Geckos make up the suborder Gekkota which contains at least four or five families. Gekkota is a huge group of monophyletic lizards that probably should be divided into distinct families as suggested by Pianka and Vitt (Lizards, 2003. University of California Press). By dividing the clade it becomes possible to recognize the very unique flap-footed geckos (Pygopodidae) as a distinct family. The flap footed geckos have evolved to become snake-like. Therefore, here I am going to use Pianka and Vitts' arrangement. And, because I have a large number of photos of geckos I have set up different pages for each family, and the subfamilies of the Gekkonidae. There are about 1050 species in about 100 genera and they are quite diverse, making it difficult to make generalizations about them. Most tend to be insectivorous but some feed on nectar and serve plants as pollinators. All geckos lay eggs with the exception of some New Caledonia and New Zealand species in the family Diplodactylidae. A few geckos have the ability to parachute from the canopy of the forest, and most have fragile tails that readily break when the lizard is restrained, others have prehensile tails. Some have fragile skin that tears off the lizard when they are grabbed. Most are nocturnal, but at least a few are active during the day. Most lay small clutches of eggs, usually one or two, and some are parthenogenetic, that is the species is only composed of females and sperm are not needed for reproduction. A few have become human commensals and have spread around the world with human help.
The family Gekkonidae includes more than 670 species in about 65 genera. They are cosmopolitan in the tropics and subtropics, with a few species invading temperate and cold temperate environments at high elevations. They lack moveable eyelids and have a spectacle or brill that covers the eye ball. This clear scale is cleaned with their tongue. Members of this family lays hard shelled eggs.
The Frog-eyed Gecko or Turkestan Plate-tailed Gecko, Teratoscincus scincus (Schlegel, 1858). The photographs are of a captive specimen. Schelgel originally placed this lizard in the genus Stenodactylus. T. scincus inhabits tracts of fine, wind blown sand. They are nocturnal and may be active at low temperatures. Like some other geckos they have exceptionally fragile skin that tears when they are restrained or grabbed by a predator. Burrows are up to 800 mm deep. The large plate-like scales on the dorsal surface of the tail can be rubbed against each other to make a rasping sound during defense behavior. Eggs are laid in spring and early summer (April-June) and hatch in about 77 days. Food consists of insects and small lizards. This species inhabits Southwest and Central Asia; northern Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, southern Russia and western China. Some authors have suggested this genus be placed in its own subfamily, Teratoscincinae.
The Giant Day Gecko, Phelsuma madacascarensis grandis Gray, 1870. A captive raised individual. Inhabits northern coastal Madagascar. Occurs in tree plantations, and buildings. Exceptionally large adults may reach 300 mm in total length, usually less than 280 mm. For more photos of Phelsuma geckos click on the photo.
The Turkish Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus (Linnaeus, 1758). Photographed in Gainesville, Florida where it has been introduced. It is native to Africa and possibly the Near-East, but has been introduced into North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. Like many Hemidactylus this species is a human commensal. For more photographs of geckos in the genus Hemidactylus click on the picture.
Giant Ground Gecko, Chondrodactylus angulifer Peters, 1871 is endemic to the Namib Desert of South Africa's Cape Region. During the day they hide in a burrow, and at night they forage on the gravel strewn flats, or sand desert for insects and other lizards. Photograph of a captive specimen.
Frilly Forest Gecko, Cosymbotus craspedotus Mocquard, 1890. Photographed in the Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Island of Borneo). The Frilly Forest Gecko ranges from Southern Thailand and the Malay Peninsula and Borneo, but probably also occurs on Java and possibly other Greater Sunda Islands. Adults can reach 62 mm in body length. The specimen at the right was found sitting on a tree trunk in a disturbed area, close to a river. They are well camouflaged, and the extra skin is used to increase the surface area while gliding. The body and tail are extremely depressed (dorso-ventrally flattened).
Khasi Hills Bent Toed Gecko, Cyrtodactylus khasiensis Jerdon, 1870. Photograph of a captive. Adult body length to 90 mm, tail could be another 100 mm. A widespread species of northeast India. Usually found on rocks or low vegetation. For more Cyrtodactylus photos and information click on the photo.
Blotched Ground Gecko, Geckoella yakhuna Deraniyagala, 1945. Photographed in a Sri Lankan dry forest. Adult body length to 41 mm. Endemic to Sri Lanka. Females lay clutches of four eggs.
The Indo Pacific Tree Gecko, Hemiphyllodactylus typus Bleeker, 1860. A captive specimen from Hawaii. Widespread in Asia and on the island of the South Pacific. Currently this name includes both sexually reproducing populations and parthenogenetic populations. This is a tiny (60 mm in body length) gecko that is a human commensal .
Copulating Gehyra australis Gray, 1845. Photographed in Darwin, Australia. Adult body to 70 mm. Ranges from the East Kimberley to the Northern Territory-Queensland border. Found in wooded areas, but will use buildings.
Mourning Gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris (Dumeril and Bibron, 1836). Photographs of captive animal from Hawaii. Adults reach 49 mm in body length. Widespread, in Asia, Indo-Australia, Oceania, Central America, and South America. Mourning Geckos are human commensals. They have diploid and triploid populations. Females may lay 1 or 2 eggs every two to four weeks and populations are often clones. Note the endolymphatic sacs (white swollen area on neck) in the top photo, these are involved in calcium metabolism.
Pachydactylus rangei (Andersson 1908). Photograph of a captive specimen. This lizard was formerly placed in the genus Palmatogecko but has recently been show to be part of a monophyletic clade of South African geckos (Bauer and Lamb, 2005. African Journal of Herpetology 54:105-129).
Wahlberg's Velvet Gecko, Homopholis wahlbergii Peters, 1869. Photograph of a captive animal. It inhabits the Republic of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. Adults reach 215 mm in total length. They live under bark, and other loose structures above the ground including roofs, bird nests, and tree holes. They inhabit arid and mesic savannas, and coastal brush.
Siamese Leaf Toed Gecko, Dixonius siamensis (Boulenger 1899). Captive specimens, top is an adult, bottom a neonate. Widespread species in Asia, from India and Myanmar east to Indochina. This is probably a species complex since several populations have different chromosome numbers. Adults reach a body size of 50 mm, and total length of 110 mm. Inhabits forests and disturbed areas. Previously placed in the genus Phyllodactylus which is now known only from the Western Hemisphere.
Kuhl's Gliding Gecko, Ptychozoon kuhli Stejneger 1902. Photograph of a captive animal. The species ranges from southern Thailand and Myanmar, Malaysian Peninsula, and many of the Sunda Shelf (mostly Indonesian) Islands. Adults reach a total length of 190 mm. Prefers closed canopy mature forests, often in the vicinity of streams.
Gliding Gecko, Ptychozoon lionatum (Annandale, 1905). Khao Laung National Park, southern Thailand. Adults reach 164 mm in total length. This individual was found sitting on a tree trunk about two meters off the ground. Ranges from Myanmar east into Indochina and occurs on Borneo. Prefers mature evergreen forests.
Sri Lankan Day Gecko, Cnemaspis sp. Photographed near Kandy, Sri Lanka. Cnemaspis is a genus of about 50 species with at least five species known from Sri Lanka.
Uroplatus geckos are endemic to Madagascar. They have a variety of adaptations the reneder them invisible. For more about these lizards click on the photo or here.
