This species is of medium size and usually 16 cm long. Its body is very rather robust and strong. Its basic color is brown or even blue grey with black dots and yellow or orange lines. Its eyes are red like those of all species of Goniurosaurus. Its tail is black with white rings around. According to an American scientist, there are two varieties of Goniurosaurus hainanensis: one in the highlands and one in the lowlands. The main differences between those two are their basic color, the black dots and the lines across their bodies. I got my first exemplars of this species in 2004. Shortly after that, somebody offered me another one. After exchanging pictures, I realized that the new exemplar looked differently than those I already got. Convinced very quickly, I bought them. The difference between the two sets was that the first one had a grey blue body, big dark spots and broad orange lines and the second one was of brown color with little dots and thin yellow lines. The lines quickly faded away. It is important to mention that all my Goniurosaurus hainanensis were wild animals imported from China. I trust my suppliers very much.

one year old Goniurosaurus hainanensis - lowland form

one year old Goniurosaurus hainanensis - highland form

Goniurosaurus hainanensis is a very productive gecko. Recently hatched geckos are of black or dark brown color. All over their body, there are white or yellowish lines. The tail is black as well with white rings. It has red eyes, too. I personally think that oniurosaurus hainanensis is one of the most interesting species of its genus. When breeding both varieties, I noticed the difference between them already a few weeks after the geckoes hatched. All lowland geckoes changed their basic color from black to red brown. The highland geckoes just turned brown. Concerning the lines on their body, the lowland geckoes had much broader ones of deep orange color. The highland geckoes kept their thin lines which turned yellow after a while. I noticed that the lowland geckoes already had yellow lines after hatching, which is an important contrast compared to the highland geckoes with their white lines. The lowland geckoes got tiny dots very quickly, which the highland geckoes did not get that soon.

After some time, the highland geckoes got these dots as well. Yet, the spots here were much bigger. The lowland geckoes changed their color into grey blue. The lines still were very broad and deep orange. Some of the rings around their tail became orange as well. Representatives of the highland form (same age) lost their white rings slowly and the lines turned into tiny yellow dots.

Lowland form with 9 months

Highland form with 9 months

Finally, I want to mention that not everyone is convinced that there are really two varieties of Goniurosaurus hainanesis. Yet, another example that two rather distinct looking animals belong to one category is Goniurosaurus kuroiwae. It was proved that this species has very different varieties which all belong to merely two main groups. When looking at recently hatched geckoes, one might not be able to decide to which group they belong. Some animals have horizontal lines (head to tail), others have vertical lines (side to side), some have spots all over their body, others are completely black. There is a huge difference between the two forms I have; you can easily tell them apart. Yet, I cannot say where exactly they were found. But for sure, all were wild animals.

Lowland form

Highland form

Goniurosaurus hainanensis - lowland and highland form

a very beautiful offspring from 2008, this animal has an atypical marking of the back

Highland form

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