Indian golden gecko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indian golden gecko |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Calodactylodes aureus from Gingee, Tamil Nadu, India |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calodactylodes
|
| Species: |
aureus
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Indian golden gecko, also known as Beddome's golden gecko (Calodactylodes aureus), is a special type of gecko. It lives only in the Eastern Ghats mountain range in India. This gecko was found again near Tirupati after more than 100 years!
Contents
What Does the Indian Golden Gecko Look Like?
This gecko has unique feet! Its toes are thin at the base. They have square-shaped scales underneath. The end parts of its toes are wider and shaped like trapezoids. Each wide part has two large plates with a groove in the middle. All its toes have claws that can be pulled back, like a cat's claws. The innermost toe is a bit different, as it doesn't have the wide end part.
The gecko's body is covered with tiny, bumpy scales. These are mixed with some larger bumps. The scales on its belly are flat and close together, like bricks in a wall. Its eyes have pupils that are vertical, like a cat's.
Its head is large and egg-shaped, clearly separate from its neck. It has a strong, rounded ridge above its eyes and nose. The gecko's snout is longer than the distance between its eye and ear. Its ear opening is vertical and about half the size of its eye. Its body is not very flat. The legs are long and thin. The wide part of its toes is about half the size of its eye.
The top of its head has tiny bumps, which are largest on the ridges near its nose. Its nose opening is between its snout, first lip scale, and three other scales. It usually has 12 or 13 scales on its upper and lower lips. The chin scale is about the same size as the nearby lip scales, or sometimes smaller. It doesn't have regular chin shields, but small, many-sided scales that blend into the tiny bumps on its throat.
The top of its body has tiny bumps. Its back has scattered, smooth, round bumps that are barely bigger than the belly scales. The belly scales are flat, smooth, and square-shaped. The tail is long, round, and very thin. It is covered with square-shaped scales that are much larger underneath.
When it's alive, its color is golden brown on top. It might have brown dots or wavy lines. The underside of its body is whitish. From its snout to its bottom, it is about 3.5 centimeters (1.4 inches) long. Its tail is about 3.2 centimeters (1.3 inches) long.
Where Does the Indian Golden Gecko Live?
This gecko lives only in India. You can find it in the rocky areas of the Eastern Ghats mountain range.
What Kind of Place Does the Indian Golden Gecko Like?
It likes to live among rocks in dark, shady ravines. These are deep, narrow valleys. It is often found in the Tirupati Hills.
How Does the Indian Golden Gecko Reproduce?
Female geckos that are ready to lay eggs will gather together. They lay more than 300 eggs in a shared nest. These nests are usually found near water or in damp places.
