Blaesodactylus boivini vs Homopholis sakalava

[JMHuffines]

Greetings,
I recently ordered a Giant Madagascar Velvet Gecko from ****** Reptiles. When I opened the package it contained a Sakalava's Velvet Gecko. When I e-mailed the company, their representative told me that Homopholis sakalava's trade name is also "Giant Madagascar Velvet Gecko". The ad (which he changed after I e-mailed him) is here kingsnake.com Classifieds: GIANT MADAGASCAR VELVET GECKOS!.

How many species go by the trade name "Giant Madagascar Velvet Gecko?"

I've never had any issues like this and need some advice on how to handle it. Sorry if this is posted in the wrong area. I'm still learning!

Thanks,
Joshua

 

[Palor]

I thought they were the same gecko?

 

[Geitje]

Unfortunately, people who use the habit of identifying geckos by "common names" are highly prone to being 'technically' incorrect for obvious reasons. There are currently 4 species of Blaesodactylus, all of which can be fairly and correctly called "Giant Madagascar Velvet Geckos":
1. B. boivini
2. B. antogillensis
3. B. sakalava
4. B. ambonihizo (described last year)

The bottom line here is that the habit of using common names with geckos is about as effective as walking into a packed Walmart at Christmas time and calling for "Mike" over the intercom system. Using a scientific name for a gecko would be the same as calling for Mike over the Walmart intercom with his own personal DNA quoted, proven and published.

All Blaesodactylus are large "velvet geckos". Just as an F-150, F-250, F-350, Focus, Mustang, etc. are all Ford Automobiles.

You got some cool geckos regardless of which Blaesodactylus you got.

Jon

 

[Geitje]

For the sake of clarification: ALL Madagascar "Homopholis" are now classified as Blaesodactylus species. ALL mainland African "Homopholis" are still classified as Homopholis species (ex. walbergii, fasciata, mulleri).

Jon

 

[JMHuffines]

Hey Jon, Can you give me another example of mulitple gecko species who go by the same common name? I have been doing a lot of research and still can't find an example of this.
Thanks again,
Joshua

 

[Sporonicle]

Leaf tailed geckos. Look completely different and come from Madagascar and Australia.

 

[JMHuffines]

There are Giant Leaf Tailed Gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus), Fringed or Henkel's Leaf Tailed Gecko(U. henkeli), Mossy Leaf Tailed Gecko (U. sikorae), Lined or Lineated Leaf Tailed Gecko (U. lineatus),Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko (U. phantasticus) and Spear Point or Eban's Leaf Tailed Gecko (U. ebanaui). Each species has a common name.

 

[Geitje]

1. "Australian velvet geckos" - 16 species of Oedura from Australia.
2. "Yellow-headed Day geckos" - various species from different genera! Phelsuma klemmeri, Gonatodes albogularis, Lygodactylus (kimhowelli, etc.)
3. "New Caledonian velvet geckos" - 12 species of Bavayia from New Caledonia + several other that await description and assignment to the genus.
4. "Turnip-tailed geckos" - various geckos from Underwoodisaurus, Thecadactylus sp's, etc.
5. "African flat geckos" - 15 + species of Afroedura from southern Africa.
6. "Barking geckos" - all Ptenopus species, plus any other species capable of uttering sharp piercing sounds and semi-regular frequencies.
7. "Australian leaf-tailed geckos" - two different genera of about 15-20 species (Phyllurus species, Saltuarius species).
8. "Australian knob-tailed geckos" - between 9-13 different species of Nephrurus/Underwoodisaurus from Australia.
9. "Parthenogenic gecko" (= all female species, no males!) - various genera that now include: Heteronotia binoei (although a NON-PARTHENOGENIC FORM EXISTS!!!!!), Hemidactylus garnoti, Lepidodactylus lugubris, Nactus, and now a parthenogenic population of Ptenopus exists in captivity!
10. "Madagascar Day gecko" - includes some 35 species/sub-species of Phelsuma from Madagascar.

I could carry on, but you get the point. I could make the "Madagascar Day gecko" a "GIANT Madagascar Day gecko" and help narrow it down a bit for everyone. But, then again, I would feasibly need to include Phelsuma - grandis, kochi, madagascariensis, boehmei and standingii.

Common names are rubbish and highly prone to inaccuracies.

Jon

 

[Geitje]

There are Giant Leaf Tailed Gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus), Fringed or Henkel's Leaf Tailed Gecko(U. henkeli), Mossy Leaf Tailed Gecko (U. sikorae), Lined or Lineated Leaf Tailed Gecko (U. lineatus),Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko (U. phantasticus) and Spear Point or Eban's Leaf Tailed Gecko (U. ebanaui). Each species has a common name.

