Agamura persica
Encyclopedia
Agamura persica commonly known Persian Spider Gecko, hails from semi-desert regions of Iran
, Pakistan
, and Afghanistan
where temperatures range from extreme summer day highs to extreme winter night lows (Szczerbak & Golubev, 1986; Anderson, 1999; Meyer, 2004). Their long, slender legs and tail give a spider-like impression and make them ideal for climbing the rocky environment
they inhabit. Their toes are slender, clawed, and angularly bent. They share this feature with a number of other species and are classified as Angular-toed geckos.
Two species, Agamura femoralis Smith, 1933, Agamura misonnei (De Witte, 1973), are commonly placed in the genus but Anderson (1999) and Khan (2003) referred them to the genus Rhinogecko.
Colour: Agamura persica has a light grey upper body with yellow pigment and 5 dark crossbars almost as broad as the interspaces, 9 to 10 on tail and flecked grey belly (Anderson, 1999; Khan, 2006)
Agamura p. persica is found in the eastern regions of their range (Eastern Iran, Afghanistan) and is differentiated by "three dark crossbars, first on nape, second behind shoulders, third in front of sacrum". (Anderson, 1999)
Agamura p. cruralis is found in the western regions (most of Iran) and is differentiated by five darker brown dorsal crossbars, "first on nape, fifth on sacrum, nine to ten on tail (Anderson, 1999).
Some colour and morphological differences exist between localities but all are distinctly agamuroid.
, Afghanistan
) and is differentiated by three dark crossbars, first on nape
, second behind shoulders, third in front of sacrum
(Anderson, 1999).
A. p. cruralis is found in the western regions (most of Iran) and is differentiated by five darker brown dorsal crossbars, first on nape, fifth on sacrum, nine to ten on tail (Anderson, 1999).
It is very docile and easily captured. While primarily nocturnal, Anderson (1999) suggests Agamura's "well-developed (but immovable) upper 'eyelid'" is an adaptation to diurnal life. The lid serves as a sort of "sunshade" (Anderson, 1999; Szczerbak & Golubev, 1986).
Persian Spider Gecko reaches breeding size at 18 to 24 months. Breeding period is from March to May, eggs are laid in June and juveniles appear in September (Anderson, 1999; Szczerbak & Golubev, 1986).
Males also have 2 to 4 pre-anal pores however captive bred males often have 0 to 4 pre-anal pores.
Females lack a bulge and pre-anal pores entirely.
Juveniles also lack this bulge, however by about the 8th to 12th week (roughly 7-8 cm SVL) male juveniles will begin to show slight bulging although it may happen as late as the 4th to 6th month.
Furnish the enclosure with slabs of flat rock or drift wood, creating caves and shelves. There is a considerable increase in behaviour if the geckos are supplied with liberal amounts of rock and cover for hiding.
Bedding: Fine grade quartz sand makes good bedding for adult animals as do large rocks or newsprint/paper towel. Breeding animals should be given a sand bedding or be given a container of sand in which to lay eggs. Young geckos should be housed on paper towel to avoid them consuming sand or other material accidentally.
Temperature: Use a 50 to 60 watt halogen lamp over the hot side of the enclosure. The surface temperature on the hot side of the enclosure can reach 100°F (38°C) and even as high as 120°F (49°C). Depending on the room temperature, the lamp can be turned off at night allowing the enclosure to reach room temperature. The cool side of the enclosure should stay at low to mid 70 (21-24°C) at night and high 70 to low 80 (26-28°C) at day.
Feeding/Watering: Agamura persica can be kept on a diet of meal worms, crickets, silk worms, and the occasional wax worm. Dust all prey items with calcium every feeding and vitamins once every week. You can cut calcium supplementation to once a week for males and non-breeding females if over-consumption of calcium is a concern. Calcium is very important for your geckos, especially breeding female geckos. Place a dish with high quality calcium in the enclosure to ensure the geckos have enough calcium for bones and eggs without them resorting to eating sand in search of calcium.
