Qattara gecko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Qattara gecko |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Phyllodactylidae |
| Genus: | Tarentola |
| Species: |
T. mindiae
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| Binomial name | |
| Tarentola mindiae S. Baha El Din, 1997
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The Qattara gecko (scientific name: Tarentola mindiae) is a type of lizard. It belongs to a group of lizards called the Phyllodactylidae family. This gecko is special because it lives in very specific places.
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What Does the Qattara Gecko Look Like?
The Qattara gecko is a fairly big and strong gecko. It can grow up to about 81 millimeters (3.2 inches) long, not counting its tail. This measurement is called its "snout-to-vent length" (SVL).
Its back has bumpy, wart-like spots in bands. The gecko's top side is light brown. It has 5 to 6 dark stripes across its back. A dark line runs from its nose, right through its eye. Its head and legs have uneven dark marks. The gecko's belly is light grayish-white with small dark spots. Its eye color is a yellowish-brown, like ochre.
Why Is It Called the Qattara Gecko?
The second part of its scientific name, mindiae, honors Mindy Baha El Din. She was an environmentalist and herpetologist from Egypt. A herpetologist is a scientist who studies reptiles and amphibians.
Mindy was married to Sherif Baha El Din, who was also a herpetologist. Sherif was the one who first described this lizard as a new species to science.
Where Does the Qattara Gecko Live?
The Qattara gecko is found in two countries: Egypt and Libya.
It has been seen in specific areas. These include the Qattara Depression and the Siwa Oasis in Egypt. It also lives in the Jialo Oasis in eastern Libya.
What Kind of Home Does It Like?
The Qattara gecko lives in dry places. Its natural habitats include dry savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees. It also lives in subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, which are areas with many bushes. Sometimes, it can be found near freshwater springs.
Qattara Gecko Behavior and Life Cycle
The Qattara gecko likes to live in trees and bushes. It is also very territorial, meaning it defends its living space. These geckos live in small groups where there are plants. You can find many of them in a small area.
This gecko is nocturnal, which means it is active at night. People have seen it slowly walking across the sand between plants in the dark. Its tracks show that it can travel quite far between trees and bushes. During the day, it hides. It might hide under the bark of dead acacia trees. Or it might hide among the roots of tamarisk bushes.
Female geckos bury their eggs in the soil. In one season, a female can lay four groups of eggs. Each group, called a clutch, has two eggs. The young geckos grow up and can have their own babies within a year. When kept by humans, these geckos can live for a long time, at least seven years!
Why Is the Qattara Gecko Important?
The Qattara gecko is facing threats. Its main problem is habitat loss. This means the places where it lives are disappearing.
In Egypt, scientists think that the gecko will lose many of its suitable homes in the future. This is because of climate change caused by humans. It is important to protect their homes so these unique geckos can continue to thrive.
 | Emma Amos |
 | Edward Mitchell Bannister |
 | Larry D. Alexander |
 | Ernie Barnes |
