
The Girls
The girls are quite an interesting crew, and one that stays together. These small geckos are parthenogenic, meaning that there are no males needed for offspring to be produced. This is why they are often lumped into one group, in addition to their small size. These mourning geckos are an excellent example of the wide variety of animal adaptations, and can be a great educational opportunity for many audiences.
All about The Girls
"The Girls" came to the sanctuary as the start of a breeding project in March of 2022. One of the downfalls of these animals is that they are extremely difficult to handle, and should just stay within an enclosure for exhibition. On the other hand, these geckos can be an awesome way to show an audience the methods of reproduction, as while these geckos do need a mate, there is no genetic material being shared, meaning that the geckos are genetically identical to their parents, a clone.
Parthenogenesis allows these geckos to create these clones, as they have no males in their captive population. They embody the phrase “I don’t need a man” because they literally do not need them. The geckos are primarily frugivores, meaning that they eat mostly fruit.
If you want to sponsor animals in the LGBTQIA+ community, these “fruity” girls may be the right animal for you! These girls would also make a great ambassador for anyone looking for an animal that is small but mighty!