Golden gecko

Golden gecko
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Gekko
Species: G. badenii
Binomial name
Gekko badenii[2]
Szczerbak & Nekrasova, 1994
Synonyms

Gekko ulikovskii Darevsky & Orlov, 1994

The golden gecko (Gekko badenii) is a gecko native to Vietnam.

Description

The golden gecko gets its name from the yellow and gold colored scales on its body. Males grow to around 7 to 8 inches (18 to 20 cm), while females stay around 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 cm).[3] Males have a longer tail base, with fleshy knobs at the base of the tail. Pores appear on the insides of the legs. Females have none of these.

Distribution and habitat

The species has been reported from the Tây Ninh Province and Kon Tum Province of southern Vietnam (the latter following the recognition of Gekko ulikovskii as a synonym of this species). There is no definite information about its habitat, which is likely to be lowland rainforest.[1]

Diet

Golden geckos are primarily insectivores but will also take some fruit. Golden geckos hydrate themselves by drinking water from rainfall collecting on leaves.

As pets

Golden geckos are not very popular in the pet trade, so most are wild caught. They require a minimum of 20 US gallons for an adult. Females can live together, but males will fight. Captive hatchlings feed daily, and adults only need food every 5–6 days. They will eat crickets and meal worms, wax worms, and fruits, such as bananas and mangos, which are rich in calcium.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Bain, R.H. (2009). "Gekko badenii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Nguyen, Quang Truong; Schmitz, Andreas; Bohme, Wolfgang (April 2010). "Gekko ulikovskii Darevsky & Orlov, 1994: a junior synonym of Gekko badenii Szczerbak & Nekrasova, 1994" (PDF). Bonn Zoological Bulletin. 57 (1): 15–17. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Golden Gecko Care Guide". www.reptilesncritters.com. Retrieved 2016-05-16.
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