Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus
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| Rough-snouted giant gecko | ||||||||||||||||
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| Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus Bocage, 1873 |
The Rough-snouted Giant Gecko (Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus) is a species of gecko found in central and southern New Caledonia and on the outlying New Caledonian island of Ile de Pines. This gecko is considered to be in danger of extinction due to disappearing habitat and is being considered for protected status by CITES.
[edit] Description & Habitat
The common name of R. trachyrhynchus refers to the enlarged scales that cover its snout. Other characteristics of this gecko include broad toes and a prehensile tail. R. trachyrhynchus has a mottled color pattern, generally a grayish-green to brown mixed with white. Its snout to vent length (SVL) is usually around 190mm. There are two sub-species of R. trachyrhynchus:
- R. t. trachyrhynchus, first described by Bocage in 1873.
- R. t. trachycephalus, first described by Boulenger in 1878.
Like all Rhacodactylus geckos, R. trachyrhynchus is an omnivore. Its diet consists mainly of insects and fruit, and can include as well small lizards and nestling birds and rodents.
[edit] Breeding
R. trachyrhynchus is the only Rhacodactylus gecko that gives live birth. It is sometimes seen in captivity and as an arboreal species, requires a vertically oriented terrarium. Males should be housed separately or as a part of a breeding pair or trio with females. Though males housed together will often fight, females are social and can be housed together.
