Dwarf yellow-headed gecko explained

The yellow-headed dwarf gecko or dwarf yellow-headed gecko (Lygodactylus luteopicturatus) is a small species of dwarf gecko found in the rocky areas of southern Kenya, Somalia (maybe as an introduced species), eastern Tanzania, and Zanzibar.^[1] It can grow up to 90mm, but on average attains a length of 80mm with a snout-vent (body) length of 39mm. The tail length can be equal to the length of the body from snout to the anus (SVL or Snout-Vent Length).^[2]

The yellow-headed dwarf gecko has a defense mechanism called tail autotomy, where they drop their tails to flee to safety when they are attacked by a predator. However, tail autotomy only gives the gecko an immediate benefit to escape because an autotomized gecko is slower without its tail and has difficulty running on vertical surfaces.^[3]

References

• Broadley, D. G. & HOWELL, K. M. (1991). A checklist of the reptiles of Tanzania, with synoptic keys. Syntarsus, 1: 1—70
• Spawls, S.; Howell, K.; Drewes, R.C. & Ashe, J. (2001). A field guide to the reptiles of East Africa. Academic Press, 543 pp

Notes and References

1. http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Lygodactylus&species=luteopicturatus Lygodactylus luteopicturatus
2. https://terravivagrants.org/grant-makers/group-2-biodiversity-conservation-wildlife/mohamed-bin-zayed-species-conservation-fund/ Geckos
3. Medger. Katarina. Verburgt. Luke. Bateman. Philip W.. 2008. The Influence of Tail Autotomy on the Escape Response of the Dwarf Gecko, Lygodactylus. Ethology. en. 114. 1. 42–52. 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2007.01445.x. 1439-0310. 2263/9021. free.