Rhacodactlus ciliates
Eyelash gecko
Follow all the links to new insights about Crested Geckos. About 30 minutes +

Reptiles and Amphibians
A gecko is a reptile and a salamander is an amphibian. www.bogglesworldesl.com
Reptiles are born in eggs on land and amphibians are born in eggs in the water.
And because amphibians are born in water they have gills when they are young, whereas reptiles have lungs. In fact, amphibians are a lot like fish when they are first born, but when they grow, they become more like reptiles. The early stage of amphibians is called the larval stage. Tadpoles are the larval stage of frogs.
amphibians have moist skin with no fur or scales. And amphibians use their skin for breathing and drinking water. On the other hand, reptiles usually have dry skin that is covered in scales.

• Eats
• Captivity:
• Living crickets
• Bananas
• Meal worms
• fruits and or veggies
• Mashed fruits and or veggies
• Some powdered food mixtures
• Drinks water.
• Calcium high additives and powders https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbPBoSVg
Gqk

• Eats Arboreal Nocturnal Omnivores
• Naturally
• Fruits and pollen
• Vegetation
• Crickets and other insects

C o
o r .
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut-MJd62WuU
C o l o r :
• All naturally occurring
• Grey
• Brown
• Red
• Orange
• And yellow

More color: Goldie
Crested Gecko shows how its tiny hairs on its feet help it to stick to smooth surfaces
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCSiipjptfA
Crested Gecko quick facts
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFBRBhhSb_U
Diurnal vs nocturnal eyes: slits vs fully opened black

Behavior in natural habitat
Natural behavior:
• Nocturnal
• See information about special eyes
• Leaps like a frog
• Shuffles like a cat before pouncing
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=dScZy8wwzEY
• Stressed/self preservation
= loss of tail
• Color change during different states of emotion

https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wkgN99K4uQ https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI5IFPN64Os
Shedding:
• Sheds commonly
• May eat skin
• Sheds the whole body then releases skin
• Needs certain amount of humidity for a correct and healthy shed: frequency dependant on humidity.

• Average size is 5 to 10 inches
• Average life span is five to ten years (as much as 20 with professional enclosures and care)

Predators:
• Fire ants – non-indigenous
• Snakes
• Rats
• Other geckos
• Will drop tail as distraction to get away from them, their tail still moving.

Habitat :
• Islands of new Caledonia
• Halfway between Fiji and
Australia
• Tree canopy to mid tree height http://
animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Rhacodactylus_ciliatus /
• Tropical islands
• humid
I am big and mean.
Go AWAY!

The Crested Gecko is only new on the scene of recent human biology since its rediscovery after nearly 100 years, less than 20 years ago. This forgotten, and assumed extinct, creature evaded scrutiny and the pet trade for that time giving it the chance to continue fighting for a chance to survive in its natural habitat. Its rediscovery also however was its chance at survival against anthropomorphic threats, or human caused problems.
The Crested Gecko was quickly listed among many reasons to save the islands’ ecosystems.

Laws:
• Illegal to export except with a permit
• Organizations are working to make a passed law to protect some islands and land plots for the crested geckos and many more species.
http://
www.iucnredlist.org/details/176173/0
Rhacodactylus ciliatus is listed as Vulnerable because it has a restricted distribution and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat. At least 50% of the range of this species is likely under threat.
There is habitat fragmentation over part of the range but there are also relatively large continuous tracts of habitat.

•
Human threats:
• Slash and burn agriculture
• Deforestation
• Mining

Deforestation http://
pidp.org/archive/2001/February/02-05-18.htm
mining
http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_mining_in_New_Caledonia

Habitat vs. Economy - A very thin line:
This is a never ending struggle. The mining that supports the New Caledonian economy, similar to coal in Kentucky, is also one of its’ habitats biggest threats. How do you tell a people that they can’t continue earning money like they have for a very long time? New ideas from young people dedicated to stewardship can bring these conflicts to an end, providing new economic structures, and new habitat.
It’s not an easy process, but nothing good was ever easy.
Like Kentucky, New Caledonia needs a new structure for resources, and an economy built on preservation.

Pollinator
Gecko consumption of fruiting plants and vegetation allow it to be a possible natural pollinator, moving from plant to plant.

The islands of new Caledonia