Biology:Gekko monarchus

Short description: Species of lizard

Gekko monarchus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Gekkonidae
Genus:	Gekko
Species:	G. monarchus
Binomial name
Gekko monarchus (Schlegel, 1836)
Synonyms
Platydactylus monarchus Schlegel in Duméril and Bibron, 1836 Gekko tuberculatus Platydactylus burmeisteri Platydactylus deissneri

Gekko monarchus, also called the spotted house gecko, is a species of gecko found in the Malay Peninsula (including southern Thailand and Singapore), some smaller Malaysian islands, Borneo (Brunei, East Malaysia and Kalimantan), the Philippines , many Indonesian islands including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and New Guinea (Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea).

Characteristics

• This lizard has the typical body build of the genus Gekko - it appears flat and has a rough skin with small bumps on its back.
• Their tails regenerate once dropped, as with most gecko species. The regenerated tail will never look the same as the original (it has a different texture and slightly odd color)
• Similar to common house geckos and dtellas, males make quiet clicking sounds when courting a female; both sexes are capable of chirping and "barking". When startled or alarmed, the gecko waves its tail quickly and may breathe heavily, making a sound not unlike hissing.
• They have a W spot on the backs of their heads, typical for this species.
• Monarch geckos are strictly insectivorous, feeding on various types of insects (roaches, crickets, flies, spiders, even wasps).

References

Wikidata ☰ Q3010385 entry