Mist Agamura persica enclosure at least once a week to supply water. Always keep a water dish in the enclosure, as well. It acts as a safety measure in case the geckos need additional water and it provides a little humidity to the enclosure as the water evaporates.
Captive Breeding: Captive Agamura persica will generally follow the same breeding season as wild brethren. The season begins from late March to early June and ends mid- to late-November. Males will court females by approaching from her side, rising high on his legs and waving his tail in a slow, serpentine motion. He will then lunge at the female and bite her at the nape of the neck. While holding her firmly, he will insert one of his hemipenes into her cloaca. The copulation lasts several minutes at which point the male will release and clean his hemipenes. Eggs are laid approximately 30 days from copulation and approximately 20 days between clutches thereafter. Six clutches consisting of 2 eggs each will be laid throughout the season. The eggs are thin-shelled and may be incubated dry at a relative humidity of 50% or less. Incubation at 82°F to 86°F will result in incubation times of 60-90 days. Higher temperatures may kill developing embryos and lower temperatures may result in weaker neonates. Females will lay and bury the eggs in warm locations, preferring the security of rocks and other structures. The ability to remove the eggs to an artificial incubator is increased if no rocks, etc. are placed directly in the hot areas of the enclosure. This will force the female to lay eggs in the open sand, usually as near to a structure as possible without burying in cool sand.
Eggs may also be left in the enclosure to incubate in situ. Agamura does not generally cannibalize though it is usually safest to remove hatchlings (or eggs).
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, 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...
, and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
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...
where temperatures range from extreme summer day highs to extreme winter night lows (Szczerbak & Golubev, 1986; Anderson, 1999; Meyer, 2004). Their long, slender legs and tail give a spider-like impression and make them ideal for climbing the rocky environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
they inhabit. Their toes are slender, clawed, and angularly bent. They share this feature with a number of other species and are classified as Angular-toed geckos.
Two species, Agamura femoralis Smith, 1933, Agamura misonnei (De Witte, 1973), are commonly placed in the genus but Anderson (1999) and Khan (2003) referred them to the genus Rhinogecko.
Diagnostic features
Size: Females range from 42 to 77 mm (SVL) with a tail of 34 to 59 mm while males range from 35 to 65 mm with a tail of 27 to 59 mm (Anderson, 1999).Colour: Agamura persica has a light grey upper body with yellow pigment and 5 dark crossbars almost as broad as the interspaces, 9 to 10 on tail and flecked grey belly (Anderson, 1999; Khan, 2006)
Agamura p. persica is found in the eastern regions of their range (Eastern Iran, Afghanistan) and is differentiated by "three dark crossbars, first on nape, second behind shoulders, third in front of sacrum". (Anderson, 1999)
Agamura p. cruralis is found in the western regions (most of Iran) and is differentiated by five darker brown dorsal crossbars, "first on nape, fifth on sacrum, nine to ten on tail (Anderson, 1999).
Some colour and morphological differences exist between localities but all are distinctly agamuroid.
Subspecies
A. p. persica is found in the eastern regions of their range (Eastern IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
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...
) and is differentiated by three dark crossbars, first on nape
Nape
The nape is the back of the neck. In technical anatomical/medical terminology, the nape is referred to by the word nucha, which also gives the adjective corresponding to "nape" in English, "nuchal"....
, second behind shoulders, third in front of sacrum
Sacrum
In vertebrate anatomy the sacrum is a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine and at the upper and back part of the pelvic cavity, where it is inserted like a wedge between the two hip bones. Its upper part connects with the last lumbar vertebra, and bottom part with the coccyx...
(Anderson, 1999).
A. p. cruralis is found in the western regions (most of Iran) and is differentiated by five darker brown dorsal crossbars, first on nape, fifth on sacrum, nine to ten on tail (Anderson, 1999).
Natural history
Persian Spider Gecko inhabits rocky and stony terrain close to sandy semi-desert, on hill slopes, and barren plains. They are primarily nocturnal but can be found during the day basking at temperatures of about 17.5C (air) and 15.5C (surface), and active at temperatures as high as 44C (surface) (Anderson, 1999).It is very docile and easily captured. While primarily nocturnal, Anderson (1999) suggests Agamura's "well-developed (but immovable) upper 'eyelid'" is an adaptation to diurnal life. The lid serves as a sort of "sunshade" (Anderson, 1999; Szczerbak & Golubev, 1986).
