Home / Morph Guide / Harlequin Crested Gecko
Harlequin Crested Gecko
A Harlequin crested gecko has conspicuous light pattern on the flanks and limbs as well as the back, with irregular patches separated by areas of base color.
Look at the sides and legs, not just the back. Harlequin pattern can form irregular islands, branching edges and larger connected patches. Coverage varies, and one animal may also show pinstripe, banding or Dalmatian spots. A small amount of lateral pattern does not create a universally agreed boundary between flame and harlequin.
Traditional hobby guides describe variation in harlequin expression as polygenic. Foundation Genetics proposes an underlying pattern trait with incomplete dominant inheritance and modifying factors. These are different models; visible coverage alone does not demonstrate gene dosage.
Emerged in the early 2000s as breeders selected for progressively more pattern coverage from flame-base stock.
Inheritance: Polygenic. Category: Pattern. Rarity: common. Typical adult price: $120 to $400. Also called: Harley, Harle.
Key features
- Light pattern on the flanks and limbs
- Irregular patch boundaries and areas of visible base color
- Pinning, banding and spotting may coexist
How to tell it apart
- Flame: Flame emphasizes dorsal pattern with relatively little lateral and limb pattern; borderline examples exist.
- Extreme Harlequin: Extreme describes more extensive lateral and limb pattern, without a universal percentage cutoff.
- Pinstripe: Pinstripe concerns the raised edges of the back; an animal can be both harlequin and pinstripe.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Harlequin crested gecko?
A Harlequin crested gecko has conspicuous light pattern on the flanks and limbs as well as the back, with irregular patches separated by areas of base color.
What does a Harlequin crested gecko look like?
A typical Harlequin crested gecko shows these features: light pattern on the flanks and limbs; irregular patch boundaries and areas of visible base color; pinning, banding and spotting may coexist.
How do I identify a Harlequin crested gecko?
To identify a Harlequin crested gecko, check these points: compare both flanks and the legs with the dorsal pattern; use several specimens to learn the range of coverage; compare photographs in consistent lighting and firing states.
What is the difference between Harlequin and Flame?
Flame emphasizes dorsal pattern with relatively little lateral and limb pattern; borderline examples exist.
How is Harlequin inherited?
Harlequin is classified as polygenic. Trait controlled by many genes working additively. Cannot be Punnett-squared. Improved through selective breeding over generations.
How much does a Harlequin crested gecko cost?
A typical adult Harlequin crested gecko sells for $120 to $400. Quality, sex, age and lineage move an individual animal within that range.
What other morphs combine with Harlequin?
Harlequin is often combined with Dalmatian, Cream, Tricolor, Pinstripe, Lilly White and Axanthic.
Who discovered or first produced Harlequin crested geckos?
Emerged in the early 2000s as breeders selected for progressively more pattern coverage from flame-base stock.
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