Ecological Observations on the Gargoyle Gecko, Rhacodactylus auriculatus (Bavay, 1869), in Southern New Caledonia

Abstract. Ecological niches of squamate reptiles are delineated by diet, microhabitat use, and activity period. In the current study field data were gathered to characterize the ecology of Rhacodactylus auriculatus with regard to these three axes. Rhacodactylus auriculatus regularly consume a wide taxonomic and ecological variety of arthropods, lizard prey including geckos and skinks, and various plant materials including floral parts and sap. Based upon the variety of dietary constituents and the regularity with which they are utilized, R. auriculatus may have the most atypical of all gekkonid diets. Rhacodactylus auriculatus partition their microhabitat with conspecifics based on perch height, presumably to avoid aggressive interactions. During winter in southern New Caledonia, R. auriculatus were most active from one to four hours after sunset.