Vietnamese leopard gecko

Vietnamese leopard gecko
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Gekkonidae
Subfamily: Eublepharinae
Genus: Goniurosaurus
Species: G. araneus
Binomial name
Goniurosaurus araneus
Grismer, Viets & Boyle 1999[1]

The Vietnamese leopard gecko, Goniurosaurus araneus, is a species of lizard in the Gekkonidae family. It is endemic to the Cao Bằng Province of Vietnam. The scientific species name, is from the Latin, aranea, which means "spider", due to the spindly, spider-like form of this species.[2]

Description

The Vietnamese leopard gecko is yellow in colour and has four wide brown bands across the back. Its eyes are dark reddish-brown. Goniurosaurus araneus is distinguished from other species of the same genus by its elongated dorsal scales.[3] This gecko has a maximum length (including tail) of 190 mm.[2] [4]

Habitat

The habitat of the Vietnamese leopard gecko is primarily rocky. It is found in fairly dry and shady areas and in mountainous terrain or near caves.[5]

References

  1. Zipcode zoo.com (Viewed on February 12, 2010)
  2. 1 2 Goniurosaurus araneus GRISMER, VIETS & BOYLE, 1999 (Viewed on February 15, 2010)
  3. Eublepharine Geckos
  4. Geckolist.com (Viewed on February 12, 2010.)
  5. "Natural History, care and breeding of the two new Goniurosaurus species: Goniurosaurus lui and Goniurosaurus araneus", Lee Andern and Peter Blake, Reptilian 6:7.

Further reading

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