Central American banded gecko

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Central American banded gecko
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Eublepharidae
Genus: Coleonyx
Species:
C. mitratus
Binomial name
Coleonyx mitratus
Peters, 1863

The Central American banded gecko (Coleonyx mitratus) is a species of moderately-sized gecko in the genus Coleonyx, native to Central America and first identified by Wilhelm Peters in 1863.[2] It is a member of the eyelid geckos.

Description[edit]

Length (including tail) reaches 190mm, with the tail encompassing 50-54% of the total. As indicated by their name, these geckos have brown, black and yellow horizontal bands on their dorsal surfaces.

Biology[edit]

The Central American banded gecko is crepuscular and hides in a burrow in the soil during the day. It emerges at dusk to forage for insects. If threatened, like most geckos, it can lose its tail. Most will regenerate lost tails within a year.[3]

Distribution[edit]

These geckos are found from Guatemala south to Costa Rica.[4]

In captivity[edit]

Central American banded geckos are popular as pets. A single Central American banded gecko can be housed in a 20-gallon terrarium.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Chaves, G.; Porras, L.W.; Solórzano, A. (2013). "Coleonyx mitratus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T203047A2759368. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T203047A2759368.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ Savage, Jay M. (August 1, 2002). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A Herpetofauna between Two Continents, between Two Seas. University of Chicago. pp. 481–482. ISBN 978-0226735375.
  3. ^ "Central American Banded Gecko".
  4. ^ "Home Page".