Cnemaspis psychedelica
| Psychedelic Rock Gecko | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Gekkonidae |
| Genus: | Cnemaspis |
| Species: | C. psychedelica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cnemaspis psychedelica Grismer, Ngo & Grismer, 2010
| |
Cnemaspis psychedelica, also known as the psychedelic rock gecko, is an endangered species of gecko, only scientifically described in 2010, that is endemic to Hon Khoai Island and adjacent Hon Tuong Isle in Vietnam.[1][3] It is up to about 7.5 cm (3 in) in snout–vent length, and (as suggested by its name) it is quite brightly coloured in yellow, orange, black and grey-blue.[4]
This diurnal gecko inhabits granite boulders in densely vegetated country, retreating into crevices or under the rocks if scared, locations also used for sleeping at night. Each female typically lays two white eggs that are attached 0.3–3.5 m (1–11.5 ft) above the ground to the underside of a rock ledge (in captivity, they will use various elevated surfaces, not just rocks) and several females may use the same place, forming a communal nest with up to ten eggs.[1][4][5] Newly hatched young are quite dull, but the adult colours are already evident when two months old.[4]
Conservation
This species has a very small range, an estimated adult population of slightly above 500 individuals (which however appears to be quite stable as of 2018) and it is considered endangered by the
References
- ^ . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ "Cnemaspis psychedelica". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
- ^ .
- ^ .
- ^ a b Ziegler, T.; T.Q. Nguyen (2016). "Linking ex situ Measures and Ecological Research for the Conservation of the Endangered Psychedelic Rock Gecko" (PDF). WAZA News. November 2016: 45–46.