Vivariums;reptiles;Crested Gecko 3

Harlequins: Harlequins were once considered a type of Flame. At the time they were rare, and appeared to be a Flame with extensive patterning on the sides and limbs (zone C, D, and E). As Harlequins increased in numbers and popularity it branched off into its own morph.

Crested Gecko Morphs :

1- An Introduction to Crested Gecko Morphs

courtesy to : www.geckotime.com/an-introduction-to-crested-gecko-morphs/

Crested Geckos have a very wide range of color, pattern and traits with a seemingly endless possibility of combinations that opens the doorway for serious breeders to an excitingly beautiful world of Morphs. Crested geckos are relatively new when it comes to the animal world, only being rediscovered no more than 20 years ago after being thought extinct. This has not allowed scientists the time needed to prove out any traits so when it comes to crested geckos, traits are not genetically connected to the morphs. Once they are it is possible many things will change but until then we try to maintain a logical approach and come to a universal standard that can be accepted by a majority of the gecko community. Dedicated breeders have a very good idea what they can produce and which traits seem to breed true.

Many people have all kinds of information on their sites and not all of it can be trusted. That and the fact that crested gecko morph guides are subject to a large amount of opinion, make it difficult to grasp a firm understanding of what is what. Gecko forums like Pangea reptile, Repashy or ACreptiles have some great information. Pangea has an excellent morph guide to help understand morphs, which also includes a reference guide to help people communicate with each other when discussing morphs. This article includes those references which cover the following:

Zone A: Top of the head
Zone B: Dorsal
Zone C: Upper side also called the lateral area
Zone D: Lower side also called the lateral area
Zone E: The legs or Limbs

Morphs, Traits, and Independent traits

These three subjects rule the crested geckos morph world.

Traits are any phenotypic character that can be inherited and reproduced. Pattern, color, and structure are all traits. Morphs are crested geckos that are specifically developed to portray a good example of the desired trait or group of traits. Independent traits are traits that can be present in multiple
morphs.

There are some morphs that are very straightforward and can be identified easily. Others are not so easy. There is also a difference between a morph and a project. A project is someone’s personal breeding colony with a morph goal in mind. Any combination of traits that can be reproduced consistently can be a morph. It’s hard to exactly pinpoint when a project becomes a morph. It seems to be a combination of a highly developed trait or group of traits and a large degree of popularity, either from the breeder or the crested gecko’s appearance.

There is a core group of morphs that pretty much covers most of what we see today. The core group, which was established by the people who were involved in their discovery, consists of these 5 basic morphs:

Patternless
Tiger
Bi-color
Flame
Harlequin

In the wild you would only see patternless, tigers, and maybe a bi-color but it wasn’t until after captive breeding came along that we began to see the beginning of the wide variety we now have today.

Basic Morph Description

Patternless: The name says it all. This is a crested gecko with zero pattern in any zone area of the body. They are also one solid color.

Tiger: Tigers go one step further and they develop pattern which resembles thin stripes like a tiger. The pattern starts on one side of the body (zone C or D) and wraps over the dorsal (zone B) onto the other side of the gecko (zone C or D).

Bi-color: Bi-colors are also self explanatory. They have zero pattern and they are two different colors. The head and dorsal (zone A and B) are one color and the sides and limbs (zone C, D and E) are another.

Flame: Flame was the first gecko with something new. It had a light colored head and dorsal area (zone A and B) confined by the lateral lines along the dorsal that was streaked with another dark color. The pattern resembled a fire or flame which is how the name came about. The sides and limbs
(zone C, D, and E) were patternless or had small amounts of side and limb pattern usually contained within the lower sides (zone D) or limbs (zone E).

There are a lot of side projects that were inspired by Flame. Breeders worked hard to manipulate color and the first celebrity morphs were born. These included Halloweens, creamcicles and chocolate blondes. These types of morphs always spin off from one of the 5 basic morphs, usually involving color.

Newer Morphs

There are also some additional morphs that were in the process of development, just a project or not even thought of yet when the core groups of morphs were forming. These included the following: Pinstripe, Dalmatian, Brindle, and Extreme Harlequin.

