Taxonomy of the Tokay Gecko
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Superclass Gnathastomata
Class Reptilia
Subclass Diapsida
Superorder Lepidosauria
Order Squamata
Suborder Lacertillia
Family Gekkonidae
Genus Gecko
Species gecko
Tokay Geckoes are multicellular, heterotrophic eukaryotes that lack cell walls and exist by ingesting food and digesting it within specialized cavities, belonging to the Kingdom Animalia. Characteristics of organisms of this Kingdom also iclude nervous tissue, muscle tissue and sexual reproduction
Chordates are organisms that posses a structure called a notochord which stiffens the body and acts as support during locomotion. Chordates also possess:
- a pair of Pharyngeal slits that allow water to enter the mouth without continuing through the entire digestive tract,
- a Dorsal, Hollow Nerve cord that connects the brain with the muscles and other organs,
- and a muscular, post anal tail that extends past the anus.
Vertebrates all share a vertebral column that replaces the notocord as the cheif stiffener of the body in locomotion. During their embryonic development, all vertebrates pass through a stage termed the pharyngula where they all contain a notocord, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, a postanal tail, and a series of paired branchial grooves
Characterised as "Vertebrates with Jaws". Characteristics include: A vertical biting device called jaws and2 pairs of paired appendages. Both fish and tetrapods are represented here.
First vertebrates to live and spawn on dry land, having incorporated an egg that allowed for an embryo to grow in the water while the egg is laid out of the water.
Reptiles are poikilotherms, using external heat sources such as solar radiation and reradiation instead of metabolism to regulate body temperatures.
Body covered with scales that reduce fluid loss. Scales are covered by a keratinized outer layer of the epidermis. The keratinized layer is composed of dead cells and incapable of growing; hence, the reptile sheds its skin as its body grows.
Eggs covered with shells that contain membranes
Reptile Tracks in the Fossil Record:
First reptiles were noted during the Pennsylvanian Period of the Paleozoic Era approximately 320 million years ago. Pennsylvanian and Missippian Period together made up the Carboniferous Age, also called the Age of Amphibians
First lizards were noted during the Jurassic Period of the Mesozoic Era approximately 213 million years ago. Insects were abundant as were skates, rays, and bony fishes
Dinosaurs became extinct during the Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era approximately 144 million years ago. The rise of woody angiosperms, snakes, and modern bony fishes also occured during this time period.
Worldwide Diversity of Reptiles
| North America -- 340 species | South America -- 1560 species |
| Australia -- 850 species | Europe -- 200 species |
| Africa -- 1320 species | Asia -- 2050 species |
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Eurasia -- 360 species |
Combined Islands/oceanside communities -- 2290 species |
Subclass Diapsida
Diapsids have 2 temporal openings on the side wall of the skull and gave rise to snakes and saurians
Anapsids are without temporal openings and are the skull type of extinct and living turtles and tortises
Parapsids had a single opening at the top of the skull and are labled as extinct fishlike reptiles
Euryapsids had a single opening that is larger and lower on the skull than Parpsids and are labled as extinct marine-like reptiles
Synapsids had a single opening and branch off toward mammal like reptiles and mammals
First appeared in the Permian period 286 million years ago
Mostly small animals and not frequently found as fossils
The sphenodon belongs to a group of Lepidosaurians that has survived nearly unchanged for the last 200 million years
Order Squamata
Contains two suborders:
The Lacertilia (lizards) and the Ophidia (snakes). It has been suggested that the Iguanas belong to a third suborder seperate from the Lacertilia or the Ophidia, however, it has never been established
Suborder Lacertillia or (Sauria)
Skull Structure mimics that of Ophidia (snakes)
Live everywhere on Earth except the North and South Poles
Femoral pores that secrete a liquid are present. This liquid is thought to make copulation easier and/or attract a mate
Able to loose and regrow a portion of their tail
The beginnings of an external ear is found
Form a large family of about 75 genera and 100's of species
Contain both Nocturnal and Arboreal species
Big, cat-like, speckled eyes. Pupils contract to slits in daylight and open wide in the darkness
Digits have both claws and friction pads for climbing
Males usually have pre-anal and femoral pores, as well as post anal sacs
Only Saurians that can emit sounds
Nocturnal. Can change colors slightly to better blend in with their surrounding environment
Widest range of tail variation among all lizard families. In some species, the tail acts as a storehouse of reserve nutrients on which the gecko can draw upon when suffering unfavorable conditions
Soft skin that is covered with small scales
Lidless eyes that are covered by a single scale and cleaned with the tongue as with snakes
Can cling to and climb smooth surfaces with their feet, characterized as broad digits with lamellae. The underside of the lamellae disk is made of a transverse, fanshaped series of narrow plates bearing minute, hairlike processes or papillae that can be pressed into tiny irregularities of the surface
From South-East Asia
Oviparous, Nocturnal Insectivores
Largest species of Gecko
Does not have a moveable eyelid
Lamellae toepads
Has a Voice or Mating call
Remains of a third eye
Hearing range from 300 to 10,000 Hertz
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