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Why you looking to me ;o) - for Peter (72)
boreocypriensis
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5085 W: 178 N: 12389]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (33819) | Stenodactylus grandiceps (Large-headed Thin-toed Gecko) (in Turk. Tombul Keler)
This lovely gecko species is distributed in Iraq, N. Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan and the westernmost part of SE Anatolia (Turkey). In Turkey, It is represented with some isolated small populations in Kilis province (I do not give their exact localities to protect them against to gecko-hunters).
One of my graduate students, Mr. Bahadır AKMAN is studying on its biology and ecology yet. It is a strictly nocturnal, medium-sized (up to 9-10 cm total length but the males are usually smaller) terrestrial gecko, without adhesive pads on fingers. The head is fairly broad and large, snout relatively rounded. The eyes are large and prominent, with a vertical pupil. Ear opening is small and rounded. The digits and toes lack adhesive pads and they have one row of scales (sometimes these scales shows a tricarinate structure). The tail is relatively thick, elongated conical, gradually tapered to a not very fine point. Coloration is variable especially depending on age (see another capture of the species on TN). They are usually grayish, brownish or yellowish above, with whitish or yellowish dots of irregular size. A more or les developed darker pattern, consisting of 3-5 transversal cross-bands is seen on dorsal side. The tail is generally has some dark rings or cross-bands, often nearly completely black, sometimes with a whitish tip. The belly is crème or dirty whitish.
During the daytime, it is hidden in self-dug borrows under stones. It is generally inhabits more burrows. Activity starts about 3-4 hour after the sunset. They forage for prey with highly arisen tails. When they were encountered with a prey, the tails exhibits lateral undulation, and soon after the dinner Large-headed Gecko shows eye-licking behaviour! (See the WS version). The eyelicking behaviour is definetely spontaneus. When threatened, they adopt a raised, stiff-legged posture. An interesting voice resembling the “whip” “whip” is emitted when touched its tail with finger and soon after it tooks its characteristic posture.
I was impressed that Stenodactylus females are especially aggressive. I admire their eye-licking behaviour and the characteristic postures exhibiting when threatened of these lovely geckos.
They feed on various small nocturnal soft-bodied invertebrates including some caterpillars, crickets and grasshoppers. Females lay two hard-shelled, nearly spherical eggs.
And today, I would like dedicate this photo to our friend, Peter van Zoest (Peterz) from Netherlands for his kind interest my herpetological captures and in thanks for his lovely dedication to me with a beautiful Whip-tailed Lizard, Ameiva leptophrys belonging to the family Tejidae (New World Common Lizards). Thank you Peter for the lovely dedication. |
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