The African fat-tailed gecko[3] or fat-tail gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) is a ground-dwelling species of gecko from West Africa and Cameroon.[1][4]
The African fat-tailed gecko is from the subfamily Eublepharinae. This subfamily has clearly different characteristics from other geckos. They are terrestrial, and have moveable eyelids, vertical pupils, and no adhesive lamellae.
The African fat-tailed gecko is typically around 7–8 inches,[5] with females being slightly smaller than males. Normal coloring is brown and tan/beige stripes, with a possible thin white stripe along the length of the back. The underbelly is pale pink or off-white.
Distribution and habitatEdit
The African fat-tailed gecko is found in West Africa, from Senegal to Nigeria, extending marginally to Central Africa (northern Cameroon).[1] Within their range, these geckos are found in the dry Sahel habitat, as well as in wet or dry savannah habitat. African fat-tailed geckos will spend most of their time in a dark, humid hiding place such as a termite mound.[6][7]
African fat-tailed geckos have been seen to vary in physical attributes based on their habitat even within specific regions of Africa from size, scale pattern, to color. This allows for them to be able to fend off predators and be successful at repopulating.[8]
BehaviorEdit
The African fat-tailed gecko is equipped with the ability to lose its tail when threatened or attacked. If the tail is lost, the new tail will have a more rounded shape, similar to the head. It may not match the body coloration and pattern of the gecko. The tail is also where they store their fat, an important energy reserve. With its tail, an African fat tailed gecko can go days on end without food.[9]
African fat-tailed geckos are reportedly strictly nocturnal, taking shelter from their generally hot and dry environment during the day and emerging at night to forage.[10][11][7][12] They have been found during the day hiding under a variety of cover and will retreat to burrows or hide under rocks or fallen logs.[7]
DietEdit
African fat-tailed geckos have a primarily insectivorous diet, feeding on various kinds of insects and other invertebrates within their habitats, such as worms, crickets, possibly beetles or cockroaches, etc.[13]
As petsEdit
In the pet trade the African fat-tailed gecko has gained some popularity though is still not as popular as the closely related leopard gecko.[14] With good care, African fat-tailed geckos generally live 15-20 years, although longer may be possible.[15]
Through selective breeding the reptile trade has been able to produce numerous color variants of the African fat-tailed gecko including tangerine, albino, patternless, black out, and aberrant.
ReferencesEdit
^ abcPenner, J.; Rödel , M.-O.; Luiselli, L.; Segniagbeto, G. (2013). "Hemitheconyx caudicinctus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T203830A2771717. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T203830A2771717.en. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
^Richard D. Bartlett; Patricia Pope Bartlett (1995). Geckos: Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Diseases, Breeding, and Behavior. Barron's Educational Series. p. 74. ISBN978-0-8120-9082-6. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
^Craig Stewart (24 November 2014). "African Fat-Tailed Gecko Care Sheet". Reptiles Magazine. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
^Hemitheconyx caudicinctus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 30 August 2021.
^"African Fat Tailed Gecko". Reptile Range. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
^Kaufman, Dāv. "FAT-TAILED GECKOS IN THE WILD! (Are we keeping them correctly?)". Youtube. Dāv Kaufman's Reptile Adventures. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
^ abcAndreas Kirschner; Hermann Seufer & Yuri Kaverkin (2005). The eyelash geckos: Care, breeding and natural history. Karlsruhe: Kirschner und Seufer. ISBN978-3-9804207-8-5. OCLC 181523397.
^Gabriel Hoinsoude Segniagbeto; Jean-François Trape & Komlan M. Afiademanyo (2015). Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation. Karlsruhe: Segniagbeto und Trape. doi:10.5252/z2015n2a7.
^"African fat tail gecko facts". The Pet Enthusiast. 17 March 2020.
^Vitt, Laurie J. & Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Academic Press. p. 516. OCLC 839312807.
^Valdez, Jose W. (March 2021). "Using Google Trends to determine current, past, and future trends in the reptile pet trade". Animals. 11 (3): 676. doi:10.3390/ani11030676. PMC8001315. PMID 33802560.
