Added 29 July 2010. Last updated 22 August 2010: added details for C. russowi.

A look at the

Subfamily GEKKONINAE - "True" Geckos

Family GEKKONIDAE



Genus CYRTOPODION - Thin-Toed Geckos

A genus of geckos found mainly in the Palearctic region, from southern Europe to Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

Szczerbak & Golubev listed the genus as Tenuidactylus and give the characteristics as follows: digits slender, basal phalanges almost identical in thickness, gradual transition distally, covered underneath by one row of transversely enlarged flat lamellae; second distal phalanx on each digit makes an angle with the proximal part of the digit; ends of digits feebly compressed or not at all; no fringes or other projections on laterla digital scales; pupil vertical with serrated edges; longitudinal cavity on frontal area of head usually absent or poorly developed; usually no more than 30 scales across head; preanal and more rarely femoral pores only present in males; tail well segmented. Normally these are small geckos of 6-8cm SVL, with dorsal tubercles large, triangular or triheral to round, usually keeled, arranged in 8-14 longitudinal and 20-28 transverse rows from neck to sacrum; 3 (sometimes 2) distinctly enlarged nasal scales and 35 ventral scales across midbody. The coloration is not bright and consists of 4-7 transverse and 7-12 caudal bands.

Many of the Central Asian species in former republics of the USSR and adjacent areas are covered in detail in Szczerbak & Golubev, to which this page is indebted.

Due to the need to seek out further sources, this page is an ongoing work.

