Texas banded gecko

The Texas banded gecko (Coleonyx brevis) is a species of small gecko native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Texas banded gecko
Texas banded gecko, Coleonyx brevis, with egg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Eublepharidae
Genus: Coleonyx
Species:
C. brevis
Binomial name
Coleonyx brevis
Stejneger, 1893

Description
Texas Banded Gecko (Coleonyx brevis), Webb County Texas, USA (10 June 2016).

Texas banded geckos are small, terrestrial lizards, rarely exceeding 4 in (10 cm) in length. They have alternating bands of yellow and brown or pink colored banding down their body, generally with black accenting on the bands, and sometimes with varying degrees of black speckling. Hatchlings and juveniles display a banded pattern; the banded pattern gets a more mottled appearance as the gecko becomes an adult.

Distribution

It is found in western Texas and in southeastern New Mexico in the United States, and in Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Durango in Mexico. They prefer semi-arid habitats, and are often found around rock piles or canyon crevices.

Behavior

Primarily nocturnal and carnivorous, they will consume almost any kind of small arthropods. They are capable of vocalizing, and sometimes emit squeaking noises, most often when harassed or handled. Reproduction occurs in the late spring, and they lay one or two eggs, which are surprisingly large compared to the size of the gecko.

In captivity

Texas banded geckos are not frequently found in captivity, but due to their small size and docile nature, they can make good captives. They do not hold any particular conservation status.

References
  1. Hammerson, G.A., Vazquez Díaz, J., Gadsden. H., Quintero Díaz, G.E., Ponce-Campos, P. & Lavin, P. 2007. Coleonyx brevis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007: e.T64034A12738606. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64034A12738606.en. Downloaded on 11 December 2017.
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