Tokay Gecko

Gekko gecko

Range

Native across South and Southeast Asia; introduced populations occur in places including Florida and Hawaii.

Habitat

Arboreal in tropical rainforest, rocky crevices, and human-made environments.

Diet

Primarily eats invertebrates, but may also take small rats, mice, and snakes.

Facts

• Its thick, cylindrical body is bluish-gray to gray and marked with red, orange, yellow, or black spots. Prominent eyes with vertical pupils and visible ear openings are useful features to look for.
• Microscopic setae—tiny bristle-like structures—cover its adhesive toe pads, helping it climb vertical surfaces and even overhangs.
• The gecko can lighten or darken its coloration for camouflage. Skin folds can also reduce the visible shadow of its body against tree surfaces.
• If threatened, it can use tail autotomy: shedding its tail as a defensive escape mechanism.
• Its diet is mostly invertebrate prey, ranging from mosquitoes and termites to grasshoppers, beetles, cockroaches, crickets, moths, and spiders; it may also take small vertebrates such as rats, mice, and snakes.

Research sources

• GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
• Tokay gecko