Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Flat tailed house gecko

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Order
  
Squamata

Genus
  
Hemidactylus

Higher classification
  
Cosymbotus

Phylum
  
Chordata

Family
  
Gekkonidae

Scientific name
  
Cosymbotus platyurus

Rank
  
Species

Flat-tailed house gecko Wild Herps Asian Flattailed House Gecko Hemidactylus platyurus

Similar
  
Common house gecko, Gehyra mutilata, House geckos, Gehyra, Microhyla ornata

Hemidactylus platyurus, commonly known as the flat-tailed house gecko, is a species of Gekkonidae native to southeastern and southern Asia. The species is sometimes classified under the genus Cosymbotus.

Contents

Flat-tailed house gecko FileFlattailed House Gecko Cosymbotus platyurus5jpg Wikimedia

Description

Flat-tailed house gecko Flattailed House Gecko Pictures Flattailed House Gecko Images

Snout longer than the distance between the eye and the ear opening, one time and a half the diameter of the orbit; forehead concave; ear-opening small, oval, oblique. Rostral four-sided, not twice as broad as high, with median cleft above; nostril bordered by the rostral, the first labial and three nasals. Nine to eleven upper and seven or eight lower labials; mental large. triangular or pentagonal; two pair of chin-shields, the median pair large, in contact with each other, the posterior pair small, sometimes separated from the labials. Body depressed, covered above with uniform small granules, largest on the snout; a dermal expansion from axilla to groin and another along the posterior side of the hind limb. Ventral scales cycloid, imbricate. Male with an uninterrupted series of 34—36 femoral pores. Tail depressed, flat inferiorly, with sharp denticulated lateral edge, covered above with uniform small granules, below with a median series of transversely dilated plates. Limbs moderate, depressed; digits strongly dilated, about half-webbed, inner well developed; 3 to 6 lamellae under the inner, 7 to 9 under the median digits. Grey above, marbled with darker grey; generally a dark streak from eye to shoulder. Lower parts white. Length of head and body 61 mm.; tail 66 mm.

Distribution

Flat-tailed house gecko FileFlattailed House Gecko Cosymbotus platyurus3jpg Wikimedia

Bangladesh, N India (Darjeeling, Sikkim), Nicobar Islands, Nepal, Bhutan, China (Guangdong, SE Xizang = Tibet), Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia (incl. Pulau Tioman), Burma (= Myanmar), Vietnam, New Guinea (?), Philippine Islands (Palawan, Calamian Islands, Panay, Luzon), Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores)

As a pet

Flat-tailed house gecko wwwecologyasiacomimagesdefflattailedgecko1

These geckos are frequently found in the pet trade, including corporate chain stores, usually identified only as "house gecko". While there are other species of gecko available under the same common name, the Cosymbotus platyurus is easily identified by the flaps of skin along its sides, making them resemble a miniature flying gecko (Ptychozoon genus). They are easily maintained in a terrarium with frequent misting and insect prey, but they are not easy to handle. Also, herpetoculturists often use this species in addition to anoles as a feeder lizard for some species of snakes, especially Asian green vine snakes (Ahaetulla prasina).

Flat-tailed house gecko Flattailed Gecko Hemidactylus platyurus

References

Flat-tailed house gecko Wikipedia