Geckos on Herpeton Academy

Coleonyx mitratus

Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Coleonyx mitratus is the currently accepted scientific name. In trade, use the Latin name when checking animals, locality labels, invoices, and legal documents, because common names can overlap between related species.

English common names used in the hobby:

Central American Banded Gecko

📌 Description

The Central American banded gecko (Coleonyx mitratus) is a small, secretive lizard kept by specialist reptile keepers. Adults usually reach 12-18 cm total length and may live 8-15 years with stable long-term care.

Coleonyx variegatus

Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Coleonyx variegatus is the currently accepted scientific name. In trade, use the Latin name when checking animals, locality labels, invoices, and legal documents, because common names can overlap between related species.

English common names used in the hobby:

Western Banded Gecko

📌 Description

The western banded gecko (Coleonyx variegatus) is a small, secretive lizard kept by specialist reptile keepers. Adults usually reach 10-15 cm total length and may live 8-15 years with stable long-term care.

Bauer’s Chameleon Gecko

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Eurydactylodes agricolae is the currently accepted scientific name.

English common names used in the hobby:

Bauer’s chameleon gecko
Chameleon gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

Bauers Chamäleongecko
Chamäleongecko

📌 Description

Eurydactylodes agricolae is a small gecko reaching about 10-13 cm. It is valued as a display species, not a handling pet: the body is delicate, the animal is fast, and stress is reduced when the enclosure is designed around natural movement.

Electric Blue Day Gecko

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Lygodactylus williamsi is the currently accepted scientific name.

English common names used in the hobby:

Electric blue day gecko
Turquoise dwarf gecko
William’s dwarf gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

Himmelblauer Zwergtaggecko
Williams-Zwerggecko

📌 Description

Lygodactylus williamsi is a small gecko reaching about 6-8 cm. It is valued as a display species, not a handling pet: the body is delicate, the animal is fast, and stress is reduced when the enclosure is designed around natural movement.

Klemmer’s Day Gecko

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Phelsuma klemmeri is the currently accepted scientific name.

English common names used in the hobby:

Klemmer’s day gecko
Neon day gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

Klemmer-Taggecko
Neon-Taggecko

📌 Description

Phelsuma klemmeri is a small gecko reaching about 8-10 cm. It is valued as a display species, not a handling pet: the body is delicate, the animal is fast, and stress is reduced when the enclosure is designed around natural movement.

Kuhl’s Flying Gecko

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Gekko kuhli is the currently accepted scientific name. Older hobby material may list it as Ptychozoon kuhli.

English common names used in the hobby:

Kuhl’s flying gecko
Kuhl’s parachute gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

Kuhls Faltengecko
Fluggecko

📌 Description

Gekko kuhli is a small gecko reaching about 15-20 cm. It is valued as a display species, not a handling pet: the body is delicate, the animal is fast, and stress is reduced when the enclosure is designed around natural movement.

Lepidodactylus lugubris

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Lepidodactylus lugubris is the currently accepted scientific name.

English common names used in the hobby:

Mourning gecko
Common smooth-scaled gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

Jungferngecko
Trauergecko

📌 Description

Lepidodactylus lugubris is a small gecko reaching about 8-10 cm. It is valued as a display species, not a handling pet: the body is delicate, the animal is fast, and stress is reduced when the enclosure is designed around natural movement.

Madagascar Ground Gecko

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Paroedura picta is the currently accepted scientific name. Older hobby material may list it as Paroedura pictus.

English common names used in the hobby:

Madagascar ground gecko
Ocelot gecko
Panther gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

Madagaskar-Großkopfgecko
Panthergecko

📌 Description

Paroedura picta is a small gecko reaching about 12-15 cm. It is valued as a display species, not a handling pet: the body is delicate, the animal is fast, and stress is reduced when the enclosure is designed around natural movement.

Phelsuma laticauda

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Phelsuma laticauda is the currently accepted scientific name.

English common names used in the hobby:

Gold dust day gecko
Gold dust gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

Goldstaub-Taggecko

📌 Description

Phelsuma laticauda is a small gecko reaching about 11-13 cm. It is valued as a display species, not a handling pet: the body is delicate, the animal is fast, and stress is reduced when the enclosure is designed around natural movement.

Correlophus sarasinorum

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Correlophus sarasinorum is the currently accepted scientific name. In older literature and in older hobby material, the species is often encountered as Rhacodactylus sarasinorum.

