The flat-tailed house gecko (''Hemidactylus platyurus''), also known as the frilled house gecko or Asian house gecko, is a species of

Gekkonidae Gekkonidae (the common geckos) is the largest family of geckos, containing over 950 described species in 62 genera. The Gekkonidae contain many of the most widespread gecko species, including house geckos (''Hemidactylus''), the tokay gecko (''Ge ...

native to southeastern and southern

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

. The species is sometimes classified under the genus '' Cosymbotus''.

Description

These geckos exhibit

patagia The patagium (: patagia) is a membranous body part that assists an animal in obtaining lift when gliding or flying. The structure is found in extant and extinct groups of flying and gliding animals including bats, theropod dinosaurs (includin ...

in the

trunk Trunk may refer to: Biology * Trunk (anatomy), synonym for torso * Trunk (botany), a tree's central superstructure, and the stem of woody plants * Trunk of corpus callosum, in neuroanatomy * Elephant trunk, the proboscis of an elephant Comput ...

, tail, and femoral region that are employed in

gliding Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sports, air sport in which pilots fly glider aircraft, unpowered aircraft known as Glider (sailplane), gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmospher ...

. Similarly to gliding geckos of the genus ''

Gekko ''Gekko'' is a genus of Southeast Asian geckos, Common name, commonly known as true geckos or calling geckos, in the Family (biology), family Gekkonidae. Although species such as ''Gekko gecko'' (tokay gecko) are very widespread and common, some ...

'' (formerly ''

Ptychozoon ''Ptychozoon'' was a genus of arboreal geckos, endemic to Southeast Asia, known commonly as flying geckos, gliding geckos, or parachute geckos. Malkmus R, Manthey U (2002). ''Amphibians & Reptiles of Mount Kinabalu (North Borneo).'' Germany: A. ...

''), these patagia are derived from expansion of

fat In nutrition science, nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such chemical compound, compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food. The term often refers specif ...

in the sides.

Identification

Snout longer than the distance between the eye and the ear opening, one time and a half the diameter of the orbit; forehead concave; ear-opening small, oval, oblique. Rostral four-sided, not twice as broad as high, with median cleft above; nostril bordered by the rostral, the first labial and three nasals. Nine to eleven upper and seven or eight lower labials; mental large. triangular or pentagonal; two pair of chin-shields, the median pair large, in contact with each other, the posterior pair small, sometimes separated from the labials. Body depressed, covered above with uniform small granules, largest on the snout; a dermal expansion from axilla to groin and another along the posterior side of the hind limb. Ventral scales cycloid, imbricate. Male with an uninterrupted series of 34–36 femoral pores. Tail depressed, flat inferiorly, with sharp denticulated lateral edge, covered above with uniform small granules, below with a median series of transversely dilated plates. Limbs moderate, depressed; digits strongly dilated, about half-webbed, inner well developed; 3 to 6 lamellae under the inner, 7 to 9 under the median digits. Grey above, marbled with darker grey; generally a dark streak from eye to shoulder. Lower parts white. Length of head and body ; tail .

Distribution

It is found in Bangladesh, India (Darjeeling, Sikkim, Nicobar Islands), Nepal, Bhutan, China (Guangdong, southeastern Tibet), Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia (including Tioman), Burma, Vietnam, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Irian), and the Philippines (Palawan, Calamian Islands, Panay, Luzon). They are also introduced in Florida (Pinellas, Alachua, Lee, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties) in the USA.

As a pet

These geckos are frequently found in the pet trade, including corporate chain stores, usually identified only as "house gecko". While there are other species of gecko available under the same common name, the ''Hemidactylus platyurus'' is easily identified by the flaps of skin along its sides, making them resemble a miniature flying gecko (genus ''

''). They are easily maintained in a

terrarium A terrarium ( terraria or terrariums) is a glass container containing soil and plants in an environment different from the surroundings. It is usually a sealable container that can be opened for maintenance or to access the plants inside; howeve ...

with frequent misting and insect prey, but they are not easy to handle. Also, herpetoculturists often use this species in addition to

anole Dactyloidae are a family of lizards commonly known as anoles (singular anole ) and native to warmer parts of the Americas, ranging from southeastern United States to Paraguay. Instead of treating it as a family, some authorities prefer to treat ...

s as a feeder lizard for some species of snakes, especially Asian green vine snakes (''

Ahaetulla prasina ''Ahaetulla prasina'' is an arboreal, moderately venomous species of opisthoglyphous vine snake in the family Colubridae, found in Southern and Southeast Asia. Its common names include the Asian vine snake, Boie's whip snake, Gunther's whip snak ...

'').

Notes

References

* Anderson, J. 1871 A list of the reptilian accession to the Indian Museum, Calcutta, from 1865 to 1870, with a description of some new species. J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Calcutta, 40, part 11(1): 12–39. * Annandale, N. 1907 Reports on a collection of batrachia, reptiles and f ish from Nepal and the western Himalayas. Lacertilia. Records of the Indian Museum, 1:151-155 * Kober, I. 2004 Der Saumschwanz-Hausgecko (Cosymbotus platyurus): Haltung und Nachzucht im Terrarium und im Freilauf. Draco 5 (18): 68–75 * Krysko, K.L. And Keidra J. Daniels 2005 A Key to the Geckos (Sauria: Gekkonidae) of Florida. Caribbean Journal of Science 41 (1): 28–36 * Myers, George Sprague 1943 The Lizard Names Platyurus and Cosymbotus. Copeia 1943 (3):192 * Schneider, J.G. 1797 Amphibiorum Physiologiae Specimen Alterum Historiam et Species Generis Stellionum seu Geckonum Sistens. Frankfurt (Oder), C. L. F. Aitzi (2): 30

External links

A technical description
(1980) of the species, as found on the

island of Komodo Komodo ( ) is one of the 17,508 islands that comprise the Republic of Indonesia. It is particularly notable as the habitat of the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on Earth, which is named after the island. Komodo Island has a surface area of 29 ...

. The heading is the older name of ''Platyurus platyurus'', but note the near-identical forelimb (A.) as the one depicted above.
Baby Cosymbotus platyurus PhotosAdult Cosymbotus platyurus Photos
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2573099 Geckos Articles containing video clips Reptiles described in 1797