[emvee]

I was thinking about possibly purchasing some tucson banded geckos. However, I am confused on some of the finer legal details. Under the DFG regulation, it is stated that "Coleonyx variegatus" is considered a "Native Reptile" of California.

Does that make the subspecies or morph C.v.bogerti LEGALLY native as well?

1.67. Native Reptiles and
Amphibians.
Native reptiles and amphibians are those
subspecies, and species, including all color
phases, of the classes Reptilia and Amphibia
indigenous to California. This definition includes
all specimens regardless of their origin even if
they were produced in captivity.

All regulations can be found on
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/07...-fish-regs.pdf

If any one can clarify this regulation for me, please do so. I do not want to illegally acquire an animal if I can avoid it.

Thank you,
Matt

[Brian]

Why not send F & G an email. They've always got back to me in 24-48 hours or sooner.

[emvee]

Originally Posted by Brian

Why not send F & G an email. They've always got back to me in 24-48 hours or sooner.

I did not know they would be that easy to get a hold of. I tend not to have an optimistic look on government agencies, so I never even thought of that haha.

I'll post what they say once I get a response.

Thank you!
Matt

[GoldenGateGeckos]

Coleonyx variegatus bogerti (Tucson Bandeds) that are native to Arizona are legal to keep, propagate, and sell in California. Coleonyx variegatus variegatus that are native to California are only legal to collect and keep, not to propagate and sell without a permit. The only time this can be an issue is with the intergrades collected at the State borders due to the overlap of the locality's ranges. The California DFG can, and will, confiscate these questionable specimens to verify the nuchal loop and pre-anal pore counts on males. They can also perform sub-labial scale counts and digit structure analysis, to determine if they are C. v. variegatus or C. v. bogerti... but there are C. v. variegatus in Arizona as well, and it can be an ambiguous task.

Hope this helps answer your question!

[heiser]

Excellent reply Marcia! I'm sure your answer got a few readers to look up nuchal loop and find out the pre-anal pore count differences in some of the subs. A lot more people will now know how to tell the differences between C.v subspecies. This is what I like about this forum. You get the answers to your questions and extra information to educate you past newbie status.

For those interested in some further defining characteristics of the subspecies of C.v. see:

EUBLEPHARINE GECKOS: Coleonyx

Regards,
John

[emvee]

No word from the California Fish and Game Department(surprise surprise!). I am going to take all your word for it on that it is legal as that was my initial thinking. Thanks for that extra tidbit of info heiser and the in depth response Marcia.

Much appreciated,
Matt