Cat gecko
The cat gecko (Aeluroscalabotes felinus) is a species of gecko found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and Thailand. It is the only species within the genus Aeluroscalabotes. It is commonly called the cat gecko because of its habit of curling up with its tail around itself when it sleeps, similar to a cat.
| Cat gecko | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| (unranked): | Gekkomorpha |
| Family: | Eublepharidae |
| Genus: | Aeluroscalabotes Boulenger, 1885 |
| Species: | A. felinus |
| Binomial name | |
| Aeluroscalabotes felinus Günther, 1864 | |
| Synonyms | |
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Pentadactylus felinus | |
Description
The cat gecko is a lightly built gecko, typically red-brown in color with white spots on its body, and solid white under its chin, and sometimes to the belly. Some specimens have brown blotching along the back. It is considered to be one of the more primitive geckos, and is physically quite similar in body structure to the few fossils of early geckos which have been discovered. They can grow to approximately 18 cm (7 inches), with males typically being smaller than females. As the only known semi-arboreal eublepharid, the cat gecko is known to possess subdigital seta up to 9 picometers in length; additionally, it uses small retractile claws and a prehensile tail to climb. [1]
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Behavior
Semi-arboreal and preferring cool, humid, montane rainforest habitats, the cat gecko is primarily nocturnal and insectivorous, consuming a wide variety of small insects.
Taxonomy
The species has been redescribed by several different taxonomists, leading to some early confusion in its classification, but its distinctly different morphological characteristics have clarified its status.
There are two recognized subspecies of Aeluroscalabotes felinus:
- Aeluroscalabotes felinus felinus (Günther, 1864)
- Aeluroscalabotes felinus multituberculatus (Kopstein, 1927)
In captivity
The cat gecko is a popular choice for a pet gecko, though they are not very commonly available and captive breeding is known to be difficult. Wild caught specimens often have heavy parasite loads, and they are easily susceptible to stress, so care can be difficult.
Conservation status
Exact population counts of the Cat gecko are unknown, though it is not considered to be common throughout its range. It does not hold any particular conservation status, except in Thailand, where collection and export is prohibited.