Kotschy's gecko is a slender lizard growing to a length of about 10 cm (4 in) including its tail. Females grow slightly larger than males. The limbs and tail are slim and there are small tubercles on the back and tail. The digits do not have adhesive pads but the toes are relatively long with a kink in the middle. The colour is rather variable and may have a background of yellowish-grey, greyish-brown, dark brown or reddish-black. The dorsal surface is marked with W-shaped transverse bands of darker colour. Like other geckos, the markings remain the same but the overall shade can be darker in cool conditions and paler in the heat of the day. The underparts may be yellowish or orange.[3]
Its typical habitat is cliffs, dry stony areas, scrub, tree trunks, stone walls, and the external and internal walls of buildings. It is found at elevations of up to 1,700 m (5,577 ft) but is mostly a lowland species.[1]
Behaviouredit
Kotschy's gecko is mainly nocturnal but at cooler times of year it is often active in the day as well, especially early and late. It climbs very well despite having no adhesive pads, but spends less time on cliffs and climbs less high than the wall lizards (Podarcis) spp., with which it is often found.[3] When disturbed, it retreats into dense undergrowth, hides in crevices among rocks, or clings onto the underside of overhangs. It is infrequently found in buildings. The voice is a repeated high-pitched "chick", and males and females may call to each other during courtship.[3]
Reproductionedit
The female Kotschky's gecko lays two eggs (occasionally one) under stones or in a crevice and these take eleven to eighteen weeks to hatch into juveniles about 2 cm (0.8 in) long. These offspring become mature in about two years, and Kotschy's gecko has been known to live for nine years in captivity.[3]
Statusedit
Kotschy's gecko is listed by the IUCN as being of "Least Concern". This is because it has a very wide range and is common over much of this range. The population trend is unknown, but it faces no particular threats, although deforestation might be a threat in Israel and Jordan where it is mostly found on tree trunks. It is possible that this might be a species complex, and if so, individual populations might need to be placed in a more threatened category.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcWolfgang Böhme, Petros Lymberakis, Rastko Ajtic, Ahmad Mohammed Mousa Disi, Yehudah Werner, Varol Tok, Ismail H. Ugurtas, Murat Sevinç, Souad Hraoui-Bloquet, Riyad Sadek, Pierre-André Crochet, Idriz Haxhiu, Claudia Corti, Roberto Sindaco, Yakup Kaska, Yusuf Kumlutaş, Aziz Avci, Nazan Üzüm, Can Yeniyurt, Ferdi Akarsu, Jelka Crnobrnja Isailovic (2009). "Mediodactylus kotschyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T157281A5069008. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T157281A5069008.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Mediodactylus kotschyi ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
^ abcdeArnold, E. Nicholas [in French]; Ovenden, Denys W. (2002). Field Guide: Reptiles & Amphibians of Britain & Europe. Collins & Co. pp. 125–126. ISBN9780002199643.
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Cyrtopodion kotschyi, p. 145).
Further readingedit
Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. Geckonidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. (Gymnodactylus kotschyi, p. 29).
Steindachner F (1870). "Herpetologische Notizen (II). I. Reptilien gesammelt während einer Reise in Senegambien (October bis December 1868) ". Sitzungsberichte der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Classe der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften62: 326-335 + Plates I-VIII. (Gymnodactylus kotschyi, new species, pp. 329–330 + Plate I, Figures 1-2). (in German).
