Coleonyx reticulatus

C

Coleonyx

New member
Hello everyone!
I am planning a trip to Big Bend National Park next June and am looking for suggestions. I would really like to find some Texas Banded Geckos (Coleonyx brevis) and Reticulated/Big Bend Banded Geckos (Coleonyx reticulatus). I am sure I won't have trouble finding C. brevis but I am wondering if anyone would be willing to help me with C. reticulatus. For those who have seen one, what was the humidity and temperatures like? Was it on the cut, or on the road? What time of day?
Any other help would be greatly appreciated. Also, I am completely aware that C. reticulatus is protected, and I won't be collecting any. Just photos. This pdf has a lot of info

http://www.zoo.utoronto.ca/drbob/PDFs of papers/1972 Seifert.pdf#search="coleonyx reticulatus"[/b]
 
Y

yuri

New member
I went there last year with a coupld of very experienced field herpers and we struck out on Coleonyx reticulatus. Although we did get to see one at the "San Angelo Nature Center" in San Angelo, TX.

We were there when they had extreme heat and only saw one Coleonyx brevis. We also had the same rotten weather luck in AZ and CA. It was just too hot and the rains were late by several weeks.

Call around to some of the reptile houses at zoos in Texas. I can't remember which one, but they are participating in some field work with C. reticulatus. Since you have a long lead time, maybe you could talk your way into participating with some part of their field work. Worth a shot.
 
C

Coleonyx

New member
:D

Nathan,

I know that you have herped there a few times or more. Have you ever found any?

Thanks for the info Yuri.
 
J

JamieC

New member
I have been away from geckos for many years but find myself poking around again.

If your trip coincides with periodic rain and moderately warm temperatures you have a better chance. Many have gone without a sighting ever.

My suggested strategy would be to go with the mindset of planning to have fun and having a general look around. If you spot one you spot one - unfortunately you most likely will go without.

You will know straight away as C.reticulatus will be absolutely enormous as compared to the C.brevis you will have seen.

I was going to attach a photo but was given an error that I can not until 3 posts on the forum, my apologies (I also had to rewrite this and didn't manage the same level on the repeat).
 
J

JamieC

New member
Let's see if it will let me post a photo today:

Nope, no longer 0 days but still not three posts. I hate to do this but will reply again below in hopes it will allow the post of the picture. Ironic that the spam control is requiring me to post needless messages :)
 
J

JamieC

New member
OK hopefully now I have enough, if not then one more post below with the photo finally. I hope you find it worthwhile.
 
J

JamieC

New member
Ok,

Let me add some more content. If you find that the frogs have come out on the East gate-side near Black Gap and the showers are passing with temps in the 90s you stand a better chance of finding C.reticulatus. It will be one of those 30+-so-you-stop-counting C.brevis nights.

Well this is my 4th post and it still gives me the "can not post URL's until 3 legit posts" error. I'll try again later. My apologies.
 
J

JamieC

New member
Perhaps now?

Cretic23.jpg
 
J

j8910n

New member
Big Bend Banded Geckos on River Road

While I have never actually gone into the National Park to look for any wildlife, as this would be too much of a temptation to just leave them behind, we have successfully found Big Bends on River Road. As a matter fact, we found two of them last year about 5 miles apart from each other on the road. The first one was about a mile and a half down River Road and the other was further down.

As far as them being protected, I was under the impression from talking to other collectors and state Wildlife officers that they were only protected in the park itself. We did end up releasing ours after photos were taken, unfortunately we didn't find out about the latter until after they had been turned loose. I have also heard of them being found on Black Gap road as well. I have taken 7 trips to the Bend area in the last 3 and a half years and we have only found 2 of these geckos. We have found numbers of the Texas Banded Geckos. They are easy to spot as they run across the road with their tails up in the air like a flag.

Good luck on your trip! I'll be back down in May, June and September this year.
 
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Brian

New member
They're completely protected and rightly so IMO in the state. It's one of those things where even small scale collecting could be devastating to the population.

I'd be very careful describing locations as a lot of people would love to try and profit off something with little care as to the habitat/wild population.
 
F

fishmato

New member
I was able to see one while snake hunting one year with Nathan Wells. There were some people gathered around it taking some snapshots. It was perched upon a rock cut, and the location escapes me. Still, it was pretty cool to spot one. I wasn't able to get a shot unfortunately. Of course, they are a protected species, more now than ever with that new stupid law in place in Texas. Hopefully, they will find a way to allow herping in Texas again.
 
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