Carter's rock gecko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carter's rock gecko |
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Pristurus
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carteri
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Pristurus carteri, often called Carter's rock gecko or Carter's semaphore gecko, is a type of gecko. Geckos are small lizards. This gecko belongs to the Sphaerodactylidae family.
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What's in a Name?
The first part of its scientific name, Pristurus, means "saw-tailed." This comes from Latin.
The second part, carteri, honors Dr. Henry John Carter. He was the person who first found and collected this gecko.
Different Types of Carter's Geckos
There are two main types, or subspecies, of Pristurus carteri. They are slightly different from each other.
- The first type is Pristurus carteri carteri.
- The second type is Pristurus carteri tuberculatus.
The P. c. carteri type is seen more often.
Other Names for This Gecko
This gecko has a few common names. People often call it Carter's rock gecko. It is also known as the ornate rock gecko. Another name is the scorpion-tailed gecko.
Where Does This Gecko Live?
P. carteri lives in several countries. These include Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
You can often find these geckos on rocks. They also live in cities and towns. They like to warm up in the sun.
How This Gecko Behaves
These geckos are known for their unique tail movements. They often sway their curly tails back and forth. This is how they "talk" to each other. It's a way for them to communicate.
Male geckos grow small, fleshy spikes on their tails. This happens when they become adults.
When they feel scared, they curl their tails. They make their tails look like a scorpion's tail. They even move like a scorpion to scare away danger. This is why they are sometimes called scorpion-tailed geckos.
Most geckos are active at night. But Pristurus geckos are different. They are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. This is quite unusual for a gecko!
What Does This Gecko Look Like?
P. carteri is a small gecko. Its body, from snout to vent (the opening where waste leaves the body), is about 5 to 6 centimeters (2 to 2.4 inches) long.
Including its tail, the gecko can be 8 to 9 centimeters (3.1 to 3.5 inches) long.
How This Gecko Has Babies
P. carteri geckos can start having babies when they are about 10 months old.
Female geckos lay 1 or 2 eggs. These eggs have hard shells. They are kept warm at about 28 degrees Celsius (82.4 degrees Fahrenheit). After 70 to 90 days, the baby geckos hatch.
When a baby gecko hatches, it is very small. It is usually about 3.5 to 4 centimeters (1.4 to 1.6 inches) long.
