The entire genus Rhacodactylus inhabit the small islands New Caledonia. Located northeast of Australia, the small chain of islands put together only equal the size of New Jersey! (Black, 10). New Caledonia lies north of the Tropic of Cancer giving it a humid tropical environment. The main island, Grande Terre is a long narrow strip of mountain ranges through the middle and coastal plains. On the south end of the main island lies another island, Ile des Pines, noted for its lush coniferous forests. There are other smaller islands just off the coast of the 2 listed larger islands (Black, 10).
Due to human alterations of the habitat, these geckos are considered highly threatened. Mining activities, agriculture and erosion has impacted the habitat by harming the original main forests. Human introduced animals such as pigs, rats, dogs and cats have also impacted the fragile ecosystem and the geckos enviroment (Black, 25). Rhacodactylus spend most of their time in the trees and brush on the islands. One of the biggest killers of Rhacodactylus is an introduced fire ant, colonies can kill adults very easily. Thanks to conservation of the threatened geckos, exportation of any species of Rhacodactylus is illegal. Unless with proper permit they can be exported for scientific purposes and not for the pet trade (Black, 25). These geckos need to be well protected to ensure that they do not become extinct due to another human impacted extiction...
Arndt, Daniel. Apollo the Crested Gecko. 2009. Photograph. Hillburst, Calgary, AB, CA. Web. 12 April 2011.
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/ubermoogle/3286276307/>
Black, Adam. Crested Geckos. Neptune City: T.F.H. Publications, 2005. Print
Brewbooks. Bay of Quinne New Caledonia. 2006. Photograph. Yate, Sud, NC. Web. 12 April 2011.
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/brewbooks/238094371/in/photostream/>
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