Reptile
Knob-headed Giant Gecko
Rhacodactylus auriculatusAlso known as Gargoyle Gecko, New Caledonia Bumpy Gecko, New Caledonian Bumpy Gecko
Gargoyle geckos spend their daylight hours concealed beneath loose bark or within dense scrub, emerging after dusk to stalk small prey through low vegetation. Their cranial knob-like projections, prehensile tails, and specialized toe pads make them exceptionally agile climbers across tangled branches. Unlike many other members of their family, they can fully regenerate a discarded tail to near-original form and pattern.
NocturnalArborealEndemic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCrickets, Moths, Flower nectar
Predators
- Feral cats
- Rats
- Henkel's giant gecko
ThreatsDeforestation, nickel mining, wildfires, and invasive ants
HabitatsHumid dense forests, scrublands, and ultramafic maquis
Life span15–20 years
Classification
- FamilyDiplodactylidae
- GenusRhacodactylus
- SpeciesRhacodactylus auriculatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Night Spotting: Scan low shrub trunks and branches with a red headlamp after dusk.
- Habitat Care: Leave loose bark and scrub layers undisturbed to protect day roosts.
Image unavailableInvasive Threat 
Close Relative "New Caledonian Giant Gecko, Singapore Zoo" by _paVan_ is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-byClose Relative 
Sympatric Relative (c) Lennart Hudel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Lennart Hudel · cc-by
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Emerald Kingdom
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