Antimony96
Well-Known Member
BTW, missed opportunity in not calling this thread "Herping USA"
American Herping: A Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians in US Zoos
- Thread starter Coelacanth18
- Start date
Family Phrynosomatidae
This diverse family of lizards hail mostly from the American Southwest. 17 species were found in the survey, most of which belong to 2 genera.
Phrynosoma – Horned Lizards
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
Also called “horned toads”, I tend to think they look more like a land stingray than a toad. They have a wide, flattened body with a blunt head, short tail, horns behind the eyes and spines around their neck and body. They like to sit motionless and use camouflage to avoid predators, though they can move fast when threatened. They also have a third rather infamous defense system, which is squirting blood out of their eyes. I think we can all agree that’s pretty metal.
As specialized ant feeders, these lizards have historically fared poorly as pets. Several zoos do keep them, though. Despite most species being native, the most common by far is actually a foreign species – the Mexican Giant Horned Lizard (P. asio), which is held by several major zoos. Three native species were also found in small numbers each; the Phoenix Zoo (one of the best in the nation for native desert herps) had all three at one point. The Texas Horned Lizard is bred by at least a couple of Texan zoos for release into the wild.
Texas Horned Lizard (P. cornutum)
Desert Horned Lizard (P. platyrhinos)
Regal Horned Lizard (P. solare)
Mexican Giant Horned Lizard (P. asio)
Taken at Audubon Zoo by @geomorph
Regal Horned Lizard (P. solare)
Taken at Phoenix Zoo by @Ituri
Sceloporus – Spiny Lizards
Status in US Zoos: Common
California is lousy with this genus of small, fast-moving lizards – the Western Fence Lizard (S. occidentalis) is the most common lizard reported on iNaturalist nationwide, and in many parts of the state it’s hard to take more than a few steps outdoors without seeing one. While many of these species are in the West, they range across the continent and in a wide variety of habitats. In captivity, these are frequently overlooked natives that are most common in nature centers and other native-only collections. The most common captive species is the Blue Spiny Lizard (S. cyanogenys) from Texas, with at least 10 recent holders including some major zoos.
Other Sceloporus species found in survey:
Sagebrush Lizard (S. graciosus)
Yarrow’s Spiny Lizard (S. jarrovii)
Desert Spiny Lizard (S. magister)
Emerald Spiny Lizard (S. malachiticus)
Western Fence Lizard (S. occidentalis)
Texas Fence Lizard (S. olivaceus)
Granite Spiny Lizard (S. orcutti)
Crevice Spiny Lizard (S. poinsettii)
Eastern Fence Lizard (S. undulatus)
Blue Spiny Lizard (S. cyanogenys)
Taken at Oakland Zoo by @TheEthiopianWolf03
Baja Blue Rock Lizard (Petrosaurus thalassinus) – Prevalent
This 1.5 ft blue lizard is found in the coastal canyons and offshore islands of Baja California in Mexico. It is held mainly by a number of major zoos as a visually striking species for desert exhibits, often being mixed with chuckwallas and Gila monsters.
Taken at Sacramento Zoo by @Great Argus
Other species in the survey (both Rare):
Yuman Desert Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma cowlesi)
Common Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana)
This diverse family of lizards hail mostly from the American Southwest. 17 species were found in the survey, most of which belong to 2 genera.
Phrynosoma – Horned Lizards
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
Also called “horned toads”, I tend to think they look more like a land stingray than a toad. They have a wide, flattened body with a blunt head, short tail, horns behind the eyes and spines around their neck and body. They like to sit motionless and use camouflage to avoid predators, though they can move fast when threatened. They also have a third rather infamous defense system, which is squirting blood out of their eyes. I think we can all agree that’s pretty metal.
As specialized ant feeders, these lizards have historically fared poorly as pets. Several zoos do keep them, though. Despite most species being native, the most common by far is actually a foreign species – the Mexican Giant Horned Lizard (P. asio), which is held by several major zoos. Three native species were also found in small numbers each; the Phoenix Zoo (one of the best in the nation for native desert herps) had all three at one point. The Texas Horned Lizard is bred by at least a couple of Texan zoos for release into the wild.
