Crested Gecko
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Diplodactylidae
- Scientific Name: Correlophus ciliatus
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Diplodactylidae
- Scientific Name: Correlophus ciliatus
Taxonomic Note: Crested Geckos were believed to be extinct for over a century until their dramatic rediscovery in 1994 following a tropical cyclone.
GEOGRAPHICAL
The Crested Gecko is endemic to New Caledonia, a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean. They have three disjunct populations: one on the Isle of Pines (Île des Pins) and surrounding islets, and two on the main island of Grande Terre near the Blue River and Mount Dzumac. They are arboreal, preferring the canopy of New Caledonia’s rainforests at elevations of 150–1,000 meters. During the day, they rest in thick vegetation near the forest floor; at night, they forage in shrubs and the lower canopy, rarely traveling higher than 3 meters from the ground. Their habitat ranges from 22–27°C (72–81°F) with high humidity around 70%.
CHARACTERISTICS
In captivity with proper care, Crested Geckos can live 15–20 years. Adults typically weigh 30–35 grams and measure 8–10 inches in length. Males can be distinguished by a hemipenal bulge at the base of the tail, visible from 3–4 months of age, while females have a flatter tail base with smaller bulges. Unlike many geckos, Crested Geckos cannot regrow their tails once lost; if they drop their tail as a defense mechanism, they only grow back a small, pointed knob, and most wild adults are tailless. They are omnivores, feeding opportunistically on fruits, nectar, pollen, and insects. They have no eyelids; instead, a transparent scale called a spectacle covers each eye, and they use their tongue to lick away debris and keep their eyes moist. Their vertical, lobed pupils and retinas give them excellent color vision in low-light conditions for nocturnal hunting. They can jump short distances between branches and use their adhesive feet to climb and cling to surfaces while hunting. Their toes are covered in microscopic hairs called setae, allowing them to climb on most solid surfaces, including glass and smooth branches. Crested Geckos may play an important role as pollinators in their ecosystem: as they feed on nectar and fruits, they likely help distribute pollen for various native New Caledonian plants.
DESIGN FEATURES
Crested Geckos display a wide variety of coloration and patterns. While their wild counterparts are typically a mottled brown for camouflage, the pet trade has unlocked an explosion of color, producing a large range of morphs that range from stark black and white to vivid orange, cream, and lavender. This massive variety is categorized into specific skin pattern types that range from standard to rare. To make things even more dynamic, crested geckos can “fire up,” meaning they actively change their color intensity, becoming much darker and more vibrant when they are active or excited at night. They are sometimes called “eyelash geckos” because of the small, fringe-like projections above their eyes that resemble eyelashes.