English common names used in the hobby:

Sarasin’s giant gecko
Sarasin giant gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

Sarasin-Riesengecko

📌 Description

Correlophus sarasinorum is a large New Caledonian gecko kept mainly as a display species. It has a sturdy body, large adhesive toe pads, and a prehensile tail, and adults commonly reach about 22-27 cm total length.

Giant Day Gecko

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Phelsuma grandis is the currently accepted scientific name. Older literature and older hobby material often listed the species as Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis.

English common names used in the hobby:

Giant day gecko
Madagascar giant day gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

Madagaskar-Taggecko
Riesentaggecko

📌 Description

Phelsuma grandis is a large, bright green diurnal gecko known for red markings, adhesive toe pads, and constant daytime activity. Adults commonly reach around 25-30 cm total length.

Leachianus Gecko

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

📌 Description

The leachianus gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus), often called a leachie or New Caledonian giant gecko, is the largest living gecko species. It is a nocturnal, arboreal gecko from New Caledonia with a heavy body, broad head, powerful jaws, and a loud defensive voice.

Adults vary greatly by locality. Small island forms can stay much more compact, while large Grande Terre animals may become extremely robust. Many adults reach roughly 28-36 cm, and the largest animals are impressively heavy compared with other New Caledonian geckos.

African Fat-Tailed Gecko

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Hemitheconyx caudicinctus is the currently accepted scientific name. In the hobby and in trade, the species is usually sold under the same name or under its common-name equivalents.

English common names used in the hobby:

African fat-tailed gecko
Fat-tail gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

Afrikanischer Fettschwanzgecko

📌 Description

The African fat-tailed gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) is a ground-dwelling eyelid gecko from West Africa. It is often compared with the leopard gecko, but it is not simply a darker, more humid version of the same animal. It tends to be more secretive, slower-moving, and more dependent on secure hides and moisture gradients.

Chahoua Gecko

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

📌 Description

The chahoua gecko (Mniarogekko chahoua) is a nocturnal, arboreal gecko from New Caledonia. It is also called the mossy New Caledonian gecko because its mottled pattern can blend beautifully with bark, moss, and lichen.

Adults usually reach 23-28 cm and are heavier than crested geckos. They have a broad head, strong grip, prehensile tail, soft-looking camouflage, and a slower, deliberate way of moving. They can jump, but they often rely on climbing and gripping rather than frantic movement.

Crested Gecko

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

📌 Description

The crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus) is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal gecko from New Caledonia. It is known for the soft crest of scales above the eyes and along the body, which gives it the “eyelash” appearance that made the species so popular.

Adults usually reach 18-25 cm including the tail. Many captive adults are tailless because crested geckos can drop the tail when frightened, and unlike leopard geckos, they do not regrow it. A tailless gecko can still live normally if the wound heals cleanly.

Gargoyle Gecko

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

📌 Description

The gargoyle gecko (Rhacodactylus auriculatus) is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal gecko from New Caledonia. It is named for the bony-looking bumps on the head, which give many animals a horned or gargoyle-like profile.

Adults usually reach 18-25 cm and are stockier than crested geckos. They have strong jaws, a prehensile tail, and good climbing ability, but they do not climb glass as effortlessly as day geckos. Unlike crested geckos, gargoyle geckos can regenerate the tail, although the regrown tail often looks different.

Hainan Cave Gecko

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Goniurosaurus hainanensis is the currently accepted scientific name. In the hobby and in trade, the species is usually sold under the same name or under its common-name equivalents.

English common names used in the hobby:

Hainan cave gecko
Hainan eyelid gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

Hainan-Höhlengecko

📌 Description

The Hainan cave gecko (Goniurosaurus hainanensis) is a nocturnal eyelid gecko from Hainan Island, China. It is also sold as a Chinese cave gecko, although that name is used for several related Goniurosaurus species.

Leopard Gecko

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Eublepharis macularius is the currently accepted scientific name. In the hobby and in trade, the species is usually sold under the same name or under its common-name equivalents.

English common names used in the hobby:

Leopard gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

Leopardgecko

📌 Description

The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is a terrestrial gecko from arid and semi-arid parts of South Asia. It is one of the most common pet lizards because it stays a manageable size, feeds readily, and usually becomes calm with gentle handling.

Tokay Gecko

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Gekko gecko is the currently accepted scientific name. In the hobby and in trade, the species is usually sold under the same name or under its common-name equivalents.

English common names used in the hobby:

Tokay gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

Tokeh
Tokee

📌 Description

The tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) is a large, nocturnal, arboreal gecko from South and Southeast Asia. It is famous for its loud call, bright blue-gray body with orange or red spots, strong jaws, and bold defensive behavior.