(Gekko gecko)
Family: Geckos (Gekkonidae)
Order: Squamates or Scaly Reptiles (Squamata)
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Tokay
(Gekko gecko) Family: Geckos (Gekkonidae) Order: Squamates or Scaly Reptiles (Squamata) |
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Other names: Tokay, Tockay, Tucktoo, Takshak. Size: Males up to 36 cm, females probably no more than 30 cm. Distribution: Southeast Asia and Australasian Archipelago (Nepal, Northeast India [Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, West Bengal], Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China [Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Yunnan], West Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines). Introduced to Hawaii and Florida (USA), Belize, Martinique (West Indies), Guam (W. Pacific), and Madagascar. Habitat: Natural habitat is undisturbed forests, often rocky cliffs or boulder piles, surrounded by thick brush or forest, but also found in or at buildings in villages even cities. Usually below 1000 m a.s.l. Food: Insects (e.g., moths, grasshoppers, beetles, termites, cockroaches), spiders, centipedes, other geckos, and small snakes and mice. Food is found at night by foraging or ambushing. In the daytime they rest in crevices. Reproduction: Two, rarely one or three, almost spherical eggs measuring 15-25 mm are laid in tree holes or concealed places in buildings. The eggs stick to even vertical surfaces like walls and hatch after 2-8 months, depending on temperature and humidity. Clutches may be produced as frequently as with intervals of 3-5 weeks. Several females may use the same suitable place to deposit their eggs. The eggs are guarded by both females and males and they make barking or growling sounds if an intruder gets too close. The youngs measure about 91-103 mm at the time of hatching. After the hatching, the females eats the remaing egg shells to cover her need for calcium to produce more eggs. Both female and male continue to guard the youngs for some time. Maturity is reached after 3-4 years. Activity and behaviour: Primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, but may be seen basking in the sun in the late afternoon. Usually territorial, but some geckos may live in small family groups consisting of a male, female, and immature offspring. Enemies and defense: Man has disturbed much of the Tokay's natural habitat, however, this species has not suffered as much as many other species due to its ability to adapt to urban surroundings. In some places the gecko is used as food, mainly by poorer people. The Tokay is also used in traditional, Chinese medicine, where it is killed in thousands. Natural enemies of the Tokay are snakes, and possibly some birds and mammals. As in other geckos, the Tokay may drop its tail to distract predators. If caught, it will open its mouth in threat display and try to bite. Longevity: The Tokay may live for more than 20 years in captivity. Sexual differences: Males are larger than females (see above) and may attain a weight of 200 g, whereas females will only grow to a weight of about 130 g. Variation: There are two different subspecies (races): Common Tokay (G. g. gecko), and Azhar's Tokay (G. g. azhari). The latter is found only in Bangladesh and lacks the red spots of the Common Tokay, but the validity of Azhar's Tokay is questionable, since coloration in general is highly variable in the remaining range of the species. Status: Very common in many places, although it may be rare locally. Due to its use in traditional medicine, it is listed as threatened in China. Endangered in Vietnam. Notes: The name Tokay is a syllabilized approach to the very loud voice of this gecko. The call, which is produced by well-developed vocal cords, is mainly used to maintain territories and to other sorts of communication between conspecifics, but it may also be heard when the animal is under stress. The call is repeated 4-19 times and may be heard both night and day. But sexes may vocalize, but only males call. References: Aowphol, A.; Thirakhupt, K.; Nabhitabhata, J.; Voris, H.K. 2006. Foraging ecology of the Tokay gecko, Gekko gecko in a residential area in Thailand. Amphibia-Reptilia 27(4): 491-503. Bourret, R.L. 2009. Les lezards de l'Indochine. (previously unpublished 1930s manuscript). Paris & Frankfurt. 