''Rhacodactylus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of medium to large

gecko Geckos are small, mostly carnivorous lizards that have a wide distribution, found on every continent except Antarctica. Belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, geckos are found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from . Geckos ar ...

s of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Diplodactylidae The Diplodactylidae are a family in the suborder Gekkota (geckos), with over 150 species in 25 genera. These geckos occur in Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. Diplodactylids are the most ecologically diverse and widespread family of geck ...

. All

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

in this genus are found on the islands that make up

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

Genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

characteristics include long limbs and toes with well-developed

lamellae Lamella (plural lamellae) means a small plate or flake in Latin, and in English may refer to: Biology * Lamella (mycology), a papery rib beneath a mushroom cap * Lamella (botany) * Lamella (surface anatomy), a plate-like structure in an animal * ...

. Some webbing occurs on the hind limbs and toes. ''Rhacodactylus'' possess

prehensile tail A prehensile tail is the tail of an animal that has adapted to grasp or hold objects. Fully prehensile tails can be used to hold and manipulate objects, and in particular to aid arboreal creatures in finding and eating food in the trees. If the ta ...

s which also have lamellae to assist in climbing. These are for the most part

arboreal Arboreal locomotion is the Animal locomotion, locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some animals may scale trees only occasionally, but others are exclusively arboreal. Th ...

geckos. ''Rhacodactylus'' are

nocturnal Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite. Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...

geckos. The

are egg layers with the exception of ''Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus'' and ''R. trachycephalus'' which gives live birth, a characteristic only otherwise found in New Zealand geckos. They also feed on lizards, more so than any of the family. ''Rhacodactylus'' geckos are

sexually dimorphic Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the sexes of the same animal and/or plant species exhibit different morphological characteristics, particularly characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most ani ...

, with the males possessing larger preanal pores than the females as well as a distinct

hemipenis A hemipenis (plural hemipenes) is one of a pair of intromittent organs of male squamates (snakes, lizards and worm lizards). Hemipenes are usually held inverted within the body, and are everted for reproduction via erectile tissue, much like tha ...

pocket. Males tend to be stockier than females with the exception of ''R. auriculatus'' in which species the males are much slimmer than the females.

Classification

*Gargoyle gecko, ''

Rhacodactylus auriculatus The gargoyle gecko, knob-headed giant gecko, New Caledonia bumpy gecko, or New Caledonian bumpy gecko (''Rhacodactylus auriculatus'') is a species of gecko found only on the southern end of the island of New Caledonia. Its habitat is threatened ...

'' *New Caledonian giant gecko, ''

Rhacodactylus leachianus ''Rhacodactylus leachianus'', commonly known as the New Caledonian giant gecko, Leach's giant gecko, Leachianus Gecko, or simply Leachie, is a large species of gecko in the family Diplodactylidae. The species, which was first described by Geor ...

'' **''Rhacodactylus leachianus aubrianus'' **''Rhacodactylus leachianus henkeli'' **''Rhacodactylus leachianus leachianus'' *Greater rough-snouted giant gecko, ''

Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus The rough-snouted giant gecko (''Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus''), also known as the greater rough-snouted gecko or tough-snouted gecko, is a species of gecko found in New Caledonia. Description The common name of the rough-snouted giant gecko ...

'' *Lesser rough-snouted giant gecko, ''

Rhacodactylus trachycephalus ''Rhacodactylus trachycephalus'', commonly known as the lesser rough-snouted giant gecko, dwarf rough-snouted giant gecko, or tough-snouted giant gecko, is a species of gecko endemic to two small areas of islands in New Caledonia. Its body grows ...

'' A revision of the giant geckos of New Caldonia found weak support for inclusion of some taxa allied to this genus, and these have been assigned to new combinations: * ''

Correlophus ciliatus ''Correlophus'' is a genus of lizards in the family Diplodactylidae endemic to New Caledonia. It includes three species: *''Correlophus belepensis'' Bauer ''et al.'', 2012 *''Correlophus ciliatus'' Guichenot, 1866 (formerly included in ''Rhacodac ...

'', crested gecko; formerly ''R. ciliatus'' * ''

Correlophus sarasinorum ''Correlophus sarasinorum'', also called commonly Roux's giant gecko, Sarasins' giant gecko, Sarasin's icgiant gecko (incorrectly), and the suras gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is native to the southe ...

''; formerly ''R. sarasinorum'' * ''

Mniarogekko chahoua ''Mniarogekko chahoua'' is commonly known as the mossy New Caledonian gecko, short-snouted New Caledonian gecko, Bavay's giant gecko, or mossy prehensile-tailed gecko. It is an arboreal gecko found natively on the southern portion of the island ...

''; formerly ''R. chahoua''

Captivity

The species are regarded as charismatic and popular with herpetologists. Details of the behaviour of these geckos in captivity, contrasted with a paucity of field observations, has produced extensive literature on the genus.

References

Literature

* Bauer AM, Jackman TR, Sadlier RA, Whitaker AH. (2012). Revision of the giant geckos of New Caledonia (Reptilia: Diplodactylidae: ''Rhacodactylus''). ''Zootaxa'' 3404: 1–52. * Fitzinger L. (1843). ''Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae.'' Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Genus ''Rhacodactylus'', p. 100). * Seipp, Robert; Henkel, Friedrich Wilhelm. (2000). ''Rhacodactylus - Biologie, Haltung und Zucht; mit einem farbigen Anhang weiterer Geckoarten Neukaledoniens''. Frankfurt am Main: Edition Chimaira. 173 pp. . * de Vosjoli, Phillippe; Fast, Frank; Repashy, Allen. (2003). ''Rhacodactylus - The Complete Guide to their Selection and Care''. Vista, California: Advanced Vision Inc. 296 pp. . {{Taxonbar, from=Q1232910 Geckos of New Caledonia Lizard genera Taxa named by Leopold Fitzinger