Gekkonidae

See also: Gecko

The vernacular Nom gecko indicates the whole of the Lézard S of the family of the Gekkonidae , name which one sometimes finds francized in geckonidés . This name comes from the Malayan “Gekoq”, which is a Onomatopée corresponding to the cry of a gecko indonésien.

The great types of lizards diverge on the level from the sub-order. Thus under the term of lizard the geckos, the iguanas, the chameleons, the monitors are found… On the other hand, it is in the family lacertidés that one finds the animals generally described as lizard in current language.

History, origins

The family of the geckonidés goes back to 50 or 60 million years, and descends from the ardéosaure S of the Jurassic .

Initially originating in Asia (where one still finds most primitive of the members of this family in life, the Aeluroscalabotes felinus or gecko cat ), the geckos were spread through all the sphere while colonizing a great number of Biotope s.
One now meets them in about all the countries and under all the Climat S, with share the poles.

Medium, lifestyle

The geckos colonized many biotopes, and adapted (as a family) to very varied living conditions. The life expectancy of a gecko is on average from thirteen to fifteen years, but can go up to twenty years or go down up to three or four years for certain small species.

Medium

The greatest part of the geckos meet in the moderate or hot countries, frequently in moist environments (Forêt S primary educations, wet tropical forests). One also finds some in semi-arid mediums (circumference of the the Mediterranean, for example), as in the Désert S. One also meets some which live in altitude up to 2000 meters, with sometimes extreme climatic conditions (snow).

Lifestyles

The geckos are mainly night and Arboricole S. Cependant, some are diurnal, and/or terrestrial, even semi-watery. Many a geckos cumulates several lifestyles (terrestrial and arboricolous, night with an activity the morning or the evening, even punctually in day).

The night geckos present a Pupille to slit vertical, similar to the eyes of the cats, and the diurnal ones present a round pupil.

Among the arboricolous ones, many geckos has Setae under the legs, of the adherent bearings enabling them to climb on the majority of surfaces, even vertical (to even hold with back).

Anatomical characteristics

See also: Biology of the geckos

The geckos are Squamate S, i.e. in fact reptiles moult with regular interval. Like the other reptiles, the geckos are Poïkilotherme S, i.e. their body temperature varies according to the external conditions. They implement various behaviors to control this temperature according to their needs, for example while being exposed to the sun to be heated. Compared to the other reptiles, they have some specificities:

  • the large majority of the geckos do not have a mobile Paupière. The eyes are protected by a transparent scale (as at the Serpent S);
  • the majority of the arboricolous geckos present adhesive plates under the fingers, which enable them to climb on all surfaces, including smoothest. They can thus go on a ceiling without problem. The forces of adherence of their setæ are so large that only one finger can support the complete weight of the animal (except at the largest species). They are due only to the forces of van der Waals between the sétules , tiny hairs of the end of the legs and the structure on which the gecko walk. See also the article Seta;
  • of others as Rhacodatylus ciliatus presents also these characteristics on their tail in addition to their fingers;
  • of many species can emit sounds, in general slappings or short powerful cries (examples: the Gekko gecko also called gecko tokay, the Cyrtodactylus peguensis , the Stenodactylus petrii and Hemidactylus frenatus in the males);
  • in a corollary way, they have a very good hearing, higher than that of the majority of the other lizards;
  • although using their sense of smell much, they are also equipped with a good sight and generally drive out while being based on the movements of their preys.

From the point of view of the size the geckos are small reptiles. Largest little exceeds the 30 cm ( Uroplatus fimbriatus , Uroplatus giganteus , large the Rhacodactylus and Phelsuma ) and smallest known makes less 2  cm in an adult state ( Sphaerodactylus ariasae ).

Reproduction

See also: Biology of the geckos

The male geckos are equipped with Hémipénis, i.e. of two semi-rigid penises placed at the base of the tail. They use one of these hémipénis to fertilize the female. The coupling can last of a few minutes to a few hours, but the average is rather around a quarter of heure.
At many species, the male immobilizes the female during the coupling, generally in the corrosive one on the level of the nape of the neck - what can sometimes involve wounds at the species having a fragile skin like the Phelsuma .

