''Rhacodactylus leachianus'', commonly known as the New Caledonian giant gecko, Leach's giant gecko, Leachianus Gecko, or simply Leachie, is a large

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 ...

of gecko in the

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

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 ...

. The species, which was first described by Georges Cuvier in 1829, is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to New Caledonia.

Taxonomy

The specific name, ''leachianus'', is in honor of English

zoologist Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and d ...

William Elford Leach William Elford Leach FRS (2 February 1791 – 25 August 1836) was an English zoologist and marine biologist. Life and work Elford Leach was born at Hoe Gate, Plymouth, the son of an attorney. At the age of twelve he began a medical appre ...

. Historically, there have been three recognized subspecies of ''R. leachianus'' (including the

nominotypical subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

): ''R. l. aubrianus'', ''R. l. henkeli'' (first described by Seipp and Obst in 1994), and ''R. l. leachianus''. However, based on recent molecular data, no populations of ''R. leachianus'' are granted subspecies status at the present time.

Description

Diplodactylidae - Rhacodactylus leachianus

''R. leachianus'' is the largest extant gecko in the world and is considered an example of

island gigantism Island gigantism, or insular gigantism, is a biological phenomenon in which the size of an animal species isolated on an island increases dramatically in comparison to its mainland relatives. Island gigantism is one aspect of the more general Fos ...

. ''R. l. leachianus'', or the Grande Terre locality, is capable of growing 14-17″ (36-43cm) long, while ''R. l. henkeli'', or the Isle of Pines locality, is capable of growing 9-12" (23-30cm) long. It has a heavy body, loose skin, and a small, stumpy tail. It is variable in color, coming in shades of mottled green, gray, and brown, sometimes with highlights of white, orange, and/or pink.''Rhacodactylus leachianus''.
Australian Reptile Park.

Distribution and habitat

''R. leachianus'' is found in all of the southern and eastern portions of the main island of New Caledonia, as well as on several of the smaller islands in the group.

Biology

''R. leachianus'' is an arboreal species, living in trees. It is nocturnally active, but may bask in the morning sun. It eats a diet of insects, spiders, small vertebrates, fruit, nectar, and sap. Adult females of ''R. leachianus'' lay two eggs at a time, having up to 10

clutches A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages power transmission, especially from a drive shaft to a driven shaft. In the simplest application, clutches connect and disconnect two rotating shafts (drive shafts or line shafts) ...

per year. ''R. leachianus'' can make a loud growling noise, and local people call it "the devil in the trees". Like many chameleons, New Caledonian Geckos can change the color of their skin. This is due to pigment containing cells called

chromatophores Chromatophores are cells that produce color, of which many types are Biological pigment, pigment-containing cells, or groups of cells, found in a wide range of animals including amphibians, fish, reptiles, crustaceans and cephalopods. Mammals and ...

. Depending on the amount of sunlight, their skin may be lighter or darker. This is a form of

camouflage Camouflage is the use of any combination of materials, coloration, or illumination for concealment, either by making animals or objects hard to see, or by disguising them as something else. Examples include the leopard's spotted coat, the b ...

and can help the gecko blend into their environments. These giant geckos also can climb vertically up glass surfaces. This is due to adhesive pads on their feet called lamellas, which are made up of tiny hairs which increase friction force when applied to surfaces.

Folklore

Some of the indigenous

Kanak people The Kanak (French language, French spelling until 1984: Canaque) are the Indigenous peoples of Oceania, indigenous Melanesians, Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific Ocean, Pacifi ...

of New Caledonia fear Leach's giant gecko. This is because of an old superstition which purports that it has the ability to cling to a person's body and pull out that person's soul.

Conservation status

Populations of the species ''R. leachianus'' have likely been reduced by habitat destruction and degradation. This process is still a threat to the species. It also faces predation by

introduced species An introduced species, alien species, exotic species, adventive species, immigrant species, foreign species, non-indigenous species, or non-native species is a species living outside its native distributional range, but which has arrived ther ...

such as cats and various rodents. It is also poached. It can be electrocuted when it travels along power lines. This species is protected and it lives in several nature reserves.

In captivity

The New Caledonian giant gecko is occasionally kept as a pet. Individuals in the pet trade are propagated with captive breeding; wild populations are protected. This species may live over 20 years in captivity.Guide to the Largest Geckos in the World.
Stephen Cemelli.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhacodactylus Leachianus Rhacodactylus Geckos of New Caledonia Reptiles described in 1829 Taxa named by Georges Cuvier