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Crested Gecko

Correlophus ciliatus

GeckosBeginner care

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🌍 Overview

Native to New Caledonia's southern islands, the crested gecko was thought extinct until rediscovered in 1994. These arboreal geckos have specialized toe pads and a prehensile tail that helps them navigate forest canopies. Their eyelash-like crests and vibrant color morphs have made them one of the most popular reptile pets worldwide.

📋 Quick Facts

Native Range

New Caledonia (South Pacific islands)

Natural Habitat

Tropical rainforest canopy and understory

Adult Size

7-9 inches (18-23 cm) including tail

Wild Diet

Fruit, nectar, pollen, and small invertebrates

Wild Lifespan

Not documented (the widely quoted 15-20 years is a captive range; wild longevity for this species has not been studied)

Conservation Status

Vulnerable (IUCN)

📜 History

The crested gecko was considered extinct for much of the twentieth century. It was rediscovered in 1994 on a private expedition by Robert Seipp and Friedrich Wilhelm Henkel, after a tropical cyclone that year led to a sighting on the Isle of Pines, and a small number of animals were exported for study before New Caledonia stopped issuing permits. Every crested gecko in the hobby descends from those few founders, bred out through separate lines in Europe and the United States. The species turned out to breed readily in a terrarium, which closed off the pressure to keep collecting more.

⚖️ Compare

🦎

Crested Gecko

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Human

Adult Size

7-9 inches (18-23 cm) including tail

5-6 feet (150-185 cm); ~135-200 lbs

Wild Lifespan

Not documented (the widely quoted 15-20 years is a captive range; wild longevity for this species has not been studied)

~73 years (global average)

Wild Diet

Fruit, nectar, pollen, and small invertebrates

Omnivorous - eats just about anything

Native Range

New Caledonia (South Pacific islands)

Global - originated in Africa roughly 300,000 years ago

Natural Habitat

Tropical rainforest canopy and understory

Everywhere from arctic tundra to tropical megacities

Conservation Status

Vulnerable (IUCN)

Least Concern (8+ billion and counting)

🧠 Test Yourself

Question 1 of 40 pts

What's the Crested Gecko's native range?

🤩 Fun Facts

🦎 Rediscovered in 1994

Crested geckos were thought to be extinct until they were rediscovered in 1994 in New Caledonia! They're now one of the most popular gecko species in the hobby.

🦎 Gecko Toe Magic

Geckos can walk on walls and ceilings thanks to millions of tiny hair-like structures on their toes called setae. Each foot has about 500,000 of them, using molecular forces to stick to surfaces!

🦎 Climbing the Walls

Geckos have microscopic hairs on their feet that allow them to stick to surfaces and even run on ceilings! This amazing ability comes from van der Waals forces, making them one of nature's great climbers.

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📖 Care Guide

🦎

Crested Gecko Care Guide

The velvety, fan-fringed gecko that needs no heat lamp!

View full guide

⚖️ Where it is legal

7 US jurisdictions restrict this species, from outright bans to permits. Every one quotes the rule it comes from.

See the state map

⚖️ Legal Guide

Is It Legal to Own a Crested Gecko? State-by-State Guide