Reptiles
Frog-Eyed Gecko
Teratoscincus · also called wonder geckos
Threaten a frog-eyed gecko and it does something no rattlesnake would expect competition from: it rattles right back, rubbing unusually large, loose scales together to produce a warning sound with no rattle segment anywhere in sight. The trick works because the effect, not the mechanism, is what matters to whatever predator is listening.
Overview
The frog-eyed gecko, genus Teratoscincus, is a nocturnal desert gecko native to sandy regions of Central Asia. Its large, loosely attached scales produce a rattling defensive sound, while its prominent eyes give the species its common name.
Convergent noise, unrelated animals
A rattlesnake’s rattle and a frog-eyed gecko’s scale-rattle share nothing biologically, yet both arrived at essentially the same solution: make a startling sound loud enough to convince a predator that whatever produced it is not worth the risk.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable sandy desert habitat throughout its Central Asian range.
Frog-Eyed Gecko: common questions
How does a frog-eyed gecko make a rattling sound without a rattle?
A frog-eyed gecko has unusually large, loosely attached scales covering its body, and when threatened it can rub these scales together to produce an audible rattling sound, a defensive strategy that achieves an effect similar to a rattlesnake's warning rattle despite the two animals being completely unrelated and using entirely different anatomy to produce the sound.
Why is it called a frog-eyed gecko?
The frog-eyed gecko gets its common name from its notably large, protruding eyes, which give the species a somewhat frog-like facial appearance compared with the smaller, less prominent eyes typical of many other gecko species.
Can a frog-eyed gecko lose its scales if grabbed?
Yes, because a frog-eyed gecko's large scales are only loosely attached to the skin beneath, the species can shed patches of scales relatively easily when grasped roughly by a predator, a defensive trait that may help the gecko slip free from a grip that would otherwise hold a more tightly-scaled gecko in place.
Where do frog-eyed geckos live?
Frog-eyed gecko species are native to sandy desert regions of Central Asia, including parts of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and neighbouring countries, generally sheltering in burrows during the day and emerging to hunt insects after dark once desert temperatures cool.