Mniarogekko chahoua
species of reptile
Mniarogekko chahoua, commonly known as the mossy New Caledonian gecko, short-snouted New Caledonian gecko, Bavay's giant gecko, mossy prehensile-tailed gecko, or simply the chahoua gecko (especially in the pet trade) is an arboreal gecko found natively on the southern portion of the island of New Caledonia and on the outlying islands of Île des Pins.
Conservation status
Mniarogekko chahoua is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List.
Taxonomy and systematics
Mniarogekko chahoua was first described in 1869 as Platydactylus chahoua by Arthur Bavay, a French pharmacist and herpetologist.
Description
Mniarogekko chahoua gets its common name from the moss or lichen-like pattern it displays. Colors range from rusty red and brown to green or gray. There has been some notation that color could possibly be a geographic indicator in this species as the geckos from the outer islands most often display the lighter gray patterns. It possesses a strong, well-muscled, fully prehensile tail and is not subject to dropping it as readily as some of its relatives. Adult length is 10-12" (25–31 cm).
Diet
Mniarogekko chahoua, like most of the New Caledonian geckos, are seasonally-dependent omnivores and frugivores. Their diet in the wild consists of various insects and fruits, generally alternating from one to the other according to several factors, including seasonal changes, tree and fruit blooming times, and fruit and insect availability.
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