Indeed, with more descriptive adjectives added into the common name equation a person is better equipped to identify. But, all Blaesodactylus are giant Madagascan wall or velvet geckos. If they were to sell them to you as "Boivini's giant Madagascan velvet gecko" and sent you "Sakalava's giant Madagascan velvet geckos" then you would have a discrepency. But, then again, they're hinting at the species name in the common name (Blaesodactylus boivini or Blaesodactylus sakalava

Jon

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

One of the most common is "Fat tailed gecko". To some that means Hemitheconyx caudicinctus to others it means Eublepharis macularius andit probably applies to others as well. Bottom line is, like Jon said, it's best to always use proper names (especially when making a purchase). We encourage members here on GU to do that as much as possible to avoid mistakes. Live an learn though.

PS, I'm going to edit the names of the company out of your original post as we don't allow good/bad seller posts here and that's coming rather close to that sort of thing.

 

[JMHuffines]

Hey, thanks a lot guys! I was legitimately concerned that these geckos were being sold under false pretenses and didn't want any other newb herpers to get caught off guard. I bought a male "giant velvet madagascar gecko" previously, and was under a false assumption that common names (electric blue, leopard, crested, helmeted, etc.) were standard among species. As this is obviously not the case, I will begin buying geckos only by there Genus and species.
Again thank you so much,
Joshua

1.1 Uromastyx ornatus
1.0 Uromastyx geyri
0.1 Aeluroscalabotes felinus
1.1 Ptychozoon kuhli
3.2 Lygodactylus williamsi
0.1.1 Eublepharus macularius
1.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
1.1 Takydromas sexlineatus
1.1 Anolis carolinensis
0.2 Rieppeleon brevicaudatus
1.1 Acanthosaura capra
1.1 Geckonia chazaliae
1.0 Blaesodactylus boivini
0.1 Blaesodactylus sakalava
1.1 Eryx colubrinus loveridgei
1.2 Canis lupus familiaris
2.3 Felis catus
2.1 Equus caballus

 

[Geitje]

I'm sure your intentions are good and it's unfortunate that all of us learn these types of lessons with innocent intentions. I've got an extra female B. boivini and you can contact me if you're unhappy with your animal and perhaps make an exchange. I'm good either way and have enough of both species, but can help you out if needed.

Best,
Jon

 

[JMHuffines]

One more thing,

I know this is a gecko forum, but since I am sure a lot of you are long time herpers maybe you could help me with this. My Acanthosaura capra female has laid her second clutch of eggs this season. When I compared them with her previous clutch I noticed that the new eggs were much smaller. Do eggs tend to swell over time? I feel like a burden to the forum but I am seriously trying to learn!

Thanks!
Joshua

1.1 Uromastyx ornatus
1.0 Uromastyx geyri
0.1 Aeluroscalabotes felinus
1.1 Ptychozoon kuhli
3.2 Lygodactylus williamsi
0.1.1 Eublepharus macularius
1.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
1.1 Takydromas sexlineatus
1.1 Anolis carolinensis
0.2 Rieppeleon brevicaudatus
1.1 Acanthosaura capra
1.1 Geckonia chazaliae
1.0 Blaesodactylus boivini
0.1 Blaesodactylus sakalava
1.1 Eryx colubrinus loveridgei
1.2 Canis lupus familiaris
2.3 Felis catus
2.1 Equus caballus

 

[Geitje]

Just keep in mind that only geckos from the family Gekkonidae - essentially everything outside of all eye-lash geckos (ex. Eublepharis, Coleonyx, Goniurosaurus, Holodactylus, Hemitheconxy and Aleuroscalabotes) and the Diplodactylidae (Neprurus, Oedura, Rhacodactylus, etc.) - all lay HARD-SHELLED eggs. ALL OTHER [egg laying] LIZARD SPECIES lay soft eggs that will increase in volume as they progress further in incubation. Being in contact with moist substrate facilitates absorption and growth of the eggs.

Secondly, a female Iguanid or Agamid can sometimes lay slighlty smaller eggs in their second clutch of the year due to how nutritionally taxing it can be to produce that second clutch in the same year.

Jon

 

[Geitje]

Just to clarify - true Gekkonid geckos are the only lizards known on the planet that lay hard-shelled eggs. All other lizard eggs are soft and will increase in volume throughout incubation;-)

Jon

 

[Ingo]

Just to clarify - true Gekkonid geckos are the only lizards known on the planet that lay hard-shelled eggs. All other lizard eggs are soft and will increase in volume throughout incubation;-)

Jon

Almost true. All members of the family Dibamidae lay hard shelled eggs as well.
And they are still within the "lizard" group.

Best regards

Ingo