Pinstripe: The Pinstripe is a morph developed by Allen Repashy and it started with the pinstriping trait.
Pinstriping is a set of raised scales that runs down each side of the dorsal. They are actually a structural trait which is preferably highlighted with white or cream coloration. Pinstriping is an independent trait and can be found on Flame or Harlequin morphs. There are many degrees to the pinstriping trait including dashed, low percentage, and high percentage “pinner”. There are also many side projects with color and pattern involving the pinstripe. Phantom Pinstripe, Quad-striped, Extreme Harlequin Pinstripe are all great examples of what can be done with the trait. The Pinstripe morph is a good example of how a highly developed trait, like the full pinstripe, and popularity, in this case both appearance and breeder status can come together and create a new morph when it comes to crested geckos.

Flame – Also called a “stripe” or “fire”, a Flame gecko is one who displays two distinct contrasting colors. The identifying color is that which is displayed on the body & legs. The contrasting color (usually white, cream, yellow, or orange) will be displayed on the head & dorsum. There may be breaks in the color along the head & dorsum, where the base color shows, but this still qualifies as a flame. So, a gecko with a red body/legs and a yellow head/dorsal stripe would be described as a “Red Flame” or a “Red and Yellow Flame”. The Body/Leg color will always be the first listed in description as the identifying color. Had this gecko been described as a “Yellow & Red Flame”, that would mean the body & legs of the gecko are yellow, while the head & dorsum are red (I would like to see a gecko like this, by the way…would be very interesting!!). Some pattern may also appear along the body & legs in the same contrasting color as the dorsum & head, but this pattern would be minimal.

Dalmatian: Dalmatian spots, like the pinstripe, are an independent trait that can be found on any morph.
Any gecko with 25 or more spots is a Dalmatian and with more than 100 spots it becomes a super Dalmatian.
There are couple of other spot variables like colored spots, oil spots, phantom spots, big huge spots and spot clusters.

Brindle: Brindle is sometimes thought of as a super tiger because of the similar striping appearance. After a few years of breeding, this morph has established itself within the list of known morphs. Breeders have taken it to the next level and created some very nice examples that stand apart.

Extreme Harlequin: This is, as the name implies, a Harlequin with pattern that takes it to the extreme level. The Pattern should fill all zone areas and the pattern in the upper lateral area (zone C) should be either connecting with sections of the dorsal (zone B) or covering at least 3/4 of the upper side as well as the lower lateral (zone D) and limbs (zone E). This is a very busy and beautiful morph.

There are many side projects with this one including tri-colors, Halloween, blondes, solid backs, and many more.

Even with all we know about crested geckos, when it comes to breeding, there are still moments when an oddball pops up and takes the breeder by surprise. This can even occur in cases when lineage is well known and documented. The first possible pied crested gecko has just barely came to light and is still in the process of validation. This goes to show how much we still have to learn and how exciting the future is when it comes to these awesome little creatures.

Steven Schroeder

Steven Schroeder grew up in the desert in Lancaster CA where herping in the fields turned him into a reptile lover. He now lives in Lake Elsinore CA. He has had many different reptiles over the years including bearded dragons, iguana, python, turtles and many more wild and captive bred. Crested geckos resparked his love for geckos and he has been working with them ever since 2009. He also plans on branching out within and outside the species and eventually will take it to the next level and start a side business.

The crested gecko world is ever-changing. It seems like new colors, patterns, and color/pattern combinations are popping up with each new season. Because of this, defining the “morph” of your crested gecko can become a bit confusing. I won’t be surprised if this guide finds itself quite outdated in just a few years, but here is the most detailed list, complete with picture examples, that I could come up with to define the current morphs of the crested gecko world. Hope everyone finds this helpful & enjoyable!

2- Crested Gecko Morphs Guide

Courtesy to : thegeckogeek.com/2013/02/22/crested-gecko-morph-guide/

More Information :

Crested Gecko Morph Guide

The crested gecko world is ever-changing. It seems like new colors, patterns, and color/pattern combinations are popping up with each new season. Because of this, defining the “morph” of your crested gecko can become a bit confusing. And there’s the added challenge of distinguishing a “morph” from a “project” (See our blog “Morphs and Projects, What’s the Diff?!?” for more info on this). Folks are constantly sending me photos of their geckos, asking simply “What would you call this one?” I’ll be honest…I’ve come across a few geckos that even I am stumped on! That’s one of the things that make keeping & raising crested geckos so much fun for me. Even after all these years, I still encounter a Whatcha-ma-call-it!

