Tokay gecko: Difference between revisions
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Males are very territorial, and will attack other male Tokays as well as other Gecko species, as well as anything else in their territory. 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.<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/tokay-gecko-1 tokay gecko: Information and Much More from Answers.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Tokay Geckos feed on [[insect]]s and small [[vertebrate]]s.<ref>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]</ref> |
Males are very territorial, and will attack other male Tokays as well as other Gecko species, as well as anything else in their territory. 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.<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/tokay-gecko-1 tokay gecko: Information and Much More from Answers.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Tokay Geckos feed on [[insect]]s and small [[vertebrate]]s.<ref>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]</ref> |
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The typical lifespan is 7– |
The typical lifespan is 7–10 years, however in captivity some Tokays have been known to live over 18 years.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} |
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== Call == |
== Call == |
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Revision as of 19:20, 12 December 2011
| Tokay Gecko | |
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| Species: | G. gecko
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| Binomial name | |
| Gekko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Lacerta gecko Linnaeus, 1758 | |
The Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) is a nocturnal arboreal gecko, ranging from northeast India and Bangladesh, throughout Southeast Asia, Philippines 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 urbanization 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.
The Tokay Gecko is known as a Tuko or Toko in the Philippines, Tokek in Indonesian/Javanese, and tắc kè in Vietnamese, for its characteristic vocalizations. People have mixed feelings about it ranging from terror of the belief that its feet can tear your skin off to admiration for its entertaining vocalizations;[citation needed] in the Philippines, most people respect it and value it because it eats dangerous pests such as scorpions and giant centipedes.[citation needed]
Physical characteristics
_adult_male_and_juvenile.jpg)
The Tokay Gecko is the second largest Gecko species, attaining lengths of about 30–40 cm (11–15 inches) for males, and 20–30 cm (7–11 inches) for females, with weights of only 150–300g (5–10 oz). They are distinctive in appearance, with a bluish or grayish body, sporting spots ranging from light yellow to bright red. The male is more brightly colored than the female. They have large eyes with a vertical slit pupil. Eyes are brown to greenish brown and can be orange or yellow.
Males are very territorial, and will attack other male Tokays as well as other Gecko species, as well as anything else in their territory. 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.[1] Tokay Geckos feed on insects and small vertebrates.[2]
The typical lifespan is 7–10 years, however in captivity some Tokays have been known to live over 18 years.[citation needed]
Call
Tokays are renowned for their loud vocalizations. Their mating call, a loud croak, is variously described as sounding like token, gekk-gekk or Poo-Kay where both the common and the scientific name (deriving from onomatopoeic names in Malay, Sundanese, Tagalog, Thai, 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).
As pets
When the Tokay bites, they often won't let go for a few minutes or even up to an hour or more, and it is very difficult to remove without causing harm to the gecko. Submerging it partially in water may settle it down, encouraging the lizard to let go, but it causes harm and stress. A less stressful method is to simply put a drop of vinegar on the gecko's nose, which sometimes makes them let go. Its bite is very powerful. For this reason, it is considered to be best as an ornamental animal for experienced reptile owners.
Recent Fad
The Tokay Gecko or Toko is quickly becoming a threatened species in The Philippines because of indiscriminate hunting. Collecting, transporting and trading geckos without a license can be punishable by up to twelve years in jail and a fine of up to 1,000,000 pesos under Republic Act 9147 in addition to other applicable international laws. However, the trade runs unchecked due to the sheer number of illegal traders and reports of lucrative deals. Chinese buyers and other foreign nationals are rumored to pay thousands of dollars for large specimens, reportedly because of their alleged medicinal value or as commodities in the illegal wildlife trade.[3] The Philippine government has issued a warning against using geckos to treat AIDS and impotence, saying the folkloric practice in parts of Asia may put patients at risk.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are currently recognized.[4]
- G. g. gecko (Linnaeus, 1758): tropical Asia from northeastern India to eastern Indonesia.
- G. g. azhari Mertens, 1955: found in Bangladesh only.
External links
- "Tokay gecko" at the Encyclopedia of Life
- University Of Michigan detailed description
- Ecology Asia description and pictures
- Introduction into Belize
- Specialized information regarding the captive care of Tokay geckos
- Tokay gecko care
- Philippines warns against geckos as AIDS treatment
References
- ^ tokay gecko: Information and Much More from Answers.com
- ^ Corl, J. 1999. "Gekko gecko" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed July 12, 2008 at [1]
- ^ http://globalnation.inquirer.net/5782/jail-warning-to-save-philippine-geckos
- ^ Gekko gecko at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database