New Caledonian Crested Gecko
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2008-06-03T12:02:02Z
MrOllie
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[[WP:EL]]
{{Taxobox
| name = New Caledonian Crested Gecko
| image = Gekkoninae Rhacodactylus ciliatus tete.png
| image_width = 240px
| status = unknown
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]]
| ordo = [[Squamata]]
| familia = [[Gekkonidae]]
| genus = ''[[Rhacodactylus]]''
| species = '''''R. ciliatus'''''
| binomial = ''Rhacodactylus ciliatus''
| binomial_authority = ([[A. Guichenot|Guichenot]], [[1866]])
| synonyms = ''Correlophus ciliatus''
| range_map = Rhacodactylus ciliatus range map.jpg
| range_map_width = 240px
| range_map_caption = Approximate distribution of the Crested Gecko.
}}
The '''New Caledonian Crested Gecko''', '''Guichenot's Giant Gecko''' or '''Eyelash Gecko''', ''Rhacodactylus ciliatus'', is a species of [[gecko]] native to southern [[New Caledonia]]. This [[species]] was thought [[extinct]] until it was rediscovered in [[1994]].<ref name="devosjoli">
{{Citation
| last =De Vosjoli
| first =Phillipe
| last2 =Repashy
| first2 =Allen
| last3 =Fast
| first3 =Frank
| title =Rhacodactylus: The Complete Guide to their Selection and Care
| publisher =Advanced Vivarium Inc
| year =2003
| isbn =9780974297101 }}
</ref> Along with several other ''[[Rhacodactylus]]'' species, it is being considered for protected status by the [[Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna]].
==Taxonomy==
The species was first described in 1866 as ''Correlophus ciliatus'' by the [[France|French]] [[zoology|zoologist]] [[Alphone Guichenot]] in an article entitled "Notice sur un nouveau genre de sauriens de la famille des geckotiens du Muséum de Paris" ("Notes on a new species of lizard in the gecko family") in the ''Mémoires de la Société Scientifique Naturelle de Chérbourg''. It has since been renamed ''Rhacodactylus ciliatus''.
The generic name ''Rhacodactylus'' is [[Greek language|Greek]] in origin: ''Rhakos'', meaning "spine" and ''Dactylus'' meaning "finger". The specific name, ''ciliatus'', is [[Latin]]: ''Cilia'' means "fringe" or "eyelash" and refers to the crest of skin over the animal's eyes that resembles an eyelash.
==Physical description==
[[Image:Gekkoninae_Rhacodactylus_ciliatus_orange.png|thumb|left|Orange color phase]]
The New Caledonian Crested Gecko has hair-like projections found above the [[eye]]s, resembling [[eyelash]]es. It has a wedge shaped head and the males with a crest that runs from each eye to the tail. The toes and the tip of the [[tail]] are covered in small hairs called [[setae]]. Each seta is divided into hundreds of smaller (approximately 200 nanometres in diameter) hairs called spatulae. It is believed these structures exploit the weak [[van der Waals force]] to help the gecko climb on most solid surfaces. The toes have small claws which aid in climbing surfaces to which their toes cannot cling.
The New Caledonian Crested Gecko has many naturally occurring color groups, some of which include: [[gray]], [[brown]], [[red]], [[orange (color)|orange]] and [[yellow]] of various shades. They have variable markings, which include: spots, straight stripes and tiger-like stripes. The markings and coloration are not [[geography|geographic]] indicators; offspring of the same clutch may display differing coloration and markings. The colors are brighter and more prominent at night.
The New Caledonian Crested Gecko has distinct structural morphs in head size and crest abundancy. Geckos with a head length less than 1.3 times its width are considered "crowned" Crested Geckos. They can vary in the amount and size of the crests; some have crests that extend to the base of the tail and some lack crests on one side of their body.
== Geographic distribution ==
The Crested Gecko is [[Endemic (ecology)|endemic]] to [[South Province, New Caledonia]]. There are three disjunct populations, one found on the [[Isle of Pines, New Caledonia|Isle of Pines]] and surrounding islets, and there are two populations found on the main island of [[Grande Terre]]. One population is around the Blue River, which is a protected provincial park, and the other is further north, just south of [[Mount Dzumac]].