I won’t be surprised if this guide finds itself quite outdated in just a few years, but here is the most detailed list, complete with picture examples, that I could come up with to define the current morphs of the crested gecko world. Hope everyone finds this helpful & enjoyable!

Other and Recommended websites :

Below is a short list of Crested Gecko morphs .. Every Year more and more morphs established .. It is recommended to up date yourself by searching for the new morphs around the world .. Here Some good websites :

- www.moonvalleyreptiles.com/crested-geckos/morphs

- www.extremecresties.com/

- www.lillyexotics.co.uk/morphs

- kentgecko.weebly.com/crested-gecko-morphs.html

- www.acreptiles.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=166&Itemid=390

- www.pinterest.com/willowmoore34/gecko-morphs/

- www.pangeareptile.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?99-Crested-Gecko-Morph-Guide

- www.the-gex-files.nl/indexeng.php?pagina=pages/morph_eng

- www.theurbangecko.com/sale/crested-geckos

Patternless – A gecko who is one solid color. The best examples of this morph have no variation in color whatsoever over their entire body. It is possible for patternless geckos to display spotting, however these are usually classified as either “Patternless Dalmatian” or simply “Dalmatian”. Patternless geckos may also display portholes, fringe, or knee caps in a contrasting color. These geckos may be described simply as “Patternless”, or definition may be given to the contrasting color in description – ex: “Patternless Red with White Fringe”. Patternless geckos may also display other color traits, such as blushing or tipped crests, and still be classified as simply “Patternless”. The tail, if present, may be any color. Typically, a patternless gecko will be described as a particular color, such as “Patternless Red” or “Patternless Yellow”. Patternless geckos displaying either brown or gray coloration when fired up are often referred to as “Buckskins”.

Naess is a great example of a patternless crested gecko.

Bi-Color – A patternless gecko who displays two distinct colors. Not to be confused with a “Flame”, Bi-Color geckos display one color on the head & dorsum, and another color on the body & legs, with these colors being in the same color family. So an Olive Bi-Color will display one tone of olive on the head & dorsum, and another tone of olive on the body & legs. The tail, if present, may be any color.

Oopsie is a fine example of a Bicolor crested gecko. His head & dorsal area are a slightly different shade of olive than his body.

Chevron crested geckos have a V-like pattern that is displayed along the dorsal area.

This tiny baby, with its head & dorsum in contrasting color to its body, would be considered a Flame crested gecko.

Chevron – This is a Flame gecko with a very distinct chevron or V-like pattern which is displayed along the dorsal stripe. These geckos are sometimes referred to as “Chevron Flame”, “Flame Chevron”, “Chevron Back”, or sometimes no identification is given to the dorsal patterning & the gecko is labeled simply as a “Flame”.

Bonham is a beautiful example of a Halloween Harley.

Tigers & Brindles – These morphs tend to get lumped together because there is such a slight difference between their appearances. The group includes Tigers, Brindles, Bold Stripe Tigers, and Extreme or Super Brindles. The definitions of all of these are listed below. In a nutshell, these are geckos who display one base color on the head, body, dorsum, and legs, with a contrasting color (usually darker) appearing vertically along the body and sometimes across the dorsal area. This darker contrasting color will appear either as full or broken stripes. It is possible for Tiger & Brindle geckos to have a head & dorsum color which is different from that of the body & legs. One thing to note, as babies of these morphs develop, there is the possibility that stripes which appear as solid lines may break up as the gecko grows, or alternately, stripes without great definition may become more bold with age. Because of this, here at The Gecko Geek, we label most hatchlings from our Tiger & Brindle groups as “Tiger/Brindle” until they reach a weight/size where we feel we can more accurately describe them.

So now let’s take a stab at identifying all the little differences of the members of the Tiger/Brindle group…

Tiger – A gecko whose pattern appears as vertical stripes, often darker than the base color, which extend from the dorsal area in an unbroken line down the belly. These stripes may or may not extend across the dorsum & down the other side of the belly. The key here is that the pattern is displayed in clear, unbroken stripes.

Teaspoon Annie’s dark stripes extend across her dorsum & down onto her belly. The dark lines along her belly are clear & unbroken. She is a fine example of the Tiger morph.

