Goniurosaurus araneus

(Grismer et al., 1999)

Distribution:

Common name- Vietnamese leopard gecko, Vietnamese tiger gecko

Found in the Cao Bang Province of Vietnam and Guangxi Province in China.  

Currently Goniurosaurus araneus is threatened by extinction.

Goniurosaurus araneus is in the XXXXXXX group of cave geckos

Description:

The word araneus means spider in Latin.  This is a reference to their long, slender legs.  G. araneus has an overall length of about 19 centimeters (7 inches).  They have a dark grey color and display many black spots with four wide orange bands across their back.   A feature of G. araneus that stands out is the bright orange eyes.  The coloration of the juveniles matches differs from their parents as they display a darker body coloration.   They typically live to around 10 years but may live as long as 15.  This is a very shy gecko and special setup considerations should be followed.  G. araneus are crepuscular (active at dawn and dust) and nocturnal.

Habitat:

The Vietnamese leopard gecko can be found primarily in rocky areas.  It is found along streams with thick forest vegetation nearby.  These areas offer consistent high humidity and a cooler environment.   They will be found occasionally in cave areas but mostly feel more comfortable hiding beneath rocks, fallen wood, and within the leaf litter of the forest floor.   Note- they are found in a very specific microhabitats and generally in low population densities.

Husbandry and Breeding:

See Cave Gecko General Care.

Text and Photos: Wally Kern, Supreme Gecko