Sandstone Geckan

There was a legend, once, of moving stones within the desert. People would climb to the highest dunes and stare down at these rocks, watching as they trekked through the sands. Others would mark their locations and study for years to determine the meaning behind their chosen positions. It wasn't until Yrealla Huodanoa decided to march down there and pick one up that it was discovered that, though they looked and felt like rocks... they were lizards! Decades of cumulative research wasted all because no one thought to go down and touch one.

— Ajzhuala, Third Rhythm of the Concinnity

Basic Information

Anatomy

The sandstone geckan has four limbs and like all reptiles and other invertebrates they have a bony skull, a long vertebral column that encloses the spinal nerve cord, ribs that form a protective bony basket around the viscera, and a framework of limbs. It sits at 14-18 feet (4.2-5.5 m) in length and weighs approximately 250 lbs (113 kg). Unlike other reptiles often found on Tenrashé, however, the geckan species are very slow, and this is especially true for the sandstone geckan, which has very fatty muscles. This reptile is not built for speed and is instead designed to hide in plain sight within the sands of Torrae. It is built to withstand incredible heat, which it stores in its fat, allowing it to survive the cold desert nights.

Genetics and Reproduction

The sandstone geckan, like other geckans, is oviparious, meaning they lay eggs rather than birthing live young (which a rare amount of reptiles do). They reproduce twice per year, laying clutches of about 5 eggs deep beneath the sand to prevent predation. They are white and sticky with soft, pliable shells that, once they are exposed to the air, do harden rather quickly. They will incubate in the desert heat for 60-110 days before fully formed geckans emerge.
The geckans have a mating ritual, usually including posturing, vocalizations, and even small nips and nudges. For example, the male geckan may wave his tail through the air while doing pushups in the sand while nipping at the females own tail.
After the female chooses her mate and lays her clutch, her care to the eggs is nonexistent. She conceals her progeny in the sands and goes on with her life, never looking back unless to consume her own eggs, which happens on occasion.

Growth Rate & Stages

A geckans lifespan is approximately 20 years in the desert, some even being documented to survive for 30 in captivity.

Hatchling/Baby Stage

A geckan hatchling weights only about 0.2 ounces (6 grams). They do not usually feed the first fews days after hatching instead they consume the yolk supply still attached to their bodies. When the hatchlings shed, they eat the old skin, which aids in their development and growth. They will then begin to hunt for small bugs and other foods.

Juvenile Stage

A juvenile geckan is almost the teenage cycle of this lizard. They begin to grow incredulously fast and working toward their adult size. This fast-growth causes the geckan to shed regularly and eat frequently to keep up with the changes in their bodies for the next 18 months.

Adulthood Stage

After the juvenile stage, the geckan grows into its adult body. It is at this point that the different in gender becomes apparent. The male geckans, at the base of their tails, have two bulges behind their vent, while the females only have one. The males also have broader heads than the females. These are the only differences. In the younger years of their adulthood, they shed about once a week, but when they are fully grown, they shed once every two months. This is when they become sexually mature.

Ecology and Habitats

The sandstone geckan's optimal environment is along the Ynua River in the Torreon Desert. The access to water while still maintaining a high temperature makes it the ideal breeding grounds for this reptile and is thus where they are most often found. They litter the sands in the hot afternoons, though an unsuspecting eye would think that these slow-moving lizards are simply rocks and a mirage of heat is what makes them appear to be moving.

Sandstone Geckan by Generated via Midjourney

Additional Info

Perception and Senses

A geckan's sense of smell is incredibly heightened. Due to the familiarity and small variability of scents that can be found in the desert, they are extremely sensitive to foreign smells. When they smell a foreign scent, they freeze up entirely; this is a passive defense mechanism that they cannot avoid. This is why it is beneficial that the lizard blends in with its surroundings, as it would otherwise make for an easy meal.
The hearing of a geckan is not very good, making it sensitive to sound. However, one sound that it can pick up with ease from a great distance is the chittering of an Irzyu. This is the natural predator of the sandstone geckan and the reason for most of its defense mechanisms.
The geckans' sight is very good, as it can see upwards of a mile away clearly. It has eyelids that are see through, allowing it to keeps its eyes open even in a sandstorm, which is very common in the Torreon Desert.

Dietary Needs

The sandstone geckan is carnivorous. They are polyphyodonts, meaning they replace their hundreds of teeth as they fall out. They do not have teeth used to tear into and rip flesh, though, they simply crush the exoskeletons of the many bugs found in Torrae, allowing for easier digestion. Their main source of food is the Copper Zhuan Beetle, a protein and mineral rich beetle that also makes its home in the sands.

Lifespan

20-30 years

Average Height

1.5-2 ft (46-61 cm)

Average Weight

250 lbs (113 kg)

Average Length

14-18 ft (4.2-5.5 m)