East Indian leopard gecko
The East Indian leopard gecko (Eublepharis hardwickii), also known as Hardwicke's gecko, is a species of gecko found in India and Bangladesh. It is characterized by its stout body, short limbs, and distinctive reddish-brown and cream-colored markings with black edges, often featuring irregular polygonal scales interspersed with tubercles. This species is known for its timid nature and its unique method of drinking water by licking droplets from surfaces.
Key Facts
- ›Endemic to India and Bangladesh.
- ›Possesses a stout body with short limbs and distinctive tuberculate scales.
- ›Coloration is reddish-brown and cream with black-edged bands and rings.
- ›Known to be timid and accepts insects as food.
- ›Lays one or two leathery eggs buried in soil.
- ›Can produce a shrill vibrating noise when surprised.
Hardwicke's Gecko
India, Bangladesh
- Body Stout; Limbs Rather Short; Digits Short.
- Snout As Long As Distance Between Orbit and Ear-Opening; the Latter Large, Suboval, Vertical.
- Head Covered With Irregular Polygonal Scales, Intermixed With Enlarged Tubercles On the Temple and Occiput.
- Rostral Sub-Pentagonal, Twice As Broad As High, With Median Cleft Above.
- Body Covered Above With Small, Irregular, Flat Scales, Intermixed With Numerous Roundish, Subconical Tubercles.
- Tail Swollen, Rounded, Tapering At the End, Verticillated, Above With Small Flat Scales and Rows of Enlarged Sub-Corneal Tubercles, Beneath With Larger Flat Scales Arranged Regularly.
- Coloration: Above Reddish Brown and Cream-Coloured; the Former Colour Occupies the Head and Forms Two Broad Bands Across the Back, the Anterior Broadest, and Three Round the Tail; the Latter Borders the Upper Lip and Extends As A Horseshoe-Shaped Band To the Other Side, Passing Across the Neck; It Also Occupies the Interspace Between the Dorsal and Caudal Brown Bands, Which Are By Far the Widest; Lower Surfaces White.
- Pale Reddish White With Upper Part of Head From Nose To Nape, Two Very Broad Bands Across the Trunk, and Three Or Four Rings Round the Tail Deep Brown Or Black, the Brown Portions Being Edged With Black, and Broader Than the Ground-Colour.
- Limbs Reddish Olive, With Black Dots On the Elbows and Knees.
- Ten Upper and Lower Labials; Two Chin-Shields Larger Than the First Lower Labial.
- Scales of the Middle of the Belly Form Thirty Longitudinal Series; Seventeen Pores In An Angular Series In the Pre-Anal Region.
Insects
- Timid In Captivity.
- Accepts Insects As Diet, Detecting Prey By Movement.
- Does Not Drink Water From A Container, Preferring To Lick Droplets From Surfaces.
- Makes A Shrill Vibrating Noise When Surprised.
- Cannibalism Has Been Recorded In Captivity, With Capture From the Neck.
Palm Civet
About East Indian leopard gecko
The East Indian leopard gecko, scientifically known as Eublepharis hardwickii and also commonly referred to as Hardwicke's gecko, is a species of lizard belonging to the family Eublepharidae. This gecko is endemic to the regions of India and Bangladesh, with historical records indicating its presence in areas such as Chittagong and the Madras Presidency.
Physical Characteristics
This species is characterized by a stout body and relatively short limbs. Its head is adorned with irregular polygonal scales, interspersed with notable enlarged tubercles, particularly on the temple and occiput. The body scales are small and flat, interspersed with numerous roundish, subconical tubercles. A striking feature is its coloration, typically a reddish-brown and cream pattern. This includes broad bands across the back and rings around the tail in reddish-brown, often edged with black, against a cream or pale reddish-white background. The limbs are usually reddish-olive with black dots on the elbows and knees.
Habitat and Behavior
The East Indian leopard gecko can be found in various environments within its range. Observations have noted them on forest roads, in open areas, and beneath rocks and stones during the day. In captivity, they exhibit a timid nature, allowing themselves to be handled. Their diet primarily consists of insects, which they detect through movement. A unique behavioral trait is their method of hydration; they avoid drinking from containers, instead preferring to lick water droplets from surfaces, often waiting for artificial showers. When startled or surprised, the gecko is known to emit a shrill, vibrating noise. Cannibalism has also been documented in captive individuals.
Reproduction
Reproduction in Eublepharis hardwickii is oviparous, meaning they lay eggs. Females typically lay one or two leathery eggs, measuring approximately 20 x 10 mm, which are then buried in the soil. The local population in Odisha has a belief that these geckos are highly poisonous, a notion that likely stems from their ability to climb trees and the perceived intensification of a bite's effect with increased climbing height, though scientific evidence does not support this venomous claim.
Etymology
The specific name, hardwickii, honors the English naturalist Thomas Hardwicke, recognizing his contributions to the study of the natural world.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the scientific name of the East Indian leopard gecko?
The scientific name of the East Indian leopard gecko is Eublepharis hardwickii. This binomial nomenclature system is used to classify and distinguish it from other species.
Where is the East Indian leopard gecko found?
The East Indian leopard gecko is endemic to India and Bangladesh. It has been recorded in various locations within these countries, including Odisha and Chittagong.
What does the East Indian leopard gecko look like?
It has a stout body, rather short limbs, and a snout as long as the distance between its eye and ear opening. Its head is covered with irregular polygonal scales and tubercles, while its body has small, flat scales mixed with roundish, subconical tubercles. The coloration is typically reddish-brown and cream with black-edged bands and rings.
What is the diet of the East Indian leopard gecko?
In captivity, the East Indian leopard gecko accepts a variety of insects as food, detecting prey by their movements. They are insectivores.
How does the East Indian leopard gecko reproduce?
The East Indian leopard gecko reproduces by laying one or two leathery eggs, which are approximately 20 x 10 mm in size. These eggs are buried in soil.
What are some behavioral traits of the East Indian leopard gecko?
This species is described as timid in captivity, allowing itself to be handled. They have a unique method of drinking, waiting for artificial showers to lick water droplets, rather than drinking from a container. When surprised, they can emit a shrill vibrating noise.
Is the East Indian leopard gecko venomous?
Despite local beliefs in Odisha that the East Indian leopard gecko is highly poisonous, there is no scientific evidence presented in the text to suggest it is venomous. The local name 'Kalakuta Sapa' translates to 'snake that brings the message of death', reflecting this myth.
Related Lizards
Eublepharis hardwickii
The East Indian leopard gecko, scientifically known as Eublepharis hardwickii, is a distinctive lizard species endemic to India and Bangladesh. Characterized by its stout body, short limbs, and a head covered in irregular scales and tubercles, it exhibits a reddish-brown and cream coloration with prominent bands. This gecko is known for its unique water-drinking behavior and the production of a shrill vibrating noise when surprised.
Ablepharus
Ablepharus, commonly known as snake-eyed skinks, are small lizards distinguished by fused eyelids that prevent blinking, similar to snakes. They inhabit dry fields, hills, and rocky areas, often concealed within leaf litter. These skinks possess shiny, bronze scales and a characteristic dark stripe along their sides, feeding primarily on small insects and mollusks.
Ctenotus robustus
The Ctenotus robustus, commonly known as the eastern striped skink, is a large, fast-moving skink native to Australia. It is characterized by a distinctive white-edged black stripe running down its back and tail, set against a brown background with broader brown stripes and rows of white spots on its sides. This diurnal reptile prefers open habitats with available shelter and is widely distributed across various Australian states.