604 pp. Brillet, C.; Paillette, M. 1991. Acoustic signals of the nocturnal lizard Gekko gecko: analysis of the 'long complex sequence'. Bioacoustics 3(1): 33-44. Brodsky, O. 1969. Breeding the great house gecko Gekko gecko at Prague Zoo. International Zoo Yearbook 9: 37-39. Brown, W.C.; Alcala, A.C. 1978. Philippine lizards of the family Gekkonidae. Silliman University, Dumaguete City, Philippines. 146 pp. Chan-Ard, T.; Grossmann, W.; Gumprecht, A.; Schulz, K.D. 1999. Amphibians and reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand. An illustrated checklist. Bushmaster Publications, Würselen. 240 pp. Chiu, K.W.; Maderson, P.F.A. 1980. Observations on the interactions between thermal conditions and skin shedding frequency in the tokay (Gekko gecko). Journal of Herpetology 14(3): 245-254. Chou, L.M. 1978. Some bionomic data on the house geckos of Singapore. Malayan Nature Journal 31(4): 231-235. Cox, M.J.; van Dijk, P.P.; Nabhitabhata, J.; Thirakhupt, K. 1998. A photographic guide to snakes and other reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. New Holland, London. 144 pp. Das, I. 1996. Biogeography of the reptiles of south Asia. Krieger, Malabar, Florida. 87 pp. Das, I. 2002. A photographic guide to snakes and other reptiles of India. New Holland, London, etc. 144 pp. Das, I. 2002. An introduction to the amphibians and reptiles of tropical Asia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu. 207 pp. Das, I. 2004. Lizards of Borneo. Natural History Publications, Kota Kinabalu. 83 pp. Das, I. 2006. A photographic guide to snakes and other reptiles of Borneo. New Holland, London. 144 pp. Das, I.; Ismail, G. 2001. A guide to the lizards of Borneo. Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. (www.arbec.com.my/lizards/index.htm). Frith, C.B. 1981. Utilization of a single brief termite eruption by predators. Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society 29: 173-174. Grismer, L.L. 2008. A revised and updated checklist of the lizards of Peninsular Malaysia. Zootaxa 1860: 28-34. Grossmann, W. 1987. Über einen ungewohnlich gefarbten Tokeh aus Thailand - ein Gekko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758)? Sauria (Berlin) 9(4): 19-20. Grossmann, W. 1999. Grosse Echsen als Beute der Schmuckbaumschlange Chrysopelea ornata ornatissima Werner, 1925. Sauria (Berlin) 21(3): 3-6. Grossmann, W. 2004. Der Tokeh: Gekko gecko. Natur und Tier-Verlag, Münster. 61 pp. Harit, D.N. 1996. Report on lacertilian fauna of Kolasib of Mizoram, India. Himalayan Journal of Environment and Zoology 10(2): 93-94. Hemmer, H.; Schipp, R. 1970. Zum Beutefangverhalten des Tokehs (Gekko gecko L.). Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie 27: 591-609. Henderson, R.W.; Delatte, A.; McCarthy, T.J. 1993. Gekko gecko (Sauria: Gekkonidae) established on Martinique, French West Indies. Caribbean Journal of Science 29(1-2): 128-129. Kluge, A.G. 1991. Checklist of gekkonid lizards. Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service 85: 1-35. Kober, I. 2002. Tokehs im Terrarium: besser als ihr Ruf. Reptilia (D) 7(4): 43-49, Nr 36. Lejbølle, J. 2005. Hold og opdræt af tokaygekko (Gekko gecko). [Captive care and breeding of the Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko)]. (In Danish, English summary). Nordisk Herpetologisk Forening 48(3): 66-74. Lim, K.K.P.; Lim; F.L.K. 1992. A guide to the amphibians and reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore. 160 pp. Love, B. 2000. Gekko gecko (tokay gecko). Predation. Herpetological Review 31(3): 174. Maderson, P.F.A. 1963. A note on skin-shedding in the Tokay (Gekko gecko). Mem. Hong Kong Nat. Hist. Soc. 6: 10-11. Manley, G.A.; Gallo, L.; Koppl, C. 1996. Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions in two gecko species, Gekko gecko and Eublepharis macularius. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 99(3): 1588-1603. Manthey, U.; Grossmann, W. 1997. Amphibien & Reptilien Südostasiens. Natur und Tier Verlag, Münster. 512 pp. Mathew, R. 2005. On the occurrence of the tokay gecko Gekko gecko (Linn.) (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Meghalaya. Cobra (Chennai) 59: 11-12. Meerman, J.; Garel, J. 2002. Tokay gekko Gekko gecko established on South Water Caye, Belize. Published by the authors, P.O. Box 208, Belmopan, Belize. Unpaginated. (biological-diversity.info/tokay.htm). Meshaka, W.E.; Clouse, R.M.; McMahon, L. 1997. Diet of the tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) in southern Florida. Florida Field Naturalist 25(3): 105-107. Nguyen, V.S.; Ho, T.C.; Nguyen, Q.T. 2009. Herpetofauna of Vietnam. Chimaira, Frankfurt a.M. 768 pp. Petzold, H.G. 1963. Beobachtungen und Erfahrungen bei der Zucht des Tokehs (Gekko gecko [L.]). Zoologischer Garten (Leipzig) 27(4/5): 194-202. Pillai, R.S.; Talukdar, S.K. 1972. First record with notes on the tucktoo Gekko gecko (Linnaeus) from the Assam region. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 69(3): 656-658. Rösler, H. 2001. Studien am Tokeh: 1. Gekko gecko azhari Mertens, 1955 (Sauria: Gekkonidae). Gekkota 3: 33-46. Schleich, H.H.; Kästle, W. (eds.). 2002. Amphibians and reptiles of Nepal: biology, systematics, field guide. A.R.G. Gantner Verlag K.G., Ruggell. 1201 pp. Schneider, P. 1991. Gecko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758) - ein dankbarer Pflegling. Aquaria (St Gallen) 38(2): 34-35. Sievert, L.M.; Hutchison, V.H. 1988. Light versus heat: thermoregulatory behavior in a nocturnal lizard (Gekko gecko). Herpetologica 44(3): 266-273. Stanner, M.; Thirakhupt, K.; Werner, N.; Werner, Y.L. 1998. Observations and comments on the tokay in Thailand and China as predator and as prey (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae: Gekko gecko). Dactylus 3(2): 69-84. Talukdar, S.K. 1977. New locality record with remarks on the tucktoo lizard. Gekko gecko (Linnaeus) (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from Tripura. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 74(1): 184-185. Tang, Y.Z.; Zhuang, L.Z.; Wang, Z.W.. 2001. Advertisement calls and their relation to reproductive cycles in Gekko gecko (Reptilia, Lacertilia). Copeia 2001(1): 248-253. Welch, K.R.G.; Cooke, P.S.; Wright, A.S. 1990. Lizards of the Orient: a checklist. Robert E. Krieger, Malabar, Florida. 162 pp. Whitaker, R.; Whitaker, Z. 1978. Breeding of the Tokay gecko. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 75(2): 499-500. Zaworski, J.P. 1987. Egg guarding behavior by a male Gekko gecko. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 22(12): 193. Zaworski, J.P. 1987. Egg molding behaviour by male Gekko gecko and Gekko petricolus. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 22(4): 77. Zaworski, J.P. 1988. A note on sex recognition in the tokay gecko, Gekko gecko. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 23(3): 42. Zaworski, J.P. 1988. Captive husbandry and breeding of the tokay, Gekko gecko Linnaeus. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 23(7): 101-103. Zhao, E.; Adler, K. 1993. Herpetology of China. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Athens, Ohio. 522 pp. (Contributions to Herpetology no. 10). Zug, G.; Slowinski, J.; Wogan, G. The herpetofauna of Myanmar. Checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of Myanmar. (www.calacademy.org/research/herpetology/myanmar/checklist.html) Text & layout: Rune Midtgaard |
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