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Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus trachyrhynchus
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Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus trachycephalus
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The common name Rough-Snouted Gecko of R. trachyrhynchus refers to the enlarged scales that cover its snout. Other characteristics of this gecko include broad toes and a prehensile tail. R. trachyrhynchus has a mottled color pattern that is generally a grayish-green to brown mixed with white. Its snout to vent length (SVL) is usually around 190mm. There are two sub-species of R. trachyrhynchus: R. t. trachyrhynchus, first described by Bocage in 1873 and R. t. trachycephalus, first described by Boulenger in 1878. |
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Animal Description:
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The Greater Rough-Snouted Gecko (Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus trachyrhynchus) is the second largest Rhacodactylus known. It is also the largest live-bearing gecko in the world. Although its numbers are not currently threatened in the wild, it is the rarest of the Rhacodactylus in captivity, with few specimens in either European or U.S. collections. The greater rough-snouted gecko reaches a total length of over twelve inches. Sexing this species is somewhat controversial. Some believe this species is sexually dimorphic, with males having a dark brown to grayish brown background coloration with large contrasting whitish spots, while females are yellowish brown with smaller, less contrasting yellowish spots. Others have found that the patterns and colors vary for both sexes, and that they are only sexable after their third year of age. At that time, a hemipenal bulge begins to become apparent. Sexual maturity is reached after five years of age. |
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Lifespan is said to be over 30 years. Their tail is "extremely" prehensile and is used as a "fifth" leg to crawl through the branches of tall trees. They are a social species of gecko, tolerating the presence of more than one male in a breeding group. Expectant mothers become quite vocal prior to giving birth, and protective of their offspring after they are born. Males do not show aggression towards their own offspring, nor do other females within their breeding group. Mature females produce a maximum of two offspring per year. |
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| The Lesser Rough-Snouted Gecko (Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus trachycephalus) is the smaller dwarf island sub-species of this live-bearing gecko. It's captive numbers are only slightly more numerous than the Greater Rough-Snouted Gecko, but it is one of the rarest reptile species in the world, having it's entire habitat range contained on an island approximately four square blocks in size. The lesser rough-snouted gecko reaches a total length of over ten inches. |
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