Texas Horned Lizard (P. cornutum)
Desert Horned Lizard (P. platyrhinos)
Regal Horned Lizard (P. solare)
Mexican Giant Horned Lizard (P. asio)
Taken at Audubon Zoo by @geomorph
Regal Horned Lizard (P. solare)
Taken at Phoenix Zoo by @Ituri
Sceloporus – Spiny Lizards
Status in US Zoos: Common
California is lousy with this genus of small, fast-moving lizards – the Western Fence Lizard (S. occidentalis) is the most common lizard reported on iNaturalist nationwide, and in many parts of the state it’s hard to take more than a few steps outdoors without seeing one. While many of these species are in the West, they range across the continent and in a wide variety of habitats. In captivity, these are frequently overlooked natives that are most common in nature centers and other native-only collections. The most common captive species is the Blue Spiny Lizard (S. cyanogenys) from Texas, with at least 10 recent holders including some major zoos.
Other Sceloporus species found in survey:
Sagebrush Lizard (S. graciosus)
Yarrow’s Spiny Lizard (S. jarrovii)
Desert Spiny Lizard (S. magister)
Emerald Spiny Lizard (S. malachiticus)
Western Fence Lizard (S. occidentalis)
Texas Fence Lizard (S. olivaceus)
Granite Spiny Lizard (S. orcutti)
Crevice Spiny Lizard (S. poinsettii)
Eastern Fence Lizard (S. undulatus)
Blue Spiny Lizard (S. cyanogenys)
Taken at Oakland Zoo by @TheEthiopianWolf03
Baja Blue Rock Lizard (Petrosaurus thalassinus) – Prevalent
This 1.5 ft blue lizard is found in the coastal canyons and offshore islands of Baja California in Mexico. It is held mainly by a number of major zoos as a visually striking species for desert exhibits, often being mixed with chuckwallas and Gila monsters.
Taken at Sacramento Zoo by @Great Argus
Other species in the survey (both Rare):
Yuman Desert Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma cowlesi)
Common Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana)
Family Iguanidae
Enough talking about things that are related to iguanas; let’s move on to actual iguanas! Herbivorous lizards from the Americas (with one exception), most are large lizards with dorsal spines, a whiplike tail, and a dewlap on the neck. It’s a pretty diverse and popular group in captivity; there were 25 species found in the survey, representing all genera except the two from the Galapagos Islands. I’ll start with the more “traditional” iguanas that most people will recognize today.
Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
Status in US Zoos: Abundant overall; only Prevalent in AZA facilities
The most recognizable iguana, these large lizards are found over a vast swath of tropical America from Mexico to Brazil. They’ve also become introduced and invasive to numerous tropical and subtropical areas; this includes (you guessed it) Florida, where they are infamous for dropping dead out of trees en masse when there’s a cold snap.
Green iguanas are very popular as pets in the United States, despite their large size (sometimes over 6 ft long) and ability to inflict serious injury. They are now illegal to keep in some areas, including Hawaii and New York City. As a well-known and easy to acquire large reptile, they are very popular in unaccredited zoos. They are noticeably rarer in major zoos, which tend to hold more endangered iguanas like Cyclura – to be covered below.
A wild individual at the Miami Zoo; taken by @Ituri
There was also a single holding of the related and critically endangered Lesser Antillean Iguana (I. delicatissima) at the recently opened Iguanaland reptile zoo in Florida. The zoo also has the Saban Black subspecies of Green Iguana, which may be a distinct species itself.
Genus Cyclura – Caribbean Rock Iguanas
These large, ground-dwelling iguanas hail from various islands in the Caribbean, and since the 1990s this genus has been a big focus of conservation and captive breeding efforts by American zoos. Half a dozen species were found in the survey.
Rhinoceros Iguana (C. cornuta) – Common
The most common Cyclura species in captivity, and probably the second most recognizable iguana for people that aren’t super into iguanas. These nose-horned lizards come from Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where they are endangered due to illegal hunting. These can be found in all kinds of different zoos, from tiny roadsides to reptilian superpowers.
Taken at the Sacramento Zoo by @Great Argus
Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (C. lewisi) – Prevalent
The older and larger of AZA’s two Cyclura breeding programs, with nearly all holders being major zoos. Native to the Cayman Islands, these rare lizards was down to a mere handful of wild individuals until large-scale breeding and reintroduction efforts boosted the population back up into the hundreds; American zoos were behind much of this effort.
Taken at the Bronx Zoo by @Andrew_NZP
Jamaican Iguana (C. collei) – Uncommon
Also an AZA breeding program. Once thought extinct for 50 years, this species is only found in one hilly region of Jamaica; their primary threat are invasive mongooses that eat their eggs and babies. This is also a smaller species than the previous two.
Taken at the Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago) by @Andrew_NZP
Cuban Rock Iguana (C. nubila) – Uncommon
Slightly less threatened than the other species, this is another Cyclura present in a handful of major zoos and reptile specialist facilities.
