# Harlequin

_Permalink: https://geckinspect.com/MorphGuide/harlequin_

**Also called:** Harley, Harle  
**Rarity:** Common  
**Inheritance:** Polygenic  
**Category:** Pattern  
**Typical adult price:** $120 to $400

**Definition.** 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.

Light pattern on the flanks and limbs, with variable dorsal coverage.

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.

**Genetics models.** 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.

**History.** Emerged in the early 2000s as breeders selected for progressively more pattern coverage from flame-base stock.

**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 identify it:**
- 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

**Lookalikes and how to tell them apart:**
- Flame (https://geckinspect.com/MorphGuide/flame): Flame emphasizes dorsal pattern with relatively little lateral and limb pattern; borderline examples exist.
- Extreme Harlequin (https://geckinspect.com/MorphGuide/extreme-harlequin): Extreme describes more extensive lateral and limb pattern, without a universal percentage cutoff.
- Pinstripe (https://geckinspect.com/MorphGuide/pinstripe): Pinstripe concerns the raised edges of the back; an animal can be both harlequin and pinstripe.

**Often combined with:** Dalmatian, Cream, Tricolor, Pinstripe, Lilly White, Axanthic

**Current asking prices (Geck Inspect Price Index, 2026-10-06).** Asking prices on public crested gecko listings, converted to USD, not sale prices. Full dataset: https://geckinspect.com/data/price-index.json

| Market | Listings | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| United States | 1277 | $110 | $175 | $280 |
| South Korea | 6 | $158 | $224 | $289 |
| Japan | 15 | $101 | $120 | $157 |

**Notes.** This is a visible-feature description. A sale label or photograph alone does not establish genotype. Breeders use some names and inheritance models differently.

**Sources:**
- https://www.pangeareptile.com/collections/harlequin
- https://lmreptiles.com/fg-pt2-1/

_Source: Geck Inspect Morph Guide. Updated 2026-10-13. Cite https://geckinspect.com/MorphGuide/harlequin_