The Crested Gecko : Geckos Galore

Adaptive radiation of different organisms have occurred throughout geological time through the filling of ecological niches. Organisms different from one another are capable of radiating greatly, as they evolve traits that allow them to thrive better in their environment. The Anolis lizards of the Caribbean islands are a great example of a single genus to have radiated not once, but multiple times through very similar mechanisms. Different populations of the Anolis phenotypically vary in their morphological traits to facilitate adaptation to particular niches. These phenotypic variations have evolved in convergence in more than one occasion, as recently discovered fossil specimens show similar patterns in morphology to modern Anolis.

The mating season is year round and once they’re pregnant the, length of gestation is one hundred thirty days to one hundred ninety days. (The gestation for a human is two times longer.) They only have one offspring at birth. After birth the young latch onto the backs of their mother and stay until a year of age.

The first step will be to dissect preserved specimens of both, barking and non-barking geckos, and to select representative samples of tissue from the laryngeal and the tracheal area. The non-barking geckos will serve as a control. This tissue must be processed by standard protocols, either by manual or automated techniques (processing in histology commonly refers to the removal of water or dehydration by placing the tissue in gradually increasing concentrations of alcohol, and then xylene, to finally infiltrating the tissue with paraffin or plastic). After processing the tissue will be embedded in paraffin block, and cut into micrometric sections and placed in positively charged glass slides.

The New Caledonian Crested Gecko is one of the most sought out reptiles in the herptoculture hobby today. This medium-sized gecko has all the qualities of what to expect of a pet lizard. They combine their sheer beauty and low maintenance and docile tempers, making it an all around great pet to own (Rhacodactylus, p. 16). In the herpetological society, the crested gecko’s popularity has grown above hobbyist, into the hands of many first time pet owners, giving a first time experience made easy. According to Fester, (2007) “the rare Crested Gecko thought to be extinct but rediscovered in New Caledonia in 1994” (fester’ at Ireland

Leopard geckos like moving prey that are able to be caught. Crickets, mealworms, flies and other insects are optional. For large adults, baby pinky mice can be fed to them. Calcium and D3 should be supplemented to properly provide their nutritional needs.

The Texas horned lizard, Phrynosoma cornutum, is a species in the lizard family, Phrynosomatidae, which has ten genera and a diverse group of over 125 different species (Hammerson 2007; Cossel Jr. 1997). Lizards in this family can be found in Mexico, Panama, most areas of the United States and parts of Canada (Heying 2003). Phrynosomatids range in a variety of forms, but are most commonly distinguished by their small size (less than 10 cm long), rough and keeled scales, spikes on their bodies, and the fusion of the sides of their teeth to the sides of their inner jawbones, known as pleurodont teeth (Heying 2003). The thirteen species in the horned lizard genus, Phrynosoma, can be identified more specifically by their flattened bodies

Most Tokay Geckos are so gray they almost appear a light blue with brown or orange specks or spots. Although when necessary they can slightly change the shade of their skin. They also have little hairs on their feet called setae to help them travel faster and climb easier and farther, like upside down. Additionally, their eyelids are clear or transparent and when their tail is bitten off it can regrow or regenerate, although it will most likely never be as long.

Geckos are fascinating creatures and are all sorts of beautiful colors. Geckos live almost everywhere from your house to the amazon jungle.

Since a pet store isn’t a breeder, pet stores have to buy their geckos from another source. This means that the geckos have to undergo transportation, which is not ideal for the geckos health. When pet stores purchase their geckos they usually purchase them in bulk which makes it almost impossible to trace the bloodline of their geckos. Many of the geckos that are bought from a pet store come from Southeast Asian countries where communities catch their geckos from the wild. Wild Tokay Geckos are often exposed to bacteria, parasites and viruses. During the transportation process geckos may be subject to overcrowding which can lead to stress, parasite infections, and spread of

What does it eat? It feeds mainly on krill and also consumes tunicates, jellies, small fish and algae.

This group houses only two species: the Echidna and the Platypus. Monotremes received their name from the fact that they possess a cloaca (like birds and reptiles), one “hole” for reproduction and excretion, additionally, they lay eggs (Loyd, Mitchinson, 67). The short-beaked echidna, or spiny anteater (Tachyglossus aculeatus), is native to Australia and New Guinea. It “is the most common of the egg laying mammals and is in fact the most widespread of Australian mammals”(Morrow and Nicol 2009). They are small, squatty animals covered with spines, armed with strong claws, and equipped with a long, sticky tongue. The echidna has “the coldest blood temperature of any mammal”(Loyd

The prehensile tailed skink (Corucia zebrata) is an endemic tropical squamate that is found inhabiting all major islands of the Solomon archipelago in the Southwest Pacific. It is considered to be one of the largest known skinks and has many common names such as Solomon Island skink, giant skink, monkey-tail skink, Solomon Island prehensile-tailed skink, or simply, Corucia. And just as the common name indicates, C. zebrata possesses the interesting adaptation of a prehensile tail (Vosjoli, 1993). The Latin name, zebrata, is indicative of their zebra stripe ornamentation.

Squamata is the largest and most recent order of reptiles, including the species lizards, snakes, and worm lizards. The order is about one-hundred and sixty million years old and has approiemently 7,900 species in this domain. Species in this order are distinguished by their scales, which have a horny shape. Also species in this domain have a movable quadrate bone, making it possible for them to move their upper jaw. This is very observable in snakes; especially the anaconda which can eat an animal five to six times its size, such as deer and hippopotamuses. Besides the larger snakes in the Squamata order all other eat small to medium sized invertebrates. Out of all the orders the Squamata order has the most variance in size-range. On the small side the Jaragua Sphaero is 0.63 inches in length and is one of the world’s two smallest know

Gromphadorhina portentosa, commonly known as the hissing cockroach, lives within the tropical lowland rainforests of Madagascar among the dry litter on the forest floor. While multiple species of cockroaches have slender like feet, the hissing cockroach has pads and hooks (Figure 3, shows the adaptive hooks/visual description of cockroach). A young cockroach, a nymph, undergoes a process called metamorphosis where its shell sheds periodically to allow for growth. The process evolved approximately 20 million years ago (Figure 1, phylogenetic tree referencing common ancestor). Due to metamorphosis, it undergoes mitotic division of its mycetocytes, special cells that harbour symbiotic microorganisms, approximately 48 hours in a week. The hissing cockroach is an omnivorous scavenger and can consume both organic and inorganic food, although they prefer sweets, meats, and starches. Hissing cockroaches also have cellulase in their saliva, which is meant to break down crystallized cellulose. This trait was developed approximately 10 million years ago, causing two new distinct species (Figure 1, distinct species split). It responds to tactile and wind stimulus by turning away from the stimulus and running. As such, a roach will begin running between 8.2 and gradually to 70.2 m/s after its sensory cells experience stimuli.

The Galapagos tortoise reproduces sexually through male and female intercourse. They lay 2-16 eggs that take up to 4-8 months to hatch. Then the young are on their own and have to survive by themselves. The predators kill most of the hatchlings. The tortoises take up to 23-25 years to sexually mature. Some people have argued that this animal should be considered a subspecies. Its diet consists of prickly pear cactus (a favorite) and fruits, as well as flowers, leaves, and grasses. These are the most common foods eaten by this animal. This vegetation is found on the Galapagos islands and many other places. This animal