^Healey, Mariah. "The ReptiFiles African Fat-Tailed Gecko Care Sheet". ReptiFiles. from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
External linksEdit
African fat-tailed gecko breeding
September 01, 2023
african, tailed, gecko, tail, gecko, hemitheconyx, caudicinctus, ground, dwelling, species, gecko, from, west, africa, cameroon, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, chordataclass, reptil. The African fat tailed gecko 3 or fat tail gecko Hemitheconyx caudicinctus is a ground dwelling species of gecko from West Africa and Cameroon 1 4 African fat tailed geckoConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily EublepharidaeGenus HemitheconyxSpecies H caudicinctusBinomial nameHemitheconyx caudicinctus Dumeril 1851 2 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Behavior 4 Diet 5 As pets 6 References 7 External linksDescription EditThe African fat tailed gecko is from the subfamily Eublepharinae This subfamily has clearly different characteristics from other geckos They are terrestrial and have moveable eyelids vertical pupils and no adhesive lamellae The African fat tailed gecko is typically around 7 8 inches 5 with females being slightly smaller than males Normal coloring is brown and tan beige stripes with a possible thin white stripe along the length of the back The underbelly is pale pink or off white Distribution and habitat EditThe African fat tailed gecko is found in West Africa from Senegal to Nigeria extending marginally to Central Africa northern Cameroon 1 Within their range these geckos are found in the dry Sahel habitat as well as in wet or dry savannah habitat African fat tailed geckos will spend most of their time in a dark humid hiding place such as a termite mound 6 7 African fat tailed geckos have been seen to vary in physical attributes based on their habitat even within specific regions of Africa from size scale pattern to color This allows for them to be able to fend off predators and be successful at repopulating 8 Behavior EditThe African fat tailed gecko is equipped with the ability to lose its tail when threatened or attacked If the tail is lost the new tail will have a more rounded shape similar to the head It may not match the body coloration and pattern of the gecko The tail is also where they store their fat an important energy reserve With its tail an African fat tailed gecko can go days on end without food 9 African fat tailed geckos are reportedly strictly nocturnal taking shelter from their generally hot and dry environment during the day and emerging at night to forage 10 11 7 12 They have been found during the day hiding under a variety of cover and will retreat to burrows or hide under rocks or fallen logs 7 Diet EditAfrican fat tailed geckos have a primarily insectivorous diet feeding on various kinds of insects and other invertebrates within their habitats such as worms crickets possibly beetles or cockroaches etc 13 As pets EditIn the pet trade the African fat tailed gecko has gained some popularity though is still not as popular as the closely related leopard gecko 14 With good care African fat tailed geckos generally live 15 20 years although longer may be possible 15 Through selective breeding the reptile trade has been able to produce numerous color variants of the African fat tailed gecko including tangerine albino patternless black out and aberrant References Edit a b c Penner J Rodel M O Luiselli L Segniagbeto G 2013 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013 e T203830A2771717 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2013 1 RLTS T203830A2771717 en Retrieved 30 August 2021 Richard D Bartlett Patricia Pope Bartlett 1995 Geckos Everything About Selection Care Nutrition Diseases Breeding and Behavior Barron s Educational Series p 74 ISBN 978 0 8120 9082 6 Retrieved 30 January 2013 Craig Stewart 24 November 2014 African Fat Tailed Gecko Care Sheet Reptiles Magazine Retrieved 30 August 2021 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Accessed 30 August 2021 African Fat Tailed Gecko Reptile Range Retrieved 9 August 2022 Kaufman Dav FAT TAILED GECKOS IN THE WILD Are we keeping them correctly Youtube Dav Kaufman s Reptile Adventures Retrieved 18 February 2023 a b c Andreas Kirschner Hermann Seufer amp Yuri Kaverkin 2005 The eyelash geckos Care breeding and natural history Karlsruhe Kirschner und Seufer ISBN 978 3 9804207 8 5 OCLC 181523397 Gabriel Hoinsoude Segniagbeto Jean Francois Trape amp Komlan M Afiademanyo 2015 Checklist of the lizards of Togo West Africa with comments on systematics distribution ecology and conservation Karlsruhe Segniagbeto und Trape doi 10 5252 z2015n2a7 African fat tail gecko facts The Pet Enthusiast 17 March 2020 Vitt Laurie J amp Caldwell Janalee P 2014 Herpetology An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles 4th ed Academic Press p 516 OCLC 839312807 Gerster Katherine Hemitheconyx caudicinctus Fat tail Gecko Animal Diversity Web Retrieved 2021 07 25 Fat Tailed Gecko Zilla Beyond the Glass Season 2 Episode 3 archived from the original on 2021 12 12 retrieved 2021 09 07 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus Fat tail Gecko Valdez Jose W March 2021 Using Google Trends to determine current past and future trends in the reptile pet trade Animals 11 3 676 doi 10 3390 ani11030676 PMC 8001315 PMID 33802560 Healey Mariah The ReptiFiles African Fat Tailed Gecko Care Sheet ReptiFiles Archived from the original on 2022 01 18 Retrieved 2022 01 18 External links EditCaring for an African fat tailed gecko African fat tailed gecko breeding African fat tailed gecko gallery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title African fat tailed gecko amp oldid 1169609620, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
