Afghan leopard gecko
Encyclopedia
The Afghan leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius afghanicus) is one of the five subspecies
of the common leopard gecko
, a small to midsized lizard
belonging to the family Gekkonidae. This subspecies was first discovered by entomologist
Carl Julius Bernhard Börner
in 1976. It is much smaller than other leopard gecko subspecies.
along the Kabul River
and its tributaries, its range extending into northern Pakistan
. It can be found in the Hindu Kush Mountains. Its habitat includes rocky desert and sparse grassland
, but it avoids sand
. It lives in large colonies
and is most active in April and May.
The male is about 15 centimeters long from snout to tail-tip. Females average about 14 centimeters.
. A ten-gallon aquarium
is appropriate for one pair of geckos, with more space required for more animals. The male is territorial, making it difficult to keep more than one in a tank.
The gecko needs a similar habitat to many other reptiles. The tank should be monitored for temperature. The warmer area in the tank should be about 90°F and the cool end should be in the mid- to upper 70s. Heat lamps
are used in daylight hours and turned off at night.
The substrate in the tank should not be sand, since the gecko avoids it in the wild.
Because moisture helps the gecko to shed, the gecko-keeper may provide a moist hiding place. The gecko also rubs against rough surfaces to remove old skin. The gecko-keeper may assist in removal of skin from between the toes, dipping the feet into warm water to loosen it.
The Afghan leopard gecko in captivity will eat two to four crickets
or other small insects per day. Very occasionally, a gecko-keeper will offer a small pinky mouse. The water bowl should contain one to one and a half inches of water for adult geckos. Juveniles can drown in under 2 centimeters of water, so less is required for small geckos.
The gecko can be added to a breeding colony of up to seven, as long as there is only one male. The female lays two eggs.
Little or no selective breeding
is done in captivity.
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the common leopard gecko
Leopard gecko
The leopard gecko is a nocturnal ground-dwelling lizard naturally found in the deserts of southern Central Asia, and throughout Pakistan, to the northwestern parts of India. Unlike most geckos, leopard geckos possess movable eyelids...
, a small to midsized lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
belonging to the family Gekkonidae. This subspecies was first discovered by entomologist
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
Carl Julius Bernhard Börner
Carl Julius Bernhard Börner
Carl Julius Bernhard Börner was a German entomologist.Börner was born in Bremen and died in Naumburg. His collections of Collembola are located in the Natural History Museum, London and the Deutsches Entomologisches Institut in Müncheberg.-References:...
in 1976. It is much smaller than other leopard gecko subspecies.
Distribution and habitat
The Afghan leopard gecko is native to southeastern AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
along the Kabul River
Kabul River
Kabul River , the classical Cophes , is a 700 km long river that starts in the Sanglakh Range of the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan and ends in the Indus River near Attock, Pakistan. It is the main river in eastern Afghanistan and is separated from the watershed of the Helmand by the Unai Pass...
and its tributaries, its range extending into northern Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. It can be found in the Hindu Kush Mountains. Its habitat includes rocky desert and sparse grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
, but it avoids sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
. It lives in large colonies
Colony (biology)
In biology, a colony reference to several individual organisms of the same species living closely together, usually for mutual benefit, such as stronger defense or the ability to attack bigger prey. Some insects live only in colonies...
and is most active in April and May.
Appearance
The adult is pale to bright yellow dorsally, with scattered black or blue spots. There is a continuous light vertebral stripe. There are dark or light reticulations (netlike patterns) on the head. The limbs are blotched and the tail has irregular dark markings. The juvenile typically has three yellow bars along the back.The male is about 15 centimeters long from snout to tail-tip. Females average about 14 centimeters.
Care
The Afghan leopard gecko is sometimes kept in captivity or as a petPet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
. A ten-gallon aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
is appropriate for one pair of geckos, with more space required for more animals. The male is territorial, making it difficult to keep more than one in a tank.
The gecko needs a similar habitat to many other reptiles. The tank should be monitored for temperature. The warmer area in the tank should be about 90°F and the cool end should be in the mid- to upper 70s. Heat lamps
Infrared heater
An infrared heater is a body with a higher temperature which transfers energy to a body with a lower temperature through electromagnetic radiation. Depending on the temperature of the emitting body, the wavelength of the infrared radiation ranges from 780 nm to 1 mm. The relationship...
are used in daylight hours and turned off at night.
The substrate in the tank should not be sand, since the gecko avoids it in the wild.
Because moisture helps the gecko to shed, the gecko-keeper may provide a moist hiding place. The gecko also rubs against rough surfaces to remove old skin. The gecko-keeper may assist in removal of skin from between the toes, dipping the feet into warm water to loosen it.
The Afghan leopard gecko in captivity will eat two to four crickets
Cricket (insect)
Crickets, family Gryllidae , are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers, and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets . They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of crickets...
or other small insects per day. Very occasionally, a gecko-keeper will offer a small pinky mouse. The water bowl should contain one to one and a half inches of water for adult geckos. Juveniles can drown in under 2 centimeters of water, so less is required for small geckos.
The gecko can be added to a breeding colony of up to seven, as long as there is only one male. The female lays two eggs.
Little or no selective breeding
Selective breeding
Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits. Typically, strains that are selectively bred are domesticated, and the breeding is sometimes done by a professional breeder. Bred animals are known as breeds, while bred plants are known as varieties,...
is done in captivity.