Other species in survey (both Rare):
Anegada Ground Iguana (C. pinguis)
Ricord’s Rock Iguana (C. ricordii)
Enough talking about things that are related to iguanas; let’s move on to actual iguanas! Herbivorous lizards from the Americas (with one exception), most are large lizards with dorsal spines, a whiplike tail, and a dewlap on the neck. It’s a pretty diverse and popular group in captivity; there were 25 species found in the survey, representing all genera except the two from the Galapagos Islands. I’ll start with the more “traditional” iguanas that most people will recognize today.
Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
Status in US Zoos: Abundant overall; only Prevalent in AZA facilities
The most recognizable iguana, these large lizards are found over a vast swath of tropical America from Mexico to Brazil. They’ve also become introduced and invasive to numerous tropical and subtropical areas; this includes (you guessed it) Florida, where they are infamous for dropping dead out of trees en masse when there’s a cold snap.
Green iguanas are very popular as pets in the United States, despite their large size (sometimes over 6 ft long) and ability to inflict serious injury. They are now illegal to keep in some areas, including Hawaii and New York City. As a well-known and easy to acquire large reptile, they are very popular in unaccredited zoos. They are noticeably rarer in major zoos, which tend to hold more endangered iguanas like Cyclura – to be covered below.
A wild individual at the Miami Zoo; taken by @Ituri
There was also a single holding of the related and critically endangered Lesser Antillean Iguana (I. delicatissima) at the recently opened Iguanaland reptile zoo in Florida. The zoo also has the Saban Black subspecies of Green Iguana, which may be a distinct species itself.
Genus Cyclura – Caribbean Rock Iguanas
These large, ground-dwelling iguanas hail from various islands in the Caribbean, and since the 1990s this genus has been a big focus of conservation and captive breeding efforts by American zoos. Half a dozen species were found in the survey.
Rhinoceros Iguana (C. cornuta) – Common
The most common Cyclura species in captivity, and probably the second most recognizable iguana for people that aren’t super into iguanas. These nose-horned lizards come from Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where they are endangered due to illegal hunting. These can be found in all kinds of different zoos, from tiny roadsides to reptilian superpowers.
Taken at the Sacramento Zoo by @Great Argus
Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (C. lewisi) – Prevalent
The older and larger of AZA’s two Cyclura breeding programs, with nearly all holders being major zoos. Native to the Cayman Islands, these rare lizards was down to a mere handful of wild individuals until large-scale breeding and reintroduction efforts boosted the population back up into the hundreds; American zoos were behind much of this effort.
Taken at the Bronx Zoo by @Andrew_NZP
Jamaican Iguana (C. collei) – Uncommon
Also an AZA breeding program. Once thought extinct for 50 years, this species is only found in one hilly region of Jamaica; their primary threat are invasive mongooses that eat their eggs and babies. This is also a smaller species than the previous two.
Taken at the Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago) by @Andrew_NZP
Cuban Rock Iguana (C. nubila) – Uncommon
Slightly less threatened than the other species, this is another Cyclura present in a handful of major zoos and reptile specialist facilities.
Other species in survey (both Rare):
Anegada Ground Iguana (C. pinguis)
Ricord’s Rock Iguana (C. ricordii)
Some of my European friends have been skeptical that the Blue Iguanas in AZA zoos are pure, as most captive individuals in the pet trade and Europe have been hybridized with Cuban Iguanas.
It looks like the AZA population is property of the Cayman Islands and they act as an assurance colony.
https://ircf.org/wp-content/uploads...s-Action-Plan-C.lewisi-2021-2026-FINAL-1_.pdf
It looks like the AZA population is property of the Cayman Islands and they act as an assurance colony.
https://ircf.org/wp-content/uploads...s-Action-Plan-C.lewisi-2021-2026-FINAL-1_.pdf
What's the Old World species?
Four, really; the Fijian genus Brachylophus.
The Fijian genus Brachylophus. It's still unclear to me whether the ones in US zoos are pure or hybrids, though.
Oh right. I was racking my brain trying to think of something in Asia or Africa.
More iguanas today.
Fijian Banded Iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus/bulabula/gau) – Prevalent
The only genus to reside outside the Americas is found in Fiji, famously touted as a place that is better than other places (it’s where your fancy bottled water comes from). Their iguanas are no exception; the males are dark green with seafoam-colored stripes, while the females are a solid neon green. How the iguanas got to the islands is uncertain, but the prevailing theory is that some plucky American iguanas Kon-Tikied across the Pacific on rafts. These smaller, arboreal iguanas – once considered a single species – have been split into three over the past several years, so it’s unclear which populations are represented here. Major AZA zoos cooperatively breed banded iguanas for display.
