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Encyclopedia > Gehyra mutilata

The Pacific Gecko (Gehyra mutilata, also known as four-clawed gecko, tender-skinned house gecko, sugar lizard, or stump-toed gecko) probably first appeared in Southeast Asia. It slowly moved it’s way around, and made it to several different places in the world including Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indochina, and many of the US Pacific Islands. This gecko is somewhat plump with delicate skin. The skin is usually colored a soft purplish/pinkish gray with golden spots on the younger ones. These spots eventually fade with age.


This gecko, like many other geckos, is very adaptable to its surroundings, although it usually prefers woodlands, rocky areas, and of course human dwellings. The geckos make themselves at home in people's homes, and don't seem to mind the humans living beside them. Most people don't mind either, because these geckos eat the household insects, ridding the air of nasty bugs. They're also not noticed much, because they like to hang out on the ceilings and the roof. Another plus for the humans is that they are also nocturnal, only active at night.


This gecko is a fairly sized gecko, reaching up to 12cm. Yes, that may seem small, but it is a fair length in the gecko world. Its tail is also fairly long, almost the entire length of the body.


The reproduction of these geckos isn't unusual or unique, only that they lay eggs, just like any other gecko.


The thing that is unique about these geckos, is that they are the only ones with developed voices. They make chirping noises, like that of a cricket.


  Results from FactBites:
 
A Summary of the Current Demography of Guam's Native Lizards (1322 words)
Of the species that have suffered declines, the snake probably had a major role in the apparent extirpation of Perochirus ateles, the virtual disappearance of Gehyra oceanica, and the substantial reduction in the numbers of Gehyra mutilata.
Gehyra mutilata is still locally common but has declined over large areas of the island.
Thus, the snake's apparent elimination of Gehyra oceanica may have offset the direct predation of the snake on Hemidactylus.
Tail, Limb and Skin Autotomy (470 words)
Such releases apparently happen only when the skin is seized, as opposed to tail drops in which the tail may be dropped before it is actually seized.
This "fragile skin" trait is so well developed in one gecko that its scientific name reflects this trait: Gehyra mutilata (mutilated gecko).
As I found out the hard way one day when "swing-bonking" a mouse to kill it before feeding it out, they can slough off the sheath of skin and fur covering their tails, leaving you standing there with the sheath as the mouse scurries off.
  More results at FactBites »


 
 

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