The majority of the species are Ovipare S, i.e. they lay of the eggs, but some are Ovovivipare S and let eggs develop in their body (this is the prerogative of the species living in cold mediums, where the eggs would have few chances to develop).

The layings are often preceded one period of fast, because the eggs compress the digestive tracts. According to the species the females lay on or in the ground, or on a support like a plant or a branch. At certain species the eggs are stuck to the support, and it is impossible to move them without breaking them. The eggs are in general laid by two, and this of two with more than six recoveries during the hot season, according to the species.

The eggs can have a hard or soft shell. Beyond of a certain development, a reversal of egg causes the death of the embryo by asphyxiation. The embryo is indeed connected to an air pocket at the top of the egg which provides him the Oxygène of which it has besoin.
Incubation is of duration very variable, energy of less than one month in four months according to the species. This duration also varies according to the climatic conditions, and in particular from the temperature externe.
At certain species the sex of small is conditioned by the temperature of incubation - in particular the species of the kind Phelsuma . There exists for these species a temperature for which one obtains as many males as females. Above (or in lower part according to the species) the probability of obtaining females increases, and in lower part (resp. with the top) the probability is reversed.

After the laying, the great majority of the species ignores eggs, and the small ones are autonomous with the birth. There exist however some species which take care on eggs (but not on the small ones), but that remains marginal. Good number of species do not hesitate besides to consume the small ones of their own species if the opportunity arises.

The growth of small is very fast. After one short period without eating - in general until the first moults which takes place the first week of life - the small ones quickly develop to obtain an almost adult size at the conclusion of their first year (even if the Reptile S continue to grow throughout their life). Sexual maturity occurs in general at this age also.

Legislation

Many a geckos is very pledged in their medium of origin, and this fact are often threatened by the destruction of their environment (all the more for the endemic species , which one finds only at one place of the sphere).

This is why number of them are protected at least partially, and their possession either prohibited or is subjected to restrictions (allowed possession, quotas of exports, individuals born in captivity only…).

The convention of Washington, signed by many countries, fixed here a few years the list of protected spaces, supervised or free of trade. The Europe also obtained a specific legislation (Convention of Bern) inspired of the précédente.
Certain countries (the France for example) also ensure a total protection local fauna, while prohibiting inter alia the possession, the import and the export of the species present on their territory.

Systematic

The systematic consists in identifying and naming in a different single way the Espèce S existing. With the top, the close species are gathered in kinds then in families…
Until recently, this classification especially based on the morphological characteristics of the animals. The Genetic advent of the analyzes S with called in question certain classifications, this is why classifications suggested can differ according to the sources and the moments, and especially evolve/move during time.

Classification according to the databases EMBL and ADW

According to these classifications, the family of Gekkonidae includes/understands more 1  000 Species S identified which one gathers into 5 subfamilies themselves divided into 80 kinds (approximately):

Note: according to classifications, the inventor of this family is Oppel, 1811 or Gray, 1825 .

Classification according to ITIS

Some geckos known

Some geckos are frequent in French-speaking countries or are widespread in Terrariophilie and can be relatively easily in the specialized trade:

  • the gecko tokay , gecko of rather big size which one finds mainly in the south of Asia;
  • the gecko leopard , easy of breeding and very reproduced in captivity, originating in the the Middle East;
  • the Rhacodactylus ciliatus , large gecko originating in New Caledonia;
  • the diurnal geckos (kind named Phelsuma ), geckos very coloured coming mainly from the island of Madagascar and the islands neighborhood;
  • the Uroplatus , geckos with the impressive camouflages;
  • the tarente , a very widespread night gecko in the south of France and all the Mediterranean circumference.
  • the margouillat , second emblem of the Meeting after the Dodo.

Another species is to be noted considering its mode of reproduction, the Lepidodactylus lugubris: there are only females, which reproduce by Parthénogenèse.

Etymology and Taxonomy

The vernacular Name gecko , like that of this family, comes from the Malayan “ Gekoq ”, which is a Onomatopée corresponding to the cry of a gecko indonésien.

Attention not to confuse ge' ck' O designating all the family of the Gekkonidae and the kind Gekko , which itself contains a species Gekko gecko (the gecko tokay ).

In the same way in certain languages the vernacular name gecko writes gekko , which can lend to confusion.

Note

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