Taken at the Fort Worth Zoo by @ChIkEn NuGrEt
Ctenosaura and Cachryx– Spinytail Iguanas
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
These iguanas are found throughout Mexico and Central America. In some areas they are quite common; for example, resort areas and Mayan ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula are covered in these lizards. Over a dozen species were found in the survey, roughly a third of which are exclusively displayed at the newly opened Iguanaland facility in Florida. No single species dominates the captive population; the most widespread seems to be the Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri), which is held by over half a dozen facilities.
Here are the other 13 species (C. = Ctenosaura)
Mexican Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. acanthura)
Balsas Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. clarki)
San Esteban Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. conspicuosa)
Baja California Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. hemilopha)
Sonoran Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. macrolopha)
Honduran Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. melanosterna)
Roatan Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. oedirhina)
Guatemalan or Motagua Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. palearis)
Western Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. pectinata)
Club-tailed Iguana (C. quinquecarineta)
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. similis)
Campeche Spiny-tailed Iguana (Cachyrx alfredschmidti)
Yucatan Spiny-tailed Iguana (Cachryx defensor)
There are also a small number of hybrid animals in American zoos, as well as an accidentally introduced population on the grounds of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Note: I've left off species for the photos below, as Ctenosaura taxonomy has undergone a lot of revisions and I'm not 100% certain of the species IDs for these animals. The photos were chosen mainly to showcase the basic physical appearances.
Taken at the Nashville Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
Taken at the Fort Worth Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
Wild (introduced) spiny-tailed iguana
Taken at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum by @Ituri
Fijian Banded Iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus/bulabula/gau) – Prevalent
The only genus to reside outside the Americas is found in Fiji, famously touted as a place that is better than other places (it’s where your fancy bottled water comes from). Their iguanas are no exception; the males are dark green with seafoam-colored stripes, while the females are a solid neon green. How the iguanas got to the islands is uncertain, but the prevailing theory is that some plucky American iguanas Kon-Tikied across the Pacific on rafts. These smaller, arboreal iguanas – once considered a single species – have been split into three over the past several years, so it’s unclear which populations are represented here. Major AZA zoos cooperatively breed banded iguanas for display.
Taken at the Fort Worth Zoo by @ChIkEn NuGrEt
Ctenosaura and Cachryx– Spinytail Iguanas
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
These iguanas are found throughout Mexico and Central America. In some areas they are quite common; for example, resort areas and Mayan ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula are covered in these lizards. Over a dozen species were found in the survey, roughly a third of which are exclusively displayed at the newly opened Iguanaland facility in Florida. No single species dominates the captive population; the most widespread seems to be the Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri), which is held by over half a dozen facilities.
Here are the other 13 species (C. = Ctenosaura)
Mexican Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. acanthura)
Balsas Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. clarki)
San Esteban Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. conspicuosa)
Baja California Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. hemilopha)
Sonoran Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. macrolopha)
Honduran Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. melanosterna)
Roatan Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. oedirhina)
Guatemalan or Motagua Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. palearis)
Western Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. pectinata)
Club-tailed Iguana (C. quinquecarineta)
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (C. similis)
Campeche Spiny-tailed Iguana (Cachyrx alfredschmidti)
Yucatan Spiny-tailed Iguana (Cachryx defensor)
There are also a small number of hybrid animals in American zoos, as well as an accidentally introduced population on the grounds of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Note: I've left off species for the photos below, as Ctenosaura taxonomy has undergone a lot of revisions and I'm not 100% certain of the species IDs for these animals. The photos were chosen mainly to showcase the basic physical appearances.
Taken at the Nashville Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
Taken at the Fort Worth Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
Wild (introduced) spiny-tailed iguana
Taken at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum by @Ituri
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Last day of iguanas! We'll finish up with some native desert species before moving on to an entirely different group of lizards next week.
Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) – Uncommon to Prevalent
This smaller iguana looks somewhat like a leopard lizard, and is found in the same kinds of habitat across the Mojave and Sonoran deserts.
Taken at the California Living Museum by @ThylacineAlive
Sauromalus – Chuckwallas
Surprised? Yes, chuckwallas are a type of iguana! They are smaller than most species in the family, at 1 to 1.5 ft long. They also have flat bodies and smooth backs, rather than a tapered body and row of spines like most iguanas. They are found in the American Southwest and Mexico.
