Mediodactylus kotschyi / İnce Parmaklı Keler / Kotschy's Gecko [Adult / Erişkin] from Islahiye, Gaziantep.
A medium-sized, basically nocturnal, gecko species with a maximum total length of 9-10 cm. Pupil vertical. Tubercles are present on back, and tail (if not regenerated); toes lack adhesive pads but have a characteristic 'kinked' shape, slender and subdigital scales smooth. The dorsum often grey or grey-brown with dark, pale-edged, zigzagging transverse stripes (V-shaped cross bands) or maculations, but ground colour can be dark brown, blackish reddish, yellow or orange. Some animals are more or less uniform. The venter is often yellow or orange. Males may have 'femoral' pores in front of vent and generally smaller than females in total size.
There are some regional variations in proportion, colour and details of scaling (distribution, number, size and shape of tubercles, number and size of belly scales, and presence or absence of pores in front of vent in males). At least 17 subspecies have been recognised on this basis, mostly on the Aegean islands. The range of the species extends from S. Italy and Greece to Aegean islands, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Israel, NW Iran and Transcaucasus region with a vertical distribution to 2500 m. This species is represented with nine subspecies in Turkey.
It generally does not enter houses but tends to be associated with peoples; inhabits rocky-stony places with scanty vegetation, also seen on stone walls and buildings. Partially nocturnal, but also forages in day time. When disturbed, may run onto underside of rocks and cling on upside down, or may retreat into holes, or bases of bushes. Common call is 'chick' repeated many times and males and females may call to each other in courtship.
Kotschy’s Gecko feeds on insects and spiders. Can change color in accordance with the illumination state of environment. Female lays egss (2-6) between crevices and cracks of rocks.
Author | Bayram GÖÇMEN |
Created on | Thursday 16 June 2011 |
Posted on | Monday 07 January 2013 |
Tags | Gaziantep, TURKEY / TÜRKİYE |
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