==Ecology and behavior==
[[Image:IMG 7638-3s.jpg|thumb|165px|left|Jumping Crested Gecko]]
The New Caledonian Crested Gecko has no eyelids; a transparent scale, or spectacle, keeps its eyes moist and it uses its tongue to clear away debris. Like all ''Rhacodactylus'' geckos, it has webbing on its legs and digits. They are a mostly [[arboreal]] species, preferring to inhabit the canopy of the New Caledonian [[rainforest]]s. They are primarily [[nocturnal animal|nocturnal]], and will generally spend the daylight hours sleeping in a secure hiding place close to, or on the ground.
The New Caledonian Crested Gecko, unlike the closely related [[New Caledonian bumpy gecko]] (''Rhacodactylus auriculatus''), will not regrow its tail once lost.<ref name="devosjoli"/> The cells around the base of the tail are brittle, allowing the tail to break away when threatened or caught by a predator. The [[capillaries]] to the tail will close almost instantly so there is little to no [[blood]] loss. The tails will move independent of the body for 2–5 minutes. The loss of their tail is not problematic, and most adults in the wild do not have their tails.
Unlike most species of gecko, this species is an [[omnivore]], eating a variety of [[insect]]s and [[fruit]].<ref name="devosjoli"/>
==Captivity==
Though the export of wild New Caledonian Crested Geckos is now prohibited, biologists exported several specimens for breeding and study before the practice was outlawed.<ref name="devosjoli"/> From these specimens, different breeding lines were established both in [[Europe]] and the [[United States]].<ref name="devosjoli"/> The Crested Gecko is now one of the most widely kept and bred species of gecko in the world.<ref name="devosjoli"/>
These geckos can be very long lived. While they have not been kept in captivity long enough for a definitive life span determination, they are thought to live for 15–20 years.
==Reproduction==
[[Image:Crested mating.jpg|thumb|right|Crested Geckos Mating]]
Little is known about the wild reproductive behavior of Crested Geckos, but in captivity they breed readily, with the female laying two [[egg (biology)|egg]]s which hatch 60–90 days after they are laid. Eggs are generally laid at four week intervals as long as the [[fat]] and [[calcium]] reserves of the female are still at healthy levels. Crested Geckos have a small sac for calcium in their mouth. If an egg laying female does not have enough calcium her sac will be depleted, and she can suffer from calcium deficiency. This can lead to lethargy, lack of appetite, and even death.<ref name="devosjoli"/>
It is undetermined whether heat plays a role in determining the sex of the [[embryo]], as it can with other gecko species. Newly hatched Crested Geckos will generally not eat until after they shed their skin for the first time, relying on the remains of their [[egg yolk|yolk]] sack for nutrition.<ref name="devosjoli"/>
==Status in the wild==
Long believed extinct, the species was rediscovered in 1994 after a tropical storm.<ref name="devosjoli"/> It is currently being assessed for CITES protection and endangered status. The biggest single threat to the wild population appears to be the introduction of the [[little fire ant]] (''Wassmania auropunctata'') to New Caledonia.<ref name="devosjoli"/> The ants prey on the geckoes, stinging and attacking in great numbers and also compete with the geckoes for food by preying on arthropods and insects.
== See also ==
* [[Biodiversity of New Caledonia]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
* Bauer, Aaron M. & Sadlier, Ross A. 2000 ''The Herpetofauna of New Caledonia''. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. ISBN 0-916984-55-9
* {{EMBL species|genus=Rhacodactylus|species=ciliatus}}
{{Wikispecies|Rhacodactylus ciliatus}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.pet-care-portal.com/crested-gecko.html Crested Geckos as Pets]
[[Category:Geckos]]
[[Category:Reptiles of New Caledonia]]
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[[es:Rhacodactylus ciliatus]]
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[[ja:オウカンミカドヤモリ]]