Common Chuckwalla (S. ater) – Very Common
Our native species. The color varies, but males are generally black and females brown.
Taken at the San Antonio Zoo by @Ding Lingwei
Taken at the Sacramento Zoo by @Anteaterman
San Esteban Chuckwalla (S. varius) – Prevalent
An endangered species found on San Esteban Island in the Gulf of California. This is an AZA breeding program and several major American zoos hold this species. It is generally piebald in color, with a marbling of of black and tan.
Taken at the Houston Zoo by @Ggrarl
Spotted Chuckwalla (S. klauberi) – Absent?
This species was only recorded at Los Angeles Zoo, and as of 2022 it appears to no longer be on display.
Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) – Uncommon to Prevalent
This smaller iguana looks somewhat like a leopard lizard, and is found in the same kinds of habitat across the Mojave and Sonoran deserts.
Taken at the California Living Museum by @ThylacineAlive
Sauromalus – Chuckwallas
Surprised? Yes, chuckwallas are a type of iguana! They are smaller than most species in the family, at 1 to 1.5 ft long. They also have flat bodies and smooth backs, rather than a tapered body and row of spines like most iguanas. They are found in the American Southwest and Mexico.
Common Chuckwalla (S. ater) – Very Common
Our native species. The color varies, but males are generally black and females brown.
Taken at the San Antonio Zoo by @Ding Lingwei
Taken at the Sacramento Zoo by @Anteaterman
San Esteban Chuckwalla (S. varius) – Prevalent
An endangered species found on San Esteban Island in the Gulf of California. This is an AZA breeding program and several major American zoos hold this species. It is generally piebald in color, with a marbling of of black and tan.
Taken at the Houston Zoo by @Ggrarl
Spotted Chuckwalla (S. klauberi) – Absent?
This species was only recorded at Los Angeles Zoo, and as of 2022 it appears to no longer be on display.
Quick news update regarding my last post: upon a visit to the Los Angeles Zoo this weekend, I found that the Spotted Chuckwalla (Sauromalus klauberi) is back on display at LAIR! Also signed in the outdoor open-topped desert enclosure was another species of phrynosomatid lizard, the Santa Catalina Side-blotched Lizard (Uta squamata).
Geckos (Infraorder Gekkota)
Part I: The Gecko Menace (Common Tree Geckos)
Everybody knows these little guys; usually nocturnal, most species use adhesive toepads to stick vertically (and sometimes even upside-down) on surfaces from tree trunks to the glass in a terrarium. Their large eyes let in high amounts of light, and are generally fixed in place with no eyelids; this requires them to lick their eyeballs in order to prevent them drying out. Like many of the other lizards, they can also detach their tails to escape predators.
These are extremely common lizards across most warm regions of the planet, from deserts and jungles to oceanic islands and suburban homes. With nearly 2,000 species of gecko split across 7 families, this is a huge and diverse group of lizards. The survey found 38 species from 5 families, so only a tiny fraction are represented here (although there are dozens more in the private trade that didn't show up in public collections). We’ll start with Gekkonidae – the largest and most “stereotypical” family.
Tokay Gecko (Gekko gekko) – Prevalent
The one that started it all! The third-largest gecko (we’ll get to both of the larger ones, don’t worry) and a common resident of tropical Asia, this gecko can get to over 1 ft in length. Usually blue-gray with red or orange spots/speckles, but can change color. Wild individuals are aggressive and bitey by nature; they are also known for making loud croaking and barking vocalizations.
Taken at the Chimelong Birds Park (China) by @Himimomi
Turquoise Dwarf Gecko (Lygodactylus williamsi) – Uncommon
Also called Williams Dwarf Gecko or Electric Blue Gecko, this vibrantly colored species is widely sold in the pet trade; unfortunately, these were collected illegally and to the extent that it is now critically endangered. It is found exclusively in a 3 sq mi (8 sq km) forest in the Tanzanian mountain jungles, and this habitat is at risk to human development. There is a captive breeding program in Europe for these, where ~60 holders keep the species. It is comparatively rare in American collections, with all 6 holders I found being major zoos with large reptile collections.
Taken at the Brookfield Zoo by @Zoological Point
Flying Geckos (Gekko/Ptychozoon spp) – Rare
Like flying frogs, these are obviously gliders – but it’s still super neat! Unfortunately these are pretty rare in the US, though I’m proud to have documented them twice at relatively unknown zoos (Abilene and Little Rock). Of the 4 holders I found, 3 are labeled as Kuhl’s (G. kuhlii) while the fourth ID is unknown.
Note the big webbed feet in the photo below!