Scientific Name  Common Name  Distribution Size  Notes 
Cyrtopodion
C. agamuroides Agamuroid Thin-Toed Gecko      
C. amictophole Lebanese Thin-Toed Gecko      
C. baigii        
C. battalense        
C. baturense        
C. brachykolon        
C. brevipes   Iran    
C. caspium Ring-Tailed Gecko S Russia (S of Volga delta), Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan 16cm SVL Scalation details: 9-14 supralabials; 6-10 infralabials; scales across head 7-11; mental scale always triangular or pentagonal; 2-3 pairs of postmentals (see also subspecies). Dorsal scalation: 13-22 scales around dorsal tubercle; dorsal tubercles large, trihedral, almost always contacted by 1-4 smaller additional tubercles. Ventral scalation: 22-31 ventral scales across midbody; usually 2 rows of scales between femoral pores and vent. Other: 22-32 femoral pores in males, 25-33 in females; 20-29 subdigital lamellae. Coloration: background colour is yellow in males (at least during the breeding season) and greyish in females. Coloration may become lighter or darker due to physiological state. Reproduction: males have somewhat more massive heads, and during the mating season are brighter than females. Heads and limbs of juveniles are relatively larger than in adults but the tail shorter. [Engelmann et al, Szczerbakov & Golubev].
C. c. caspium Caspian Thin-Toed Gecko   Scalation details: 1st pair of postmentals in contact across wide suture.
C. c. insularis Island Rock Gecko Vulf Island (Baku Bay of Caspian Sea)   Scalation details: 1st pair of postmentals in contact across narrow suture or not at all.
C. chitralense        
C. dattanense        
C. dehakroense   Pakistan    
C. elongatum        
C. fedtschenkoi Turkestan Thin-Toed Gecko     ?? [ Szczerbakov & Golubev].
C. fortmunroi Fort Munroy Sandstone Gecko Pakistan    
C. gastrophole        
C. heterocercum Asia Minor Thin-Toed Gecko      
C. h. heterocercus      
C. h. mardinensis Mardin Asia Minor Thin-Toed Gecko      
C. kachhense Kachhi Thin-Toed Gecko      
C. k. kachhense      
C. k. ingoldbyi      
C. kotschyi Kotschyi's Gecko, Mediterranean Thin-Toed Gecko [D: Ägäischer Nacktfinger] SE Italy, Greece and Greek Islands in Aegean, Black Sea (Bulgaria and Ukraine) as far as Crimea, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel TL approx 13cm: SVL <50%  One of the few geckos to be found in mainland Europe. Like some other geckos, this species vocalises, usually with a repetitive squeaking sound, in courtship and especially if excited or seized. Szcerbak and Golubev also record that the squeaks may come from their shelters in the daytime. Rather like a leopard gecko about to seize its prey, Kotschyi's gecko may also wave its tail in a serpentine motion. Habitat is very variable and includes cliffs, buildings, dry stone walls and individual rocks. In the north of its range (Crimea) it is not found above 200m, but in the south it can be found at up to 1,400m. Although in the European part of the range Engelmann et al note that the species is quite temperature tolerant, being active at night at temperatures as low as 5 deg C, Szcerbak and Golubev record that in the Crimean summer they were not found at temperatures below 18 deg C - interestingly however in April-May they could be encountered at 12-14 deg C. While mainly nocturnal it can also be active by day, especially in summer and autumn. Diet is overwhelmingly insects and spiders. In turn the geckos are in competition with Podarcis wall lizards alongside whom they often seem to be found, who may become predatory on them. Other predators include snakes of the genera Coluber and Elaphe, and in Crimea domestic cats and possibly owls, European hedgehogs and rock martens. There are a large number of subspecies in this taxon. Szczerbakov & Golubev divided these up into 4 groups, "kotschyi", "danilewskii", "bartoni" and "oertzeni". See also the JCVI database entry. [Engelmann et al, Szczerbakov & Golubev]. Reproduction: sexual maturity is reached in the 2nd year. As normal with geckos, females lay 2 eggs per clutch. In the north of the range, the young hatch in October or may overwinter in the egg and emerge the following spring [Engelmann et al]: Szczerbak and Golubev recorded an incubation time of 50 days in the laboratory, hatching occurring in September. [SOURCES: Arnold, Engelmann et al, Sczerbak & Golubev].
C. k. kotschyi   Greece (Siros Archipelago)   Scalation details: up to 33 longitudinal rows of tubercles across abdomen; 12 rows of dorsal tubercles; 3 tubercles on upper thigh; 6 rows of caudal tubercles; males lack preanal pores.
C. k. adelphiensis   Greece (coast of Sirna Island in Dodecanese)   Closely related to C. k. stepaneki but differs as follows. Scalation details: >28 longitudinal rows of tubercles across abdomen; 6 tubercles on upper thigh.
C. k. bartoni   Greece (W Crete)   Scalation details: dorsal tubercles twice as long as granular dorsal scales.
C. k. beutleri   SW Turkey inc. adjacent islands   Scalation details: 10-12 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles, 25-33 ventral scales across midbody, 1-6 preanal pores, 2-2 postanal tubercles.
C. k. bibroni   Italy (Apulia), Greece (south Balkan peninsula, Kithira and Kithnos Islands)   Scalation details: closely related to C. k. saronicus but with 24 longitudinal ventral scales.
C. k. buchholzi   Greece (Siphnos Archipelago)   Scalation details: closely related to C. k. saronicus but with 10 longitudinal dorsal tubercles.
C. k. ciliciensis   S Turkey ( Mediterranean coast)   Scalation details: head scales keeled; 10-12 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; 23-26 ventral scales across midbody; 2 preanal pores; 1-1 postanal tubercles; 14-18 subdigital lamellae.
C. k. colchicus   Turkey (NE Anatolia), poss. former USSR   Scalation details: 12 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; 26-29 longitudindal ventral rows; 3-4 longitudinal subcaudal rows; 2-4 preanal pores. Coloration: ventrally yellowish, subcaudal surface orange (latter possibly a juvenile trait).
C. k. danilewskii   Ukraine (Crimea), Bulgaria (Black Sea coast south of Varna), W & SW Turkey   Scalation details: 3 nasal scales, of which 1st contact each other or are separated by 1-2 scales. 5-8 supralabials; 7-10 infralabials; 12-19 scales across head; mental scale triangular or pentagonal; 2-3 (usually 3) pairs of postmentals, of which scales in 1st pair are in contact or separated by 1 scale. Dorsal scalation: 10-13 longitudinal rows of oval keeled dorsal tubercles. Ventral scalation: 22-30 ventral scales across midbody. Other: 2-15 preanal pores; 1-1 postanal tubercle; upper surfaces of limbs smooth or with slight keels. Coloration: overall dorsally ash or sandy grey, with 5-8 (usually 6) dark M-shaped bands on the body and 10-12 on the tail; abdomen laterally light yellowish green or dirty white; caudal underside reddish ochre or orange; regenerated tail is grey-blue or grey-brown. Juveniles have ochrish or light orange piping on caudal bands and brighter caudal undersurface.
