THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

214 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
cryptic, and often go unnoticed in their natural
habitat.
Diet: Insects and arthropods.
Reproduction and Development: In captivity,
breeding occurs when the animals are exposed
to about 12 hours of daylight. The female will
lay two eggs about once a month. She can lay
five or six clutches per season. Eggs will hatch
in 2–3 months.
Mortality/Longevity: Can live up to 7–9
years.
Remarks: Some unusual characteristics of
geckos:
• Can vocalize, unlike most lizards, using
their voice to threaten, or for sexual
attraction.
• Most have specialized toe pads that
contain thousands of microscopic
hooks. These hooks catch microscopic
irregularities of surfaces and enable
geckos to seem to defy gravity as they
walk.
• Geckos have remarkable eyes. Their
irises resemble their skin color, so that
their open eyes do not give them away to
predators. Their lower lid is fused over
the eye to form a transparent spectacle for
protection; they can use their long tongue
to clean them!
• Scientists at UC Berkeley have developed
an adhesive that has qualities of gecko
feet—easy attachment and release while
having great holding strength. It won’t slip
or slide, but will release if lifted. Such an
adhesive may be useful when movement
and attachment are both desired, such as
for climbing, or for robots.
Henkel’s Leaf-tailed Gecko
Uroplatus henkeli (Gekkonidae)
Geckos
Distribution: Limited range in northwestern
Madagascar and on Nosy Be, an island off the
northwest coast of Madagascar.
Habitat: Malagasy rainforest. Arboreal,
inhabits mid-section of trees; not usually found
on the ground.
Appearance: A master of camouflage: its
grey-brown skin blends in with the colors of
tree bark. The fringes of skin along its head
and body mask shadows by breaking up the
outlines of its body. The charcoal/light grey
patterns on some individuals’ bodies look
like lichen. The short flat tail, for which the
genus was named (uro – “flat,” platus – “tail”),
looks like a dead leaf. The bulging eyes on its
flat triangular head have pupils with vertical
slits, an indication of a nocturnal life style.
Diet: Nocturnal predator, eats mainly insects.
Reproduction and Development: Lays
clutches of just two spherical eggs. Eggs are
deposited on the forest floor hidden under
fallen leaves, beneath pieces of wood, or among
dead leaves still attached to a plant. Following
a 3-month incubation period, the eggs hatch to
reveal juveniles that are about 6 cm long.
Mortality/Longevity: Life span in the wild
believed to be 3–5 years. Species has lived up
to 15 years in captivity.
Conservation Status: Listed in Appendix II
of CITES.
Remarks: Use several tricks to help escape
predators. Like most lizard species, geckos
can shed their tails. A new, shorter tail will
grow back.
In addition this gecko can frighten enemies by
opening its mouth wide to reveal the bright
red interior.
Also some geckos, including this one, have
vocal cords, the only lizards that do. Its
defensive behavior is often accompanied by
loud distress calls.
Great Plated Lizard
Gerrhosaurus major (Gerrhosauridae)
Plated Lizards
Distribution: Widely distributed in eastern
and southeastern Africa. Found in the Somali
Arid Zone.
Habitat: Favors rocky terrain in semi-arid
steppe or grassland. May also use burrows of
other animals or termite mounds for shelter.
Appearance: Length: snout to vent, c. 9 inches
(23 cm); tail of equal length. Their heavy armor
of large, bony, keeled scales, especially on the
dorsal surface, gives them their common name.
Moderately long tail is covered by rings of
scales. Scaleless area along the sides functions
as expansion joints for gravid females or
distention after feeding. Color grayish brown;
males are larger and sport bright-colored
throat. Stout cylindrical body. Non-venomous.