Horsfield's Flying Gecko (Gekko horsfieldi)
Taken in the wild (Brunei) by @Hix
Tomorrow I’ll start covering the two primary types of tree gecko found in American zoos; until then, I’ll leave you with a list of the other Gekkonidae species, all of which were found in a small number of facilities each:
Psychedelic Rock Gecko (Cnemaspis psychedelica)
Halmahera Giant Gecko (Gehyra marginata)
Skunk Gecko (Gekko vittatus)
Indo-Pacific Gecko (Hemidactylus garnottii)
Carrot-tail Viper Gecko (Hemidactylus imbricatus)
Mediterranean House Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)
Prickly Gecko (Heteronotia binoei)
Carrot-tail Viper Gecko (Hemidactylus imbricatus)
Taken at the Sedgwick County Zoo by @Ituri
Geckos (Infraorder Gekkota)
Part I: The Gecko Menace (Common Tree Geckos)
Everybody knows these little guys; usually nocturnal, most species use adhesive toepads to stick vertically (and sometimes even upside-down) on surfaces from tree trunks to the glass in a terrarium. Their large eyes let in high amounts of light, and are generally fixed in place with no eyelids; this requires them to lick their eyeballs in order to prevent them drying out. Like many of the other lizards, they can also detach their tails to escape predators.
These are extremely common lizards across most warm regions of the planet, from deserts and jungles to oceanic islands and suburban homes. With nearly 2,000 species of gecko split across 7 families, this is a huge and diverse group of lizards. The survey found 38 species from 5 families, so only a tiny fraction are represented here (although there are dozens more in the private trade that didn't show up in public collections). We’ll start with Gekkonidae – the largest and most “stereotypical” family.
Tokay Gecko (Gekko gekko) – Prevalent
The one that started it all! The third-largest gecko (we’ll get to both of the larger ones, don’t worry) and a common resident of tropical Asia, this gecko can get to over 1 ft in length. Usually blue-gray with red or orange spots/speckles, but can change color. Wild individuals are aggressive and bitey by nature; they are also known for making loud croaking and barking vocalizations.
Taken at the Chimelong Birds Park (China) by @Himimomi
Turquoise Dwarf Gecko (Lygodactylus williamsi) – Uncommon
Also called Williams Dwarf Gecko or Electric Blue Gecko, this vibrantly colored species is widely sold in the pet trade; unfortunately, these were collected illegally and to the extent that it is now critically endangered. It is found exclusively in a 3 sq mi (8 sq km) forest in the Tanzanian mountain jungles, and this habitat is at risk to human development. There is a captive breeding program in Europe for these, where ~60 holders keep the species. It is comparatively rare in American collections, with all 6 holders I found being major zoos with large reptile collections.
Taken at the Brookfield Zoo by @Zoological Point
Flying Geckos (Gekko/Ptychozoon spp) – Rare
Like flying frogs, these are obviously gliders – but it’s still super neat! Unfortunately these are pretty rare in the US, though I’m proud to have documented them twice at relatively unknown zoos (Abilene and Little Rock). Of the 4 holders I found, 3 are labeled as Kuhl’s (G. kuhlii) while the fourth ID is unknown.
Note the big webbed feet in the photo below!
Horsfield's Flying Gecko (Gekko horsfieldi)
Taken in the wild (Brunei) by @Hix
Tomorrow I’ll start covering the two primary types of tree gecko found in American zoos; until then, I’ll leave you with a list of the other Gekkonidae species, all of which were found in a small number of facilities each:
Psychedelic Rock Gecko (Cnemaspis psychedelica)
Halmahera Giant Gecko (Gehyra marginata)
Skunk Gecko (Gekko vittatus)
Indo-Pacific Gecko (Hemidactylus garnottii)
Carrot-tail Viper Gecko (Hemidactylus imbricatus)
Mediterranean House Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)
Prickly Gecko (Heteronotia binoei)
Carrot-tail Viper Gecko (Hemidactylus imbricatus)
Taken at the Sedgwick County Zoo by @Ituri
Surprising that there are no Oplurids in the US apparently. There is also less diversity than I imagined there would be, especially as a typical reptile house in the US has so many more enclosures than European ones, but with venomous snakes that will change....
There are. I should have made a note of this earlier, I haven't covered *all* of the families in the Iguanomorpha lineage yet. There are three small families that I lumped into "miscellaneous lizards" which will be covered later, one of which is Opluridae. In retrospect I could have just done an additional post in sequence with those three families, but I didn't realize the relation for two families until I'd written everything in a certain order and didn't feel like rewriting it.