C. k. fitzingeri   Cyprus   Scalation details: 10-12 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles, strongly keeled and elongated; 20-25 ventral scales across midbody; 2-3 preanal pores, or may be absent; 2 rows of cycloid scales on original tail, replaced by small scales on regenerated tail.
C. k. fuchsi   Greece (northern chain of northern Sporades islands)   Closely related to nominate subspecies, except as follows. Scalation details: 34-40 longitudinal rows of tubercles across abdomen.
C. k. kalypsae   Greece (Gavdos Island off Crete)   Scalation details: 6 longitudinal rows of tubercles on tail base, 26-29 longitudinal rows of ventral tubercles.
C. k. karabagi   Greece (Fener Island in Marmara Sea)   Scalation details: ³12 longitudinal rows of tubercles; 30-34 ventral scales across midbody; 3-4 preanal pores; 2-2 postanal tubercles.
C. k. oertzeni   Greece (Carpathos Archipelago in Dodecanese)   Scalation details: 7-8 longitudinal rows of tubercles on tail, 23-27 ventral rows across midbody. Coloration: grey background.
C. k. orientalis   Syria, Lebanon, Palestine   Scalation details: 10 somewhat irregular longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles that are keeled and heart-shaped; 26-30 ventral scales across midbody.
C. k. ponticus   N & C Turkey   Scalation details: 10-14 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; 26-31 ventral scales across midbody; 2-5 preanal pores; 1-2 postanal tubercles; 17-21 subdigital lamellae.
C. k. rumelicus   SW Bulgaria   Scalation details: closely related to C. k. saronicus but subcaudal plates on regenerated tail are divided.
C. k. saronicus   Greece (W. & C. Cylades, Saron Islands and Seriphos, Mykonos, Naxos and Ikaria in northern Cyclades)   Closely related to C. k. tinensis except as follows. Scalation details: similar to C. k. tinensis but tubercles on upper thigh are separated.
C. k. schulzewestrumi   Greece (Valaxa Island in Siros Archipelago)   Closely related to nominate subspecies, except as follows. Scalation details: 12 longitudinal dorsal rows of tubercles; 6 tubercles on upper thigh; 30 ventrals; males 3-5 preanal pores.
C. k. solerii   Greece (southern Cyclades, Astipalaia)   Scalation details: closely related to T. saronicus but dorsal and upper thigh tubercles three times longer than granual dorsal tubercles.
C. k. skopjensis   N Macedonia   Scalation details: closely related to C. k. saronicus but dorsal tubercles in 10 longitudinal rows.
C. k. stepaneki   Greece (Megali Sofranow Island in Dodecanese)   Closely related to C. k. oertzeni but differs as follows. Coloration: red background.
C. k. syriacus   N Syria   Scalation details: 10-14 longitudinal rows of large keeled dorsal tubercles; 24-26 ventral scales across midbody; 4-5 preanal pores; original tail covered ventrally by 2 scales close to vent and 1 row of enlarged scales on the remainder.
C. k. tinensis   Greece (northern Cyclades)   Scalation details: up to 33 longitudinal rows of tubercles across abdomen; 12 rows of dorsal tubercles; 3 tubercles on upper thigh; 6 rows of caudal tubercles; males lack preanal pores.
C. k. wettsteini   Greece (coast of E Crete)   Scalation details: dorsal tubercles 3 times longer than granular dorsal scales.
C. longipes Long-Legged Thin-Toed Gecko     ?? [Szczerbakov & Golubev].
C. l. longipes      
C. l. microlepis Small-Scaled Thin-Toed Gecko      
C. l. voraginosus Southwest Thin-Toed Gecko      
C. montiumsalsorum Salt Range Thin-Toed Gecko      
C. russowi Grey Thin-Toed Gecko [D: Transkaspischer Nacktfinger] Russia, Transcaucasus region, N & E Iran, Central Asia inc. Kazakhstan, to NW China TL 11cm; SVL approx 5½cm  This species differs from its congenerics by having a shorter tail and the head and body being less flattened. As with other Cyrtopodion species, it is more day active in spring and autumn than in summer. More terrestrial than its relatives, it may move up to 100m or more from its shelter during nocturnal activity. Scalation details: 3 nasals, of which 1st separated from each other by 1-3 (usually 2) scales; 8-11 supralabials; 6-10 infralabials; scales across head 15-24; mental scale triangular or pentagonal; 1-3 (usually 2) pairs of mentals, of which 1st pair usually in contact, or separated by 1-3 (usually 2) scales. Dorsal scalation: 10-12 rows of oval or oval-triangular dorsal tubercles, keeled; additional dorsal tubercles usually present. Ventral scalation: 23-34 rows across midbody. Other: fairly well-developed smooth subcaudal plates; scales of tail (except tuberlces) and limbs smooth, except occasional separate scales on forearm may be feebly keeled; 15-24 subdigital lamellae; 2-6 preanal pores. Coloration: variable according to conditions and habitat, but generally lighter if conditions are favourable: dorsally ashen- or brownish-grey with narrow, dark M-shaped or transverse bands; top of head covered with small dark spots; dark longitudinal stripe on sides of head, often with light edges, continuing onto sides of neck and sometimes onto body. See Szczerbak & Golubev for details of coloration, conditions and habitat. Reproduction: females larger than males and lack preanal pores. Given favourable circumstances, females may lay several clutches in summer. [SOURCES: Szczerbak & Golubev, Engelmann et al].
C. r. russowi     Scalation details: 1st pair of postmentals usually in contact; Ventral scalation: 100-130 ventral transverse rows from chin to vent; 25-34 longitudinal ventral rows.
C. r. zarudnyi Zarudnyi's Thin-Toed Gecko     Scalation details: 1st pair of postmentals always separated by 1-2 scales. Ventral scalation: 94-105 transverse rows from chin to vent; 23-26 longitudinal ventral rows.
C. sagittiferum Bampur Thin-Toed Gecko Iran    
C. scabrum Rough Thin-Toed Gecko      
C. spinicaudum Spiny-Tailed Thin-Toed Gecko      
C. tibetanus Tibetan Thin-Toed Gecko China (Xizang/Tibet)    
C. turcmenicum Turkmenian Thin-Toed Gecko S Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan ??cm SVL ?? [Szczerbakov & Golubev].
C. watsoni Pakistani Thin-Toed Gecko Afghanistan, Pakistan    


Bibliography

The Cyrtopodion species in the book are listed under the genus Tenuidactylus.

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