In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J, Guayasamin JM (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Do we need a citation somewhere? Published: November 7, 2017 Last Updated: September 30, 2020. Available from: www.tropicalherping.com. The best time to look for this species is just after sunset. Buyers can be informed by email when new sellers list for both Lepidodactylus lugubris and other species. Distribution: Cosmopolitan. Special thanks to Woodland Manor Darts and Dragons, my.little.creatures, ReptilesRuS, and Helen Keeling of Blackwater Exotics for contributing photos and assisting with the creation of this mourning gecko care guide! The Tokay Geckos are much larger and distinctly colored, whereas the Day Geckos are diurnal, green in color and have round pupils. The Mourning Gecko is somewhat larger and stouter than the Indopacific Tree Gecko, and has claws on all toes. The Mourning Gecko occurs on all the large Hawaiian Islands as well as Niihau, Lanai and Kahoolawe. Etymology: The generic name Lepidodactylus, which comes from the Greek words lepis (meaning “scale”)29 and daktylos (meaning “finger”),29 probably refers to the rows of scaly plates on the underside of the digits of this gecko. The rest is explained here. The long tongue is swept over the eye like a windshield wiper, cleaning dust or other particles off the surface. We try our best to keep up, but sometimes things slip through the cracks. (7 -9.5 cm) TL. This is a very adaptable gecko, found both around residences and in rural, uninhabited areas as well. Mourning geckos (aka smooth-scaled geckos) are among the most widely distributed reptiles in the world. Lepidodactylus lugubris is a mostly nocturnal, 1,2 occasionally diurnal 3 gecko most commonly found on walls and ceilings 4 close to electric lights, 5 but also on light posts, palm trees, shrubs, bushes, and on the ground. The specific epithet lugubris is a Latin word meaning “mournful”29 and probably refers to the unusual fact that only females were known at the time the species was described.30 Perhaps the authors naively assumed that females were mourning their "missing" males. The back is covered with thin dark wavy chevron markings separating lighter patches. Parthenogenesis is a type of asexual reproduction, which means they don’t need males to reproduce. This adaptation is likely one of the reasons why mourning geckos have such a large native range. Juveniles of the Common House-Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) and the Tropical House-Gecko (H. mabouia) are similar, but have a series of pointed tubercles on the tail. House Geckos are larger, with bigger heads, and their toepads extend to the base of the toe. How to cite? There is a very characteristic dark line between eyes, with another extending from the tip of the snout through the eye and onto the neck. Spanish common names: Geco lúgubre, geco enlutado, salamanquesa lúgubre. ReptiFiles.com is a compilation of factual, science-based research from the best reptile care resources in the world, packaged in one neat website. They arrived in Hawaii before Europeans, either by stowing away with early Polynesians, or perhaps by rafting across the Pacific Ocean. If captured, they easily shed the tail. This small, rather stout gecko, only reaches 2.7 - 3.7 in. How can this be? The species ranges from Sri Lanka eastward across tropical Asia, and across the Pacific to Mexico and Central America. Sellers can easily list for each species they sell. Simply put, they can be found in the South Pacific islands, in Central and South America, and Hawaii. Mourning geckos are TINY — just 3.5” to 4” (8.5-10 cm) long, half of that length being a cute, knobby tail used for fat storage. Parthenogenesis. The Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris) is the only gecko in Ecuador having expanded digital disks, basal webbing between digits, and no enlarged scales on the body and tail. Free seller profile page! List of buyers and sellers of Lepidodactylus lugubris. Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris) Difficulty: Easy. Lepidodactylus lugubris; Captive Bred ; Approximately 2.5 – 3.5 Inches In Length From Head To Tail; Amazing And Variable Looking Geckos With Skin Tones Ranging From Dark Brown To Light Tan With Wavy Styled Patterns From Head To Tail Mourning geckos (aka smooth-scaled geckos) are among the most widely distributed reptiles in the world. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window). <3, Photo used with permission from Woodland Manor Darts and Dragons @WMD_n_D. Active at night searching for insects, they will also lick sweet nectar or juice, sometimes crawling around kitchens to lick juice or jam off counter tops. Mourning geckos are cathemeral, meaning they are irregularly active during both the day and night. (7 -9.5 cm) TL. Once the most abundant and widespread gecko in the Hawaiian Islands, this short, slow-moving species seems to be losing ground to the more aggressive Common House Gecko. Tests have shown that Mourning Gecko eggs are saltwater tolerant, making it likely that these geckos, or their eggs, could drift long distances across the ocean on uprooted trees or mats of vegetation washed out to sea by storms and floods. The skin on the back is satiny and lacks tubercles. What is ReptiFiles®? In the wild, mourning geckos enjoy an omnivorous