The “Eyes” Have It
(click on photos to enlarge)
Can you guess what creature this beautiful eye belongs to? Read on….
We’ve been living in the Sonoran Desert for ten months now and this is the first I’ve seen of the nocturnal Tucson Banded Gecko, Coleonyx variegatus bogerti (a subspecies of the Western Banded Gecko, Coleonyx variegatus) with the beautiful eyes. It was a surprise visitor at the front door one warm night.
Tucson Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus bogerti)
Upon doing some research on this species, I discovered a few interesting facts. These geckos come out of winter dormancy in spring and breed in April and May. Hatchlings appear from July to November. I shall be on the lookout. Maybe this individual was in search of a mate but I rather think it was attracted to the bugs at the porch lights. They eat scorpions! Fine with me.
Stripe-tailed Scorpion (Vaejovis spinigeris)
Notice the gecko’s chubby tail that is missing the tip. Fat is stored in that appendage and during the winter when their metabolism is reduced, this tail fat can sustain them for up to 9 months. This particular individual must have had an altercation which caused it to lose part of its tail but it will quickly grow back.
The Tucson/Western Banded Gecko differs from other geckos in that it does not have expanded toepads so you don’t find it on walls and ceilings. Movable eyelids and vertical pupils also distinguish it from other gecko species. As the geckos age, the bands become a series of spots and blotches. They can reach a length of 6″.
Published by Arlene Ripley on May 25th, 2008 Tagged Arachnids, Arizona, Nature, Reptiles, Tucson
March 15th, 2010 at 3:11 am
the eye looks like a painting
June 9th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
I live in Mesa, AZ and I found one last night! I like to stop and look at the local geckos. The one I found looked just like the pic, even had part of it’s tail missing!