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Low shrubs and small trees in dry maquis scrubland and forest edges. habitat
Gargoyle Gecko
Reptile Fact Sheet

Gargoyle Gecko

LC

Rhacodactylus auriculatus

Low shrubs and small trees in dry maquis scrubland and forest edges.

Fact Sheet

About this animal

Key facts about the gargoyle gecko.

Common Name
Gargoyle Gecko
Scientific Name
Rhacodactylus auriculatus
Classification
Reptilia • Squamata • Diplodactylidae
Distribution
Southern New Caledonia.
Habitat
Low shrubs and small trees in dry maquis scrubland and forest edges.
Range map · red pin marks a typical locationView larger map
Diet
Omnivore: insects, small lizards, fruit and nectar.
Size
20–25 cm (8–10 in).
Lifespan
15–20 years.
Conservation Status
LC
Least Concern.
Behaviour
Nocturnal and mostly solitary; males can be territorial.
Adaptations
Bumpy 'horns' on its head give it a gargoyle look and help it blend into knotted branches. Can regrow its tail if lost.
Predators
Birds, snakes and introduced predators.
Interesting Facts
  • One of only a handful of gecko species that will eat other lizards.
  • Comes in many natural colour patterns, from striped to blotched.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA) · Habitat: Southern New Caledonia maquis — Wikimedia Commons