Goniurosaurus zhoui

Zhou’s Leopard Gecko is the third species of gecko found in Hainan. It is also the first species of gecko found independently by a Chinese on Hainan Island. The discoverer is Zhou Runbang of the Hainan Provincial Forestry Department.

Zhou’s Leopard Gecko was found in the central part of Hainan Island, China. Species of the genus Gecko are some nocturnal rock-specific species. The Zhou's Gecko collected recently all come from a typical karst landform area. The Bawangling Gecko lives near granite or limestone in highland forests, and the Hainan Gecko prefers to live in volcanic rocks or mossy mountain forests. The discovery of Zhou's Gecko also means that the habitats of Hainan Island Gecko species span a wide range. Further systematic research may reveal more species diversity.

Zhou's Gecko is nocturnal and lives specifically in limestone areas. All specimens were collected between 21:00 and 02:00 on limestone walls (less than 1.5 meters high) or adjacent to the ground covered with forest litter. Cracks and caves after erosion of the limestone surface provide shelter for some lizard species. Pregnant females can be observed in the wild in March and April, but not in September, indicating that spring is the main breeding season for Zhou's eyelid geckos.

Zhou's eyelid geckos are named in honor of the discoverer's great-grandfather, Mr. Zhou Haiquan, who was born in Xiwu Village, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. He is a respected patriarch in the family and an avid animal lover. His words and deeds have influenced his descendants to participate in wildlife protection activities. In addition, since Zhou's eyelid geckos are the third type of eyelid geckos discovered in Hainan Island, this name also commemorates the third dynasty in Chinese history-Zhou.

Listed in the second level of the "List of National Key Protected Wildlife in China".

Protect wild animals and stop eating game.

Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!

Its typical habitat is located in the central area of ​​Hainan Island, a typical karst landform area with an altitude of 220-300 meters, surrounded by some hills with an altitude of 50-100 meters. The karst area is covered with moist tropical evergreen broad-leaved forests.

Zhou's eyelid gecko is different from all known eyelid geckos in the following characteristics: medium size, adult body length (SVL, 93.41-97.35 mm); adult head, body, dorsal side of limbs, light purple-brown, and mottled with irregular black-brown spots; there is a neck ring extending backwards behind the occipital; between the neck ring and the tail contraction, there are four light gray body bands on the back with dark purple spots, and there are wide dark bands in front and behind the light body bands; these dark bands and dark spots have blurred edges; there are black spots in the light body bands, and there are black protrusions in them; iris brown; 8 nasal scales around the nostrils; 1 internasal scale; 49-62 eyelid margin scales; upper eyelid scales are similar in size to the granular scales on the top of the head; there is no row of slightly enlarged protrusions above the eye socket; 8 or 9 upper lip scales, 7-9 lower lip scales; 130-140 scales around the middle of the bo