Crested Gecko

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: NATIVE HABITAT: • The most distinctive feature of these geckos • Crested geckos come from the island of New are the hair-like projections above the eyes Caledonia. which resemble eyelashes. • They are found on the principal island, Grand • Crested geckos also have two rows of spines Terre, in the southern portion, and the Isle of that run from the sides of their head to the Pines. base of their tail. • These arboreal geckos spend the majority of • Their toes and the tip of their semi-prehensile their lives in low shrubs and small trees. tail are covered in small hairs called setae. • Each seta is divided into hundreds of smaller DIET: hairs called spatula which help the geckos • Unlike most species of gecko, this species is an climb up most solid surfaces. omnivore (also considered frugivorous) feeding • Crested gecko have many naturally occurring on fruit, nectar, pollen, and a variety of insects. color groups, including grey, brown, red, orange, and yellow of various shades. They REPRODUCTION: have three color morphs in the wild, which include pattern-less, white-fringed, and tiger. • Little is known about the wild reproductive behavior of crested geckos, but in captivity the female will lay two eggs, which hatch 60–150 SIZE AND LIFESPAN: days after they are laid. • Crested geckos are among the largest gecko • Newly hatched crested geckos will generally species and typically range from 6inch-10inch not eat until after they have shed and eaten in length, including 4inch-6inch of tail length. their skin for the first time, relying on the • With proper care this species can live anywhere remains of their yolk sack for nutrition. between 5-10 years in captivity!

FUN FACTS: • They lick their eyeballs to keep Them moist and clean. • They were thought to be extinct until recently. • They can drop their tails when threatened or stressed but unlike other gecko species it won’t grow back.