Gargoyle Gecko
Basic Information:
Scientific Name: Rhacodactylus auriculatus
Habitat: Scrub forests in Southern New Caledonia. They are arboreal.
Diet:Insects, tree sap, flowers, and sometimes other, smaller lizards.
Size: Average of 7 to 9 inches long.
Weight: 2 to 2.5 ounces
Lifespan: 10 to 15 wild, 15-20 in captivity
Distribution Map:
I.U.C.N. Conservation Status:
What does this mean?
Least Concern – a species determined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (I.U.C.N.) to be pervasive, abundant, and thriving.
Our Gargoyle Gecko:
Goliath (male) – Estimated birthday Jan 1, 2021
About Gargoyle Geckos:
Also known as the New Caledonian bumpy gecko, the gargoyle gecko gets its name from the small bumps on their heads resembling horns or ears. These geckos will spend most of their lives up in trees, using their prehensile tail and sticky toes to climb extremely well! They may even jump up to three times their body length to help them reach new branches.
While normally only found in New Caledonia, gargoyle geckos can be found all over the world now as people’s pets, and are becoming more popular in captivity.
Did You Know?!
- Even though their tail is important for grabbing branches, the gargoyle gecko is also able to drop their tail to avoid predation. They may also regrow their tail afterwards!
- Female gargoyle geckos may rarely undergo “parthenogenesis,” meaning the females can lay fertile eggs without a male present.
- Gargoyle geckos generally do not drink water and will usually get it from the moisture in the air or the food that they eat. The humidity also helps keep their skin moist.