diet of nectar, fruit, fruit flies, and other small insects. Photo used with permission from my.little.creatures, Can you tell that I love this species? Affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Quito, Ecuador. Like many other gecko species, mourning geckos “fire up/down,” varying in color from brown to light tan, respectively. They are primarily active at night, when they socialize with other geckos in the colony, hunt, and eat. Lepidodactylus lugubris is a mostly nocturnal,1,2 occasionally diurnal3 gecko most commonly found on walls and ceilings4 close to electric lights,5 but also on light posts, palm trees, shrubs, bushes, and on the ground.4,6 Throughout its range, this gecko occurs in or around human-modified environments7 in a variety of lowland habitats, from deserts and rainforests, to plantations. Published: November 7, 2017                      Last Updated: September 30, 2020. What sets us apart from the rest? Affiliation: Galapagos Science Center, Galápagos, Ecuador. Picture: Adult female. Its voice is a series of five to ten loud, short chirps, in quick succession. However, they can make fun, easy-to-maintain pets as well. However, there is female-female copulation,15 a behavior that stimulates both females to produce eggs. Mourning geckos are known for a very special characteristic: the entire species is female! In Ecuador, the species has become naturalized across lowland areas, including the Galápagos Islands. ReptiFiles is not a veterinary website, nor is the author Mariah Healey a veterinarian. This small, rather stout gecko, only reaches 2.7 - 3.7 in. If your pet reptile is experiencing a medical emergency, contact an experienced reptile veterinarian immediately. My name is Mariah Healey, reptile husbandry specialist and consultant. Scientific Name: Lepidodactylus lugubris complex / Common Names: Mourning Gecko. I have worked directly with a variety of species since 2014, and ReptiFiles is where I share my research with you. Affiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador. Reptile health information given on this site is not intended to act as or replace the advice of a certified veterinary professional. Females produce clutches of two18–19 seawater-resistant20 adhesive5 eggs throughout the year.21 These are deposited in communal nesting sites such as in crevices, holes, thatch of roofs, leaf axils, or under logs, lumber, bark, rocks, palm fronds, and leaves.5,22 Eggs hatch in 65–103 days.19 Females occasionally produce male offspring, but these males are infertile.14, When threatened, individuals of Lepidodactylus lugubris flee into crevices or under surface objects. Photographers: Alejandro ArteagaaAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador. An all-female species, the uni-sexual Mourning Geckos are communal nesters, laying pairs of eggs in favored locations such as tree cavities, in leaf axils or under loose bark. Thank you! Recognition: ♀♀ 11 cm. Some females seem to take on a dominant role, even showing courtship-like behavior. The Stump-toed Gecko lacks a claw on the inner toes of all four feet. © 2020 Tropical Herping. Hatchlings have more contrasting patterns and are less than 1.5 in. and Juan M GuayasaminbAffiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Quito, Ecuador.,cAffiliation: Galapagos Science Center, Galápagos, Ecuador.,dAffiliation: Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Quito, Ecuador. They feed mainly on insects that are attracted to artificial light sources,5,9 as well as on spiders, amphipods, pill bugs, nectar, ripe fruit, jam, sugar, sweetened drinks, milk, and even their own eggs.10–12, Mourning Geckos are gregarious.5 They communicate by using sounds13 and bobbing the head.14 Lepidodactylus lugubris is parthenogenetic,15–17 an all-female species that reproduces in the absence of males. Example: “ReptiFiles.com is the best place to learn about correct reptile husbandry.”. Mourning Geckos are native to Southeast Asia, but they have been introduced into the Americas, Australia, and a number of tropical islands across the globe. (3.5 cm) TL. Due to their ready breeding habits, mourning geckos are frequently kept as feeders for snakes, amphibians, invertebrates, and larger lizards. Authors: Alejandro ArteagaaAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador. English common names: Mourning Gecko, Maritime Gecko, Sad Gecko. Affiliation: Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Quito, Ecuador. Galápagos, Ecuador. This species account of the Mourning Gecko (. Despite their small size, however, they can live for as long as 10 years, and there have been some claims of 15 years. Lepidodactylus lugubris is well adapted to varying environments being endemic to the Pacific region and introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, Cocos Islands, Queensland Australia as well as Central and South America. Across their geographic range, Mourning Geckos are preyed upon by birds, mongooses, American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus), Santa Cruz Lava-Lizards (Microlophus indefatigabilis), Common House-Geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus), snakes, praying mantids, and spiders.5,23–25 They are also parasitized by a variety of worms.26, Conservation: Least Concern. Well, for one, we offer reptile care information that you can actually trust.