Stenodactylus petrii
Encyclopedia
The Stenodactylus petrii or dune gecko is a small, mostly nocturnal gecko
of the genus Stenodactylus
. It has large, interesting eyes, which have earned it the nickname "frog-eyed" gecko.
They are found across northern Africa and in Israel
in arid regions. From head to base of tail, they are about 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) long, a very small dwarf gecko. The tails are quite long compared to their size, 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm). If a tail is dropped, it will grow back, only shorter and stubbier. Unlike other geckos, dune geckos cannot climb up smooth surfaces. Instead, they prefer to dig. During the day, they usually hide in burrows or in caves, though often these are out and about in the day. They sometimes appear slow, but they can be extremely fast. Camouflage
in the sand helps them remain inconspicuous, especially when hunting. They eat mainly cricket
s and mealworm
s.
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....
of the genus Stenodactylus
Stenodactylus
Stenodactylus is a genus of Middle-Eastern and North-African geckos, commonly known as Short-fingered Geckos.-Classification of genus Stenodactylus:*Iranian Short-fingered Gecko, Stenodactylus affinis...
. It has large, interesting eyes, which have earned it the nickname "frog-eyed" gecko.
They are found across northern Africa and in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in arid regions. From head to base of tail, they are about 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) long, a very small dwarf gecko. The tails are quite long compared to their size, 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm). If a tail is dropped, it will grow back, only shorter and stubbier. Unlike other geckos, dune geckos cannot climb up smooth surfaces. Instead, they prefer to dig. During the day, they usually hide in burrows or in caves, though often these are out and about in the day. They sometimes appear slow, but they can be extremely fast. Camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
in the sand helps them remain inconspicuous, especially when hunting. They eat mainly cricket
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...
s and mealworm
Mealworm
Mealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle. Like all holometabolic insects, they go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult...
s.