Coleonyx reticulatus
Encyclopedia
Coleonyx reticulatus is a species
of small gecko
native to the United States
(Texas
) and Mexico
(Coahuila
). It is sometimes referred to as the Reticulated Gecko or Reticulate Banded Gecko.
or brown
color with brown or black
spots, sometimes with faint banding. They can easily be mistaken for Coleonyx brevis, as they share habitat, but Coleonyx reticulatus grows to a larger size.
, consuming almost any small species of arthropod
. They are found in semi-arid, rocky areas. They are capable of vocalizations, and sometimes will emit squeaking sounds if handled.
in the state of Texas, as it only occurs in two counties, but its habitat is fairly remote and not easily accessible and is not under immediate threat. Also, part of its habitat is found within the protected confines of Big Bend National Park
.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of small gecko
Gecko
Geckos are lizards belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm....
native to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(Coahuila
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
). It is sometimes referred to as the Reticulated Gecko or Reticulate Banded Gecko.
Description
Reticulated geckos can grow to 6.5 inches long, and are a pinkPink
Pink is a mixture of red and white. Commonly used for Valentine's Day and Easter, pink is sometimes referred to as "the color of love." The use of the word for the color known today as pink was first recorded in the late 17th century....
or brown
Brown
Brown is a color term, denoting a range of composite colors produced by a mixture of orange, red, rose, or yellow with black or gray. The term is from Old English brún, in origin for any dusky or dark shade of color....
color with brown or black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
spots, sometimes with faint banding. They can easily be mistaken for Coleonyx brevis, as they share habitat, but Coleonyx reticulatus grows to a larger size.
Behavior
C. reticulatus is nocturnal and carnivorousCarnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
, consuming almost any small species of arthropod
Arthropod
An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others...
. They are found in semi-arid, rocky areas. They are capable of vocalizations, and sometimes will emit squeaking sounds if handled.
Conservation concerns
The reticulated gecko is listed as a threatened speciesThreatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
in the state of Texas, as it only occurs in two counties, but its habitat is fairly remote and not easily accessible and is not under immediate threat. Also, part of its habitat is found within the protected confines of Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is a national park located in the U.S. state of Texas. Big Bend has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States, which includes more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56...
.