Geographic range:
Neotropical: This is an inhabitant of the Sonoran and Mojave
Deserts, as well as coastal regions of California and Baja California.
It ranges from s. California east to sw. Utah and sw. New Mexico,
and south throughout Baja California and w. Sonora.
Physical characteristics: A small
gecko with translucent skin, vertical pupils, eyelids, clawed toes
and a thick tail. The dorsal coloration ranges from near whitish to
pink or pale yellow. A variety of complete or broken-up dark bands
are present, which vary among subspecies. Males have a prominent spur
on each side at the base of the tail. Young have unbroken bands on
the dorsum. (5.5 - 8 cm).
Note on texonomy: Currently six subspecies
recognized, four of which occur in México. The Desert Banded
Gecko/ Cuija Machada del Desierto, Coleonyx
variegatus variegatus, inhabits ne. Baja California and nw.
Sonora. The San Diego Banded Gecko/ Cuija Manchada de San Diego, Coleonyx
variegatus abbotti, inhabits Baja California on the west coast
from the border to Guerrero Negro, and on the Gulf of California coast
from south of Puertocitos almost to Santa Rosalia. The Sonoran Banded
Gecko/ Cuija de Franjas, Coleonyx variegatus
sonoriensis, inhabits Sonora from just south of Nogales and
Punta Cirio to the vicinity of Ciudad Obregon. Finally the San Lucas
Banded Gecko/ Cuija Manchada de San Lucas, Coleonyx
variegatus peninsularis, inhabits Baja California Sur. Integrades
exist where the subspecies meet, and specimen from nc. Sonora are
intergrades with another subspecies, the Tucson Banded Gecko, Coleonyx
variegatus bogerti, which inhabits se. Arizona. The Black Banded
Gecko, Coleonyx fasciatus, is closely
related and was formerly considered a subspecies of this gecko.
Food habits: eats a variety of small
invertebrates, such as insects, spiders, scorpions and centipedes.
Captives are known to do well on crickets and meal worms, with vitamin
supplements.
Behavior: This gecko is strictly
nocturnal, and spends much of the day in burrows, under rocks or beneath
debris. It may readily be found while hiking or driving roads at night.
During the day it is occasionally encountered under surface objects.
It is very adapted to arid areas, and may occur even in the most desolate
dunes. It usually vocalizes when handled.
Reproduction: . It lays one to three
clutches per year, usually of 1 or two eggs, which are deposited from
May through September (Stebbins, 2003). It feeds on a variety of invertebrates.
Habitat: This species inhabits a variety of arid desert and
semi-desert habitats. In México it occurs in lowland and upland
Sonoran Desert, Sonoran desert grassland, Central Gulf of California
desert, Viscaino Desert, thornscrub and chaparral. It inhabits a variety
of areas, including flats, washes, hillsides, mountains, river valleys,
canyons and areas which are rocky, gravelly or sandy.
Biomes: semi- desert, desert
Conservation: This is a very common
lizard throughout it's range. It is likely the most common lizard
in many areas, although it is rarely encountered by those not searching
for it at night.
text by Chris
Grünwald |
|
