny Tailed Geckos (Strophurus sp), in addition to being expert climbers, are fair marksmen too, with the entire genus using a harmless foul smelling liquid spray, as a defence against predators

Recent footage suggests that the Gold Dust Day-Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda) may form a mutualistic relationship with a plant hopper. In return for protecting the insect from predators, the gecko is rewarded with a sip of honeydew, produced by the plant hopper(4)

The well-known Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is one of the few species of gecko that can actually blink, most just wash their eyes with their tongues

References

1. www.arkive.org

2. http://leapinleachies.com/articles.htm?article=5

3. Partridge, Eric; Dalzell, Tom; Victor, Terry (2008). The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. Routledge. p. 275

4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7247472.stm

Picture References

1. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsSwtiDKa_s/VH-B5Dk_xdI/AAAAAAAAFRM/dL4v-uq6xvU/s1600/25844-Newfoldernew-caledonia-giant-gecko2-af47b7ea.jpeg

2. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/islands_oceans_poles/newcaledonia.jpg

3. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/bf/10/19/bf1019855bddb4e906c74d003acddb2c.jpg

4. https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6081/6070493869_dccae6bcc4_z.jpg

And there we have it, Leach’s Giant Gecko, okay maybe it’s not a Godzilla sized monster but it sure does dwarf all other gecko species. Next week we spring into action with a pair of rare and/or unusual insects. But until then critic, comment and discuss future species to cover as well as checking out past issues in Impurest’s Bestiary.

Many Thanks

Impurest Cheese