Review by Kathy Lyon (Click on stars for an explanation)

This is a comprehensive review of gecko husbandry and biology. (The authors are two of Europe's most eminent gecko experts.) The history, evolution, and range of the species are covered, as are housing, heating, diet, care and breeding, incubation, and treatment of disease. It is primarily for the herpetologist, but will be very useful to veterinarians who treat reptiles.

The book opens with the life-style, appearance, and distribution of geckoes. Some of the topics include skin and scalation; evolutionary history; coloring; feet: shape and function; tails: their various shapes and autotomy; vocalization and hearing; activity and temperature regulation; and territorial and defense behavior.

The section on reproduction covers sex determination; reproductive behavior; oviposition and birth; influence of temperature on the sex ratio of the young; and other topics. There is a rather extensive list of geckoes kept in captivity. This book is filled with beautiful photos of geckos, identified by their Latin names. There are also a few drawings and photos of vivarium designs. A useful bibliography is included.

Published by Krieger Publishing, Melbourne, FL (1995).

 Hardcover (smaller format: 9-1/4" by 6-1/4"), 237 pages.

ISBN: 0-89464-919-1.