Bold Stripe Tiger – Similar to the “Tiger” described above, these geckos have pattern that appears as solid vertical stripes. The biggest difference between a Bold Stripe Tiger and a Tiger is the thickness & abundance of striping. Here at The Gecko Geek, to be identified as a Bold Stripe Tiger, we require that the gecko have full, unbroken stripes which extend from one side of the belly, completely across the dorsum, and run down the other side of the belly.

Fletcher’s thick bold stripes extend from one side of the belly, across the dorsum, and down the other side of the belly.

Brindle – These geckos are also very similar to the Tiger morph, except that their “stripes” are broken & don’t necessarily match up with the pattern on the dorsal area. The brindle pattern appears in vertical dots and dashes along the side of the belly. These dots & dashes may somewhat form a stripe similar to that of a Tiger, however unlike the solid line of a tiger, the Brindle’s stripes will be uneven and/or broken in parts.

Wembley clearly has stripes across his back, but they are scattered and broken on his belly. This means he would be considered a Brindle, not a Tiger.

Extreme or Super Brindle – These geckos are very similar to standard Brindles, except that there is much more pattern present. Unlike standard Brindle’s, whose pattern is mostly found on the sides of the belly, an Extreme or Super Brindle’s pattern will appear all over the body…mostly on the sides of the belly, but also extending out onto the legs, neck, and face. The very best examples of this morph have so much pattern that the two colors (base color & pattern color) appear at about a 50/50 distribution, so it is difficult at first glance to tell if you are looking at a light gecko with dark pattern or a dark gecko with light pattern!!

The dark brindle pattern on this girl is so abundant, it completely covers her belly & also extends out to her face & legs. This amount of pattern qualifies her as a Super Brindle.

Harlequin – Commonly referred to as a “Harley” (plural – Harlies or Harleys), this gecko is very similar to the Flame morph. The main difference here is the abundance of pattern. This gecko will display one color over the majority of the body (what we call the “base” color), with a second contrasting pattern color on the head, dorsum, legs, and sides of the belly. The base color is the identifying color of this gecko. So a gecko described as a “Yellow and Cream Harlequin” will have a yellow base color covering the majority of the body with cream coloration on the head, dorsum, legs, and sides of the belly. With Harlequin geckos, those displaying the sharpest contrast in coloration are considered the best representations of the morph. Harlequin geckos come in many different color combinations, many of which have been given their own classification based on the color combo & are recognized as their own morph. In addition, Harlequin geckos are identified into different categories based on the amount of pattern present & the number of colors present in the pattern. To help identify all of the different Harlequin morph geckos currently in existence, we have decided to break this up into sub-categories. The definitions of these individual sub-categories are listed below.

Blonde – This term is used to describe a Harlequin gecko who displays a very dark base color in combination with a very light pattern color. Ideally, a Blonde Harlequin will have a base color which is black (or nearly black) and a pattern color which is white (or nearly white). The best representations of a Blonde Harlequin will have an abundance of this white coloration on the top of the head & along the dorsal strap, so that the white coloration appears as a full and unbroken line which extends from the tip of the nose and along the back, all the way to the base of the tail.

We just love Bette’s bold contrast. Black & Cream is such a nice combination for a crested gecko.

Halloween – These geckos have two very distinct colors – Black and Orange. Unfired, this gecko may appear as Gray and Orange or Lavender and Orange, but once fired up, a good example of a Halloween will have a base color that is Black (or nearly Black) and a pattern color which is Orange (it doesn’t seem to matter, in terms of definition, if the orange pattern color appears as light, bright neon, or dark orange…but the pattern must be clearly Orange…not yellow, cream, or white).

Creamsicle – Also labeled as “Creamcicle”, these geckos share the color scheme of the popular frozen treat of the same name. The original definition of this morph was an Orange base color with Cream or White pattern, but in recent years we have seen this label placed on geckos with a Yellow base color as well. Here at The Gecko Geek, we prefer to stick with the classic definition. Only geckos who display true Orange and Cream are labeled as “Creamsicles”. Our Harlequins displaying a yellow base color are labeled simply as “Yellow & Cream Harlequins”.

Sparrow is actually a Yellow & Cream harley, but in this warm lighting her base color appears more orange, like that of an orange & cream Creamsicle.