So, this is a speculative evolution project, while many aspects of this come from extant and extinct species, this animal does not exist (as far as we know). The general setting is Terra Nova, a hypothetical India sized piece of land that fragmented off of Gondwana (Africa, Australia, South America, India and Antarctica) in the Cenozoic Period. Terra Nova is in the tropical latitudes within the Pacific Ocean and has a mixture of rainforests, dry scrub, grassland, wetland, and montane habitats.
_________________________________________
Grand Vampire Gecko (Necrophelusma draculinus)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Necrophelusma
Species: draculinus
Described: Gould (1996)
![One of the east African day geckos related to the vampire geckos [1]](https://comicvine.gamespot.com/a/uploads/original/11161/111611786/9305501-2674089132-gold-.jpg)
The recent survival of Terra Nova’s megafauna facilitated the evolution of a wide range of parasitic species. Among these odd endemic parasites where the vampire geckos, lizards descended from day geckos originally from east Africa. Before the last glacial maximum the diversity of vampire geckos was far greater, with a specific gecko allied to a certain clade of megafauna. The four existing species of vampire gecko are restricted to Terra Nova’s toxodontids, litoptens, gompotheres and sebecosuchians. The vampire geckos are thought to have evolved from symbiotic geckos that fed on parasites, before graduating to feeding on open wounds caused by feeding parasites and then finally becoming true parasites themselves.
At a maximum length of 14cm, the grand vampire gecko is the largest surviving member of the clade Necrophelusma. Unlike the colourful east African day geckos, the skin of the grand vampire ranges from a dull grey to a jet black with a line of red scales running down their back. The skin of the grand vampire geckos and the rest of the genus Necrophelusma is hydrophobic preventing blood from sticking to their bodies and allowing them to stand on water. This adaptation suggests that the geckos within Necrophelsuma were adapted to feeding on semi-aquatic animals and radiated into more terrestrial species. Like most geckos, the grand vampire gecko has adhesive hairs to assist in climbing and adhering, and while not feeding typically is situated on the underbelly of its host. While typically found on the external surface of its hosts, vampire geckos, more typically smaller species such as the little vampire gecko (Necrophelusma vampyrum) enter the body cavities of its host, to access blood vessels closer to the surface of the skin.
The grand vampire gecko is a haemovore, primarily feeding on the blood of its host, usually long-snouted toxodon (Hesprotoxodon giganteus), as well as ticks and lice on the dermis. Open wounds are typically the source of blood, but where wounds are not available, the grand vampire gecko utilizes a fused tooth on the lower jaw to pick open skin and access the veins. Skin under the shoulders, as well as the neck and rump are the preferred feeding locations due to the softer skin in these areas, with the geckos lapping up the blood that flows from the opened wound. The saliva of the vampire geckos contains anti-coagulants that slow down the rate of blood clotting to allow the geckos to feed for longer. Grand vampire geckos are occasionally predated upon by birds, notably the smoke winged egret (Ardea vapoteryx) which follows large herbivores looking for small animals flushed out of the undergrowth. Like other geckos, when threatened the grand vampire gecko can drop its tail to distract predators while it makes its escape.
Multiple grand vampire geckos may potentially be present on a single host and may occasionally fight each other, looking to throw each other off of its host. Mating occurs during the rainy season with the larger males engaging in bouts to throw each other off their host until only one male gecko is left where he then mates with the females present on the host animal. Actual copulation is short with the male pinning the female down before mating. During egg development, female grand vampire geckos leave their host and look for burrows or tree hollows to deposit up to twelve eggs, before returning to a new host. Hatchling grand vampire geckos are insectivores, primarily feeding on ticks and lice these geckos roam the grassland and flood plains of Terra Nova looking for its first host, one it typically won’t leave until it reaches breeding age.
Picture References
1: gold-dust-day-gecko.jpg (1067×800) (cbreptile.com)
If you have any recommendations for Terra Nova’s fauna and flora please leave a suggestion, and if you want to take part with this ‘New World’s’ exploration, send me a message.
Log in to comment