April 11, 2024
kotschy, gecko, mediodactylus, kotschyi, species, gecko, lizard, family, gekkonidae, species, native, southeastern, europe, middle, east, named, honour, austrian, botanist, explorer, karl, georg, theodor, kotschy, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scie. Kotschy s gecko Mediodactylus kotschyi is a species of gecko a lizard in the family Gekkonidae The species is native to southeastern Europe and the Middle East 3 It is named in honour of the Austrian botanist and explorer Karl Georg Theodor Kotschy 4 Kotschy s geckoConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily GekkonidaeGenus MediodactylusSpecies M kotschyiBinomial nameMediodactylus kotschyi Steindachner 1870 Synonyms 2 Gymnodactylus kotschyi Steindachner 1870 Cytrodactylus sic kotschyi Nader amp Jawdat 1976 Cyrtodactylus kotschyi Baran amp Gruber 1982 Cyrtopodion kotschyi Rosler 2000 Mediodactylus kotschyi Szczerbak 2003 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Behaviour 4 Reproduction 5 Status 6 References 7 Further readingDescription editKotschy s gecko is a slender lizard growing to a length of about 10 cm 4 in including its tail Females grow slightly larger than males The limbs and tail are slim and there are small tubercles on the back and tail The digits do not have adhesive pads but the toes are relatively long with a kink in the middle The colour is rather variable and may have a background of yellowish grey greyish brown dark brown or reddish black The dorsal surface is marked with W shaped transverse bands of darker colour Like other geckos the markings remain the same but the overall shade can be darker in cool conditions and paler in the heat of the day The underparts may be yellowish or orange 3 nbsp Cyrtopodion kotschyi Distribution and habitat editKotschy s gecko is mostly distributed along the coastal areas of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea It is native to Ukraine Crimean Peninsula Bulgaria Serbia North Macedonia Albania Greece Cyprus Turkey Syria Lebanon Jordan Israel and Southern Italy Apulia Its typical habitat is cliffs dry stony areas scrub tree trunks stone walls and the external and internal walls of buildings It is found at elevations of up to 1 700 m 5 577 ft but is mostly a lowland species 1 Behaviour editKotschy s gecko is mainly nocturnal but at cooler times of year it is often active in the day as well especially early and late It climbs very well despite having no adhesive pads but spends less time on cliffs and climbs less high than the wall lizards Podarcis spp with which it is often found 3 When disturbed it retreats into dense undergrowth hides in crevices among rocks or clings onto the underside of overhangs It is infrequently found in buildings The voice is a repeated high pitched chick and males and females may call to each other during courtship 3 Reproduction editThe female Kotschky s gecko lays two eggs occasionally one under stones or in a crevice and these take eleven to eighteen weeks to hatch into juveniles about 2 cm 0 8 in long These offspring become mature in about two years and Kotschy s gecko has been known to live for nine years in captivity 3 Status editKotschy s gecko is listed by the IUCN as being of Least Concern This is because it has a very wide range and is common over much of this range The population trend is unknown but it faces no particular threats although deforestation might be a threat in Israel and Jordan where it is mostly found on tree trunks It is possible that this might be a species complex and if so individual populations might need to be placed in a more threatened category 1 References edit a b c Wolfgang Bohme Petros Lymberakis Rastko Ajtic Ahmad Mohammed Mousa Disi Yehudah Werner Varol Tok Ismail H Ugurtas Murat Sevinc Souad Hraoui Bloquet Riyad Sadek Pierre Andre Crochet Idriz Haxhiu Claudia Corti Roberto Sindaco Yakup Kaska Yusuf Kumlutas Aziz Avci Nazan Uzum Can Yeniyurt Ferdi Akarsu Jelka Crnobrnja Isailovic 2009 Mediodactylus kotschyi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009 e T157281A5069008 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2009 RLTS T157281A5069008 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Mediodactylus kotschyi The Reptile Database www reptile database org a b c d e Arnold E Nicholas in French Ovenden Denys W 2002 Field Guide Reptiles amp Amphibians of Britain amp Europe Collins amp Co pp 125 126 ISBN 9780002199643 Beolens Bo Watkins Michael Grayson Michael 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press xiii 296 pp ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 Cyrtopodion kotschyi p 145 Further reading editBoulenger GA 1885 Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum Natural History Second Edition Volume I Geckonidae London Trustees of the British Museum Natural History Taylor and Francis printers xii 436 pp Plates I XXXII Gymnodactylus kotschyi p 29 Steindachner F 1870 Herpetologische Notizen II I Reptilien gesammelt wahrend einer Reise in Senegambien October bis December 1868 Sitzungsberichte der Mathematisch Naturwissenschaftlichen Classe der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften 62 326 335 Plates I VIII Gymnodactylus kotschyi new species pp 329 330 Plate I Figures 1 2 in German Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kotschy 27s gecko amp oldid 1194068004, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
