This small genus contains five species, all similar. None of these geckos can actually fly, but instead depend upon the folds of skin along their body and the webbing between their toes to act as a sort of parachute-cum-airbrake, allowing them to glide from branch to branch. Unlike other flying herptiles such as the Draco spp, these lizards are not too difficult to keep in captivity. In nature they are shy, but apparently can display the aggressive temperament and bite of the Tokay when kept as pets. Care is similar to the Gekko species, but please note the comments in the table below.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Distribution | Size | Notes |
| Ptychozoon kuhli | Gliding Gecko [Parachute Gecko, Flying Gecko] | S. Thailand, Malaya, Nicobars, Borneo, Sumatra, Java & islands | 6-7" | In nature the Gliding Gecko is an arboreal, nocturnal forest gecko from similar areas and regions as members of the Gekko genus, though not closely related. It is actually quite hardy in captivity and a male-female pair can be kept in a similar sized cage to one used for Tokays. However, humidity must be very high - McKeown and Zaworski recoomend 75-90%, which means misting twice daily and watering the topsoil substrate. As well as climbing branches and live plants, these lizards are also apparently fond of partially hollow sections of vertically placed thick bamboo. P. kuhli can be distinguished from the other species by the enlarged tubercles on its back and tail, and the widening of the last segment of its tail. |
| Ptychozoon lionatum | Burma, N Thailand | 6-7" | Sometimes available. Captive care as for P. kuhli. Can be distinguished from P. kuhli by lateral serrations on the tail (McKeown & Zaworski). | |
| Ptychozoon horsfieldi | Burma, Indonesia, Malaya & poss. Thailand | 5" | Rarely available. Captive care as for P. kuhli. Can be distinguished by the decreasing width of the lobes of skin on the tail as they get further from the body (Mazorlig). | |
| Ptychozoon intermedium | Phillippines | 5"? | Not usually seen. Captive care as for P. kuhli. | |
| Ptychozoon rhacophorus | Sabah (N. Borneo) |
5"? |
The information above was culled from a number of sources, including Mattison. The Gekko-specific books are as follows:
General Care and Maintenance of Tokay Geckos and Related Species, McKeown and Zaworski, Herpetocultural Library 1997. If you want to keep any of the Gekko or Ptychozoon species, I thoroughly recommend this book.
Lizards of the World, Mattison
Keeping and Breeding Lizards, Mattison
Geckos: Keeping and Breeding Them in Captivity, Walls and Walls, TFH 1999.
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