The spotted giant gecko (''Hemidactylus hunae'') is a species of
gecko endemic to island of
Sri Lanka.
Habitat and distribution
The largest gecko found in Sri Lanka, inhabiting outcrops of the dry and intermediate regions of the island. Localities includes
Nilgala,
Okanda
Okanda ( ta, உகந்தை) is a small hamlet in the eastern coast of Sri Lanka within the Ampara District. It is known for its shrine dedicated to Hindu deity Murugan known as Ukanthamalai Murugan Kovil and for surfing. Pilgrims from the Eas ...
,
Panamure Panamure is a village located in the Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. It is approximately from Colombo and from Ratnapura.
The village is significant because it is the site of the last elephant kraal in Sri Lanka, Panamure ...
, and
Rambukkana
Rambukkana, Pradeshiya Sabha, lies within the Kegalle district in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. The Council was incorporated on 7 July 1991 as Rambukkana ward and a few small towns. The constituency today has an area of 128.8 square km, wit ...
.
Description
Snout somewhat pointed. Forehead with large scattered scales. Back with 15-20 rows of tubercles. Ventrals smooth. Fingers and toes with divided scansors. Males are with 19-25 femoral pores. Mental scales are as long as wide.
Dorsum grayish brown, with black blotches that are expanded into rhomboidal marks. Two dark streaks found along the eyes. Venter unpatterned creamy colored.
Ecology and diet
Inhabits rocky outcrops, including caves and cracks in boulders, and more rarely on walls of buildings and on trees. In the former microhabitat, it was
sympatric with ''
Calodactylodes illingworthorum'', but timing of activity is more at
dusk
Dusk occurs at the darkest stage of twilight, or at the very end of astronomical twilight after sunset and just before nightfall.''The Random House College Dictionary'', "dusk". At predusk, during early to intermediate stages of twilight, enou ...
, than largely
diurnal habit of ''Calodactylodes illingworthorum''.
Diet comprises small insects, although others geckos are also known to be eaten.
Reproduction
2 eggs are produced at a time measuring 10 * 12mm in March and August. Hatchlings measure 33m.
References
* http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Hemidactylus&species=hunae
Rediscovery of Spotted rock Gecko from Sri Lanka* https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=818682
hunae
Reptiles described in 1937
Reptiles of Sri Lanka
Endemic fauna of Sri Lanka
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