Changes

{{unfinished}}

{{review}}

Scientific name: ''Gekko gecko''

Scientific name: ''Gekko gecko''

[[Image:Tokay_gecko.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''Tokay gecko''' (Wikimedia Commons)]]

[[Image:Tokay_gecko.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''Tokay gecko''' (Photo credit: Nick Hobgood)]]

==Description==

==Description==

These are relatively large geckos, 30-35cm in total length. The young are 5-7.5cm at hatching. They are heavily built with a large head and powerful jaws equipped with numerous sharp teeth capable of giving a painful bite. Tokays are slate blue in colour and evenly spotted with orange or rust. As with other geckos, the colours may lighten or darken with mood changes or in response to the diurnal pattern.

These are relatively large geckos, 30-35cm in total length. The young are 5-7.5cm at hatching. They are heavily built with a large head and powerful jaws equipped with numerous sharp teeth capable of giving a painful bite. Tokays are slate blue in colour and evenly spotted with orange or rust. As with other geckos, the colours may lighten or darken with mood changes or in response to the diurnal pattern.

Their attractive appearance is not matched by their disposition - they are known for their nasty temperament and readily bite. They do best with a minimum of handling but when it is necessary to handle them they should be lightly but firmly grasped just behind the head.

Their attractive appearance is not matched by their disposition - they are known for their nasty temperament and readily bite. They do best with a minimum of [[Lizard Handling and Restraint|handling]] but when it is necessary to handle them they should be lightly but firmly grasped just behind the head.

Like many other geckos, tokays have the specialised lamellae on the pads of their toes that enable them to walk on vertical surfaces, including ceilings. These are composed of tiny, microscopic filaments, which find equally tiny imperfections in surfaces - including glass. These geckos also lack moveable eyelids.

Like many other geckos, tokays have the specialised lamellae on the pads of their toes that enable them to walk on vertical surfaces, including ceilings. These are composed of tiny, microscopic filaments, which find equally tiny imperfections in surfaces - including glass. These geckos also lack moveable eyelids.

Males can be easily recognised by their angular row of pre-anal pores.

Males can be easily recognised by their angular row of [[Preanal pore|preanal pores]].

For sexual attraction the males have a distinctive call which can be heard over a wide area; the call is a loud "to-kay" and is repeated several times.

For sexual attraction the males have a distinctive call which can be heard over a wide area; the call is a loud "to-kay" and is repeated several times.