Persian Spider Gecko reaches breeding size at 18 to 24 months. Breeding period is from March to May, eggs are laid in June and juveniles appear in September (Anderson, 1999; Szczerbak & Golubev, 1986).
Sexing
Male Agamura persica have an obvious hemipenal bulge visual from a side profile. The thin morphology of the gecko makes the bulge even more noticeable.Males also have 2 to 4 pre-anal pores however captive bred males often have 0 to 4 pre-anal pores.
Females lack a bulge and pre-anal pores entirely.
Juveniles also lack this bulge, however by about the 8th to 12th week (roughly 7-8 cm SVL) male juveniles will begin to show slight bulging although it may happen as late as the 4th to 6th month.
General captive care
Enclosure: House solitary animals in an enclosure at least 20” (50 cm) long or pairs in an enclosure 24” (60 cm) long. The species uses most of its 3D space but a longer enclosure is preferable to a taller one. Use a mesh or wire lid to keep geckos in and other animals and objects out. Although the species cannot climb glass it can jump relatively high.Furnish the enclosure with slabs of flat rock or drift wood, creating caves and shelves. There is a considerable increase in behaviour if the geckos are supplied with liberal amounts of rock and cover for hiding.
Bedding: Fine grade quartz sand makes good bedding for adult animals as do large rocks or newsprint/paper towel. Breeding animals should be given a sand bedding or be given a container of sand in which to lay eggs. Young geckos should be housed on paper towel to avoid them consuming sand or other material accidentally.
Temperature: Use a 50 to 60 watt halogen lamp over the hot side of the enclosure. The surface temperature on the hot side of the enclosure can reach 100°F (38°C) and even as high as 120°F (49°C). Depending on the room temperature, the lamp can be turned off at night allowing the enclosure to reach room temperature. The cool side of the enclosure should stay at low to mid 70 (21-24°C) at night and high 70 to low 80 (26-28°C) at day.
Feeding/Watering: Agamura persica can be kept on a diet of meal worms, crickets, silk worms, and the occasional wax worm. Dust all prey items with calcium every feeding and vitamins once every week. You can cut calcium supplementation to once a week for males and non-breeding females if over-consumption of calcium is a concern. Calcium is very important for your geckos, especially breeding female geckos. Place a dish with high quality calcium in the enclosure to ensure the geckos have enough calcium for bones and eggs without them resorting to eating sand in search of calcium.
Mist Agamura persica enclosure at least once a week to supply water. Always keep a water dish in the enclosure, as well. It acts as a safety measure in case the geckos need additional water and it provides a little humidity to the enclosure as the water evaporates.
Captive Breeding: Captive Agamura persica will generally follow the same breeding season as wild brethren. The season begins from late March to early June and ends mid- to late-November. Males will court females by approaching from her side, rising high on his legs and waving his tail in a slow, serpentine motion. He will then lunge at the female and bite her at the nape of the neck. While holding her firmly, he will insert one of his hemipenes into her cloaca. The copulation lasts several minutes at which point the male will release and clean his hemipenes. Eggs are laid approximately 30 days from copulation and approximately 20 days between clutches thereafter. Six clutches consisting of 2 eggs each will be laid throughout the season. The eggs are thin-shelled and may be incubated dry at a relative humidity of 50% or less. Incubation at 82°F to 86°F will result in incubation times of 60-90 days. Higher temperatures may kill developing embryos and lower temperatures may result in weaker neonates. Females will lay and bury the eggs in warm locations, preferring the security of rocks and other structures. The ability to remove the eggs to an artificial incubator is increased if no rocks, etc. are placed directly in the hot areas of the enclosure. This will force the female to lay eggs in the open sand, usually as near to a structure as possible without burying in cool sand.
Eggs may also be left in the enclosure to incubate in situ. Agamura does not generally cannibalize though it is usually safest to remove hatchlings (or eggs).