I think a lot of it is lack of diversity within families. Taking geckos as an example, many major zoos here will have a handful of gecko species - but they are more or less the same handful of geckos at each zoo. Large zoos have their rarities of course, but most species in any given reptile house will be ones easily seen at other zoos around the country.
IMO lizards is the group where the diversity feels most lacking, with a handful of species taking up most of the spaces. Venomous snakes is definitely a different beast: I'll get to those numbers eventually, but the odds of seeing new species from zoo to zoo is a lot higher. The holdings for non-venomous snakes, chelonians and crocodilians are also more varied on average.
To quote a rather (in)famous Canadian pop star: "What do you mean?"
SusScrofa
Well-Known Member
I understand why it wasn't included, but what I found out to be Mourning Geckos (Lepidodactylus lugubris) are often seen in zoos in terrariums with other lizards or frogs, for habitat cleaning. I've seen them at several facilities so far. They aren't ever signed and the zoos don't acknowledge them as official parts of the collection, but they are completely captive and rely solely on zoo resources for survival so I'd say they deserve an honorable mention.
Worth a mention, I agree. I knew that some zoo buildings had wild geckos living within them; IIRC I left that out of the write-up because I've never been 100% sure what species they are or if they were actually permanent breeding populations.
That is definitely not how I'd classify CAS, which is another holder of the species.
That is definitely not how I'd classify CAS, which is another holder of the species.
I didn't know the California Academy of Sciences had them until just now, they appear to be a new holder for the species. More broadly, my point was that they aren't a species Americans should expect to randomly find in small town or countryside zoos.
Geckos Part II: Attack of the Day Geckos
Over 75% of Gekkonidae holdings in the survey belonged to two Malagasy genera: Phelsuma (day geckos) and Uroplatus (leaf-tailed geckos). Both make great displays for different reasons, and while the lack of many other geckos is a shame it’s good to have these around in sizable numbers at least.
Phelsuma – Day Geckos
So named because they are active during the day, unlike most geckos. They range in color, but most are bright green with various splashes of red, blue, and yellow. That combined with their high visibility makes them great for reptile displays. Only 5 species appeared in the survey, which I thought was surprisingly low; however, with roughly a third of surveyed holders having at least one species of Phelsuma they are a very common group overall.
Madagascar Giant Day Geckos (P. grandis and P. madagascariensis) – Very Common
By far the most common day gecko is also the largest, at up to 1 ft in length. They have a red line between the eye and nostril, and usually red spots on their back.
P. grandis was split from madagascariensis in 2007; they share a common name and many zoos have outdated taxonomy on their signage, so the specifics of who holds what are unclear. Several zoos specifically sign grandis; one zoo also has Koch’s Giant Day Gecko, which is considered by some (including the IUCN) to be an additional species P. kochi. When it comes to telling them apart, the red stripe on madagascariensis goes past the eye and is not as vibrantly colored as in grandis.
Taken by @Astrotom3000 at the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina
Standing’s Day Gecko (P. standingi) – Prevalent
This large, vulnerable day gecko is slightly smaller than P. grandis/madagascariensis, and only about half as common in US collections. They can be told apart by their color, which is not the neon green but more commonly a pale purple, with some green around the head and front of the animal.
Taken by @Coelacanth18 at the ABQ Biopark Zoo in New Mexico
Yellow-headed Day Gecko (or Neon Day Gecko) (P. klemmeri) – Uncommon
Less common than Standing’s but still held in several facilities. This endangered species is (was?) part of a breeding program in Europe, where it is more common. The yellow head is kind of a giveaway, but it’s also much smaller than the previous two species.
Taken by @Andrew_NZP at the Smithsonian National Zoo
Other Phelsuma species in the survey:
Peacock Day Gecko (P. quadriocellata) – Rare
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I have also seen this species signed as "Neon Day Gecko". Figured I'd mention this in case others have also seen it signed as such.Yellow-headed Day Gecko (or Klemmer’s Day Gecko) (P. klemmeri) – Uncommon
Less common than Standing’s but still held in several facilities. This endangered species is (was?) part of a breeding program in Europe, where it is more common. The yellow head is kind of a giveaway, but it’s also much smaller than the previous two species.
Taken by @Andrew_NZP at the Smithsonian National Zoo
Geckos Episode III: Revenge of the Leaf-tailed Geckos
Genus Uroplatus
The masters of camouflage, except when they stick themselves to the glass of their terrariums. The Uroplatus are not as colorful as some other geckos, but their appearance is amazing in a different way – their intricate foliage-shaped appendages. Finding one in an exhibit isn’t always easy, but it can be very rewarding! Another Malagasy genus, almost all holdings I found were in AZA accredited zoos and aquariums.
