Pristurus carteri
Encyclopedia
Pristurus carteri is a species of gecko
in the genus Pristurus
known as rock geckos. The name Pristurus means 'saw tailed' in Latin
and carteri after the person who discovered this species.
There are two sub-species of Pristurus carteri. The first is Pristurus carteri carteri and the other is Pristerus carteri tuberculatis. P. c. carteri being the most common. It has many common names such as Ornate Rock Gecko, Carters Rock Gecko, and Scorpion Tailed Gecko. It is native to Oman
where it often is found basking on rocks or in urban areas. They are often seen swaying their curly tails back and forth to each other in a way to sort of communicate to each other. The males develop little fleshy spikes on their tails upon reaching sexual maturity. When they feel threatened they curl their tails in a scorpion
like fashion and even mimicking the movements a scorpion will use as a threat display; this and the tail waving is another way they get the common name Scorpion tailed geckos.
Members of the genus Pristurus are diurnal. This is unusual in geckos except in the genus's Phelsuma
, Lygodactylus
, Naultinus, Quedenfeldtia
, Rhoptropus
, all Sphaerodactyline
s and, of course, Pristurus . They attain an average length of 5–6 cm snout to vent length and a total length of 8–9 cm. They obtain sexual maturity in roughly 10 months. They lay 1–2 hard shelled eggs that are incubated at 28°C for 70–90 days. The neonates hatch out at about 3½–4 cm.
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....
in the genus Pristurus
Pristurus
Pristurus is a genus of geckos endemic to Arabia and Socotra Island as well as Middle East and Horn of Africa. They are commonly known as Rock Geckos .-Classification of genus Pristurus:*Abdel Kuri Rock Gecko, Pristurus abdelkuri...
known as rock geckos. The name Pristurus means 'saw tailed' in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and carteri after the person who discovered this species.
There are two sub-species of Pristurus carteri. The first is Pristurus carteri carteri and the other is Pristerus carteri tuberculatis. P. c. carteri being the most common. It has many common names such as Ornate Rock Gecko, Carters Rock Gecko, and Scorpion Tailed Gecko. It is native to Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
where it often is found basking on rocks or in urban areas. They are often seen swaying their curly tails back and forth to each other in a way to sort of communicate to each other. The males develop little fleshy spikes on their tails upon reaching sexual maturity. When they feel threatened they curl their tails in a scorpion
Scorpion
Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger...
like fashion and even mimicking the movements a scorpion will use as a threat display; this and the tail waving is another way they get the common name Scorpion tailed geckos.
Members of the genus Pristurus are diurnal. This is unusual in geckos except in the genus's Phelsuma
Phelsuma
The genus Phelsuma consists of several lizards in the gecko family, commonly referred to as Day Geckos.-Description:In contrast to most other gecko species, day geckos are active mainly during the day. Other diurnal geckos are members of the genus Lygodactylus and the genus Gonatodes...
, Lygodactylus
Lygodactylus
Lygodactylus is a genus of diurnal geckos with approximately 60 species. They are commonly referred to as Dwarf Geckos. They are mainly found in Africa and Madagascar although two species are found in South America. Lygodactylus picturatus, the best known species, is found in Kenya and commonly...
, Naultinus, Quedenfeldtia
Quedenfeldtia
Quedenfeldtia is a small genus of attractive gecko species, commonly known as Atlas Day Geckos. Despite their common name, they are not part of the Day Gecko family and do not resemble them in any way...
, Rhoptropus
Rhoptropus
Rhoptropus is a genus of geckos endemic to Southern Africa, better known as Namib Day Geckos.-Classification of genus Rhoptropus:*Common Namib Day Gecko, Rhoptropus afer*Barnard's Namib Day Gecko, Rhoptropus barnardi...
, all Sphaerodactyline
Sphaerodactylus
Sphaerodactylus is a genus of geckos from the Americas that are distinguished from other gekkoninae by their small size and round, rather than vertical eye pupils and each digit terminating in a single, round adhesive pad or scale, from which their name is derived. All species in this genus are...
s and, of course, Pristurus . They attain an average length of 5–6 cm snout to vent length and a total length of 8–9 cm. They obtain sexual maturity in roughly 10 months. They lay 1–2 hard shelled eggs that are incubated at 28°C for 70–90 days. The neonates hatch out at about 3½–4 cm.