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Reptiles

Species: Lygosoma bowringii (Riopa bowringii)
Family: Scincidae
Order: Squamata
English: Garden Supple Skink, Christmas Island Grass-skink
Indonesian: Kadal

Several times I have been waiting for the skink living in our back yard to move to the right position for being photographed. Unfortunately I can not get anything better than a shot from far away when it is sunbathing near a place it can hide. It lives in (or under?) a pile of dead branches and leaves in the corner of the garden. The Garden Supple Skink is about 12 cm long and has a greenish-brown skin. Depending on the light direction it shows indistinct lines on the back (running from head to tail) and small spots at the side of the body.  Distribution is recorded for parts of Australia and most countries in SE Asia.

The animal is very shy, and that is the reason it can survive in our garden. Our female cat is an every-day hunter that has a special interest in this kind of reptiles. Too often I find a dropped (or bitten off?) skink or gecko tail already crowded by ants. But that is part of the laws of the jungle (and garden) I guess.

Garden Supple Skink sunbathing

Garden Supple Skink - funny toes
 

Species: Hemidactylus frenatus
Family: Gekkonidae
Order: Squamata
English: Spiny-tailed House Gecko (Common House Gecko)
Indonesian: Cecak kayu

Size (snout to vent) : 6.5 cm
Size (total length) : 13.5 cm

Most geckos I find after dark sitting around the outdoor lamps above the terrace. The lamps attract insects, and these are an important part of the geckos' diet. It is interesting to see them waiting and then suddenly attacking with unexpected fast moves.
In the daytime geckos still are active, but will hide in the shade of leaves, the eaves of the roof or other shelter.

The name of the 'Spiny-tailed House Gecko' is related to the fact that this gecko has characteristic rows of spiky tubercles along its tail. The colour of this species can vary from very light to dark brown.
Its other name, 'Common House Gecko', tells us that this gecko is common in many areas.

Beside in many parts of Asia its distribution ranges from East and South Africa to Mexico. In many tropical and sub-tropical areas the Common House Gecko is not indigenous, but was introduced.

Species: Cosymbotus platyurus
Family: Gekkonidae
Order: Squamata
English: Flat-tailed Gecko
Indonesian: Cecak tembok

Size (snout to vent): 6.5 cm
Size (total length): 13 cm
 

This house gecko is common in many areas. First I thought this gecko is a Four-clawed Gecko. After I could make some better photos I could see some important details. Based on its tail which is serrated along the edge I think it is safe to say this is a Flat-tailed Gecko. An other characteristic are the half-webbed fingers. Though this gecko is said to be nocturnal, I see it often active in the daytime on the walls under overhanging roofs.

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