Tokay Gecko Reproduction
Mating Behavior Embryonic Egg Hatchling
Ovaries Produce Eggs. The eggs are suspended from a stalk in the ovary until they are mature enough to travel through the oviduct and out the cloaca. Eggs that are lain may or may not be fertilized.
Oviduct performs transport for eggs and acts as sperm recipient
Cloaca is an opening where the oviduct, large intestine, and urinary bladder empty to the outside world
Eggs are deposited on the underside of a rock or piece of bark. Females lay 2 or more eggs at a time. Mine start laying eggs in late spring and continue laying eggs off and on til the end of summer.
Eggs are sticky when lain and are shaped into a ball by the toepads of the female Tokay.
Eggs are left to fate
Penis, Hemipenes, Testes, Seminal Ducts
Hemipenes consist of 2 grooved, sac-shaped organs covered with small spines or hooks thought to grip the walls of the female cloaca during copulation
Sperm flows from the testes into the seminal ducts and onto the outer surface of the erect penis or hemipenes to be deposited into the female oviducts where they remain viable for a long time
Penis and hemipenes are located in pouches at the base of tail
Males are larger than females
Around mating season, Tokays release a liquid from their femoral pores thought to attract a mate or to make copulation easier. The femoral pores are located on the upper hind legs
Tokays emit a mating call which is the "tokay" sound that these lizard are named after. "check-to, to-ka" are used to describe the sounds that these geckos make
The male grabs the female by her neck and inserts a penis or hemipenes into her cloaca, copulation occurs, sperm is released, and an egg may be fertilized. Sperm remains viable in the oviduct for a long time and may be used to fertilize future clutches of eggs
Amnion provides a stable, fluid enviroment
Allantois removes waste and provide gas diffusion
Yolk sac provides nutrition
Chorion provides a protective covering and gas exchange
Incubation time for a Tokay Gecko is from 2 to 6 months
Hatchlings are 2-3" long.
Upon hatching, the young eat their outer covering of skin.
Sexually mature in about 1 year
Hatchlings are aggressive and will readily bite but are easily tamable