9 species were found in the survey. While Europe does well for itself with day geckos, the United States excels with this genus. This is thanks to fantastic breeding work done at the Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina, which has received two AZA awards for its leaf-tailed gecko breeding: they have bred over 2,000 in the past 20 years, and successfully pulled the Henkel’s species from a low of 39 animals to a jaw-dropping 365 in the span of about 15 years (as well as another 60 that were exported to European zoos). The zoo currently has 8 species of Uroplatus; not sure which ones are on display currently (@Astrotom3000 did you see any in the new ARC when you visited?)
Taking Root :: Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
https://www.aza.org/aza-news-releases/posts/riverbanks-zoo-and-gardens-gecko-breeding-program-receives-award-from-association-of-zoos--aquariums
Henkel’s Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. henkeli) – Very Common
This species easily outnumbers the rest, with well over 30 holders. It is one of the largest species at close to 1 ft in length.
Taken by @Coelacanth18 at the Oakland Zoo
Giant Leaf-tailed Gecko and Common Flat-tailed Gecko
U. fimbriatus and U. giganteus
Status: Uncommon to Prevalent
Slightly larger but otherwise similar-looking species to Henkel’s. Both species may be present, but due to lack of information and poor signage I can't verify that or how many of each there are. The AZA's website specifies the breeding program is for fimbriatus.
Taken by @ThylacineAlive at the Bronx Zoo
Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. sikorae) – Uncommon
The name gives away the gimmick, but you kind of have to see it yourself or in a photo to truly appreciate the camouflage capabilities of this one. While the AZA’s population is sikorae, the Electric City Aquarium in Pennsylvania (the only non-AZA Uroplatus holder found in the survey) has signed the similar-looking sameiti species that was split in the late 2000’s.
A wild U. sikorae; photographed in Madagascar by @lintworm
Other Uroplatus species found in survey (all Rare):
Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. phantasticus)
Lined Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. lineatus)
Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. alluaudi)
Spearpoint Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. ebenaui)
Genus Uroplatus
The masters of camouflage, except when they stick themselves to the glass of their terrariums. The Uroplatus are not as colorful as some other geckos, but their appearance is amazing in a different way – their intricate foliage-shaped appendages. Finding one in an exhibit isn’t always easy, but it can be very rewarding! Another Malagasy genus, almost all holdings I found were in AZA accredited zoos and aquariums.
9 species were found in the survey. While Europe does well for itself with day geckos, the United States excels with this genus. This is thanks to fantastic breeding work done at the Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina, which has received two AZA awards for its leaf-tailed gecko breeding: they have bred over 2,000 in the past 20 years, and successfully pulled the Henkel’s species from a low of 39 animals to a jaw-dropping 365 in the span of about 15 years (as well as another 60 that were exported to European zoos). The zoo currently has 8 species of Uroplatus; not sure which ones are on display currently (@Astrotom3000 did you see any in the new ARC when you visited?)
Taking Root :: Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
https://www.aza.org/aza-news-releases/posts/riverbanks-zoo-and-gardens-gecko-breeding-program-receives-award-from-association-of-zoos--aquariums
Henkel’s Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. henkeli) – Very Common
This species easily outnumbers the rest, with well over 30 holders. It is one of the largest species at close to 1 ft in length.
Taken by @Coelacanth18 at the Oakland Zoo
Giant Leaf-tailed Gecko and Common Flat-tailed Gecko
U. fimbriatus and U. giganteus
Status: Uncommon to Prevalent
Slightly larger but otherwise similar-looking species to Henkel’s. Both species may be present, but due to lack of information and poor signage I can't verify that or how many of each there are. The AZA's website specifies the breeding program is for fimbriatus.
Taken by @ThylacineAlive at the Bronx Zoo
Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. sikorae) – Uncommon
The name gives away the gimmick, but you kind of have to see it yourself or in a photo to truly appreciate the camouflage capabilities of this one. While the AZA’s population is sikorae, the Electric City Aquarium in Pennsylvania (the only non-AZA Uroplatus holder found in the survey) has signed the similar-looking sameiti species that was split in the late 2000’s.
A wild U. sikorae; photographed in Madagascar by @lintworm
Other Uroplatus species found in survey (all Rare):
Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. phantasticus)
Lined Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. lineatus)
Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. alluaudi)
Spearpoint Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. ebenaui)