Geckos - Wall-Climbing Lizards!

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 13 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #1,285 in Animals, #29,392 overall

Geckos--Lizards that can walk up the walls--up glass windows and across the ceiling, as well!

Found in warm climates throughout the world (mostly the tropics--but also in desert areas in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas), geckos are amazing critters! Belonging to the family Gekkonidae, they have specialized toe pads that enable them to run across walls, across ceilings, and even on glass windows.


Madagascar Day Gecko




Buy at AllPosters.com

But that's not all the amazing things that geckos can do... 

Unlike most other lizards that can only hiss (monitors and crocodilians can also make a variety of noises), geckos can vocalize--making chirping sounds in social interactions with other geckos. Their name is derived from the Malay word, gekoq--which imitates their cry.

They can also lick their eyes with their tongue--they have no eyelids--and instead have a transparent membrane that covers their eye, which they lick to clean.

If you try to catch one and grab only their tail, the tail pops off and wiggles to distract you with the grossness while the gecko safely takes off and hides.

This is one of the ways they keep predators from getting the whole meal--better to lose the tail rather than lose the whole life. Not to worry, however--the tail eventually grows back so it can do this again.

Another way some species try to discourage predators is that they discharge a foul-smelling material and feces onto their molestors.

Also... some species are parthenogenic--the females can lay fertile eggs even without having to mate with a male. This improves the gecko's ability to spread to the scattered islands of the Pacific and Atlantic and to other isolated geographic areas. (This characteristic is also shared by the monitors.)

The family Gekkonidae is divided into five subfamilies, containing numerous genera of gecko species. Many geckos are kept as pets and will eat various kinds of insects and sometimes fruit.

 

In Hawaii, Geckos Are Everywhere. They Even Have Their Own Store!

A gecko running across the walls, the ceiling, and the windows... 

Sticky feet anyone?

This gecko was filmed most likely in Thailand--but they run across walls, ceilings, and windows Guam, Palau, Micronesia, Philippines, Hawaii, and most other warm areas where they like living in houses as much as they like living in the boonies!

Giant Gekko Lizard of Thailand

Small film of large gekko crawling around kitchen walls.

powered by YouTube

Geckos among us... 

Geckos are well-known to people who live in warm regions of the world where several species of geckos can make their home inside human dwellings. These species (for example the house gecko) become part of the indoor menagerie and are rarely discouraged because the geckos feed on insect pests such as mosquitos, cockroaches, ants, and moths.
A Madagascar Day Gecko Feeds on a Spider


Buy at AllPosters.com


Geckos have various colors and patterns. Some are subtly patterned, and somewhat rubbery looking, some are camouflaged to blend in with foilage and dried leaves, while others can be brightly colored. Some species can change color to blend in with their surroundings or with temperature differences.

Close-Up of Tokay Gecko Showing Ability to Walk on Glass 

Gekko gecko

Night vision footage featuring Jaws the Tokay Gecko. Also starring: Zero the cat Music: Dig This Vibe by DJ Krush

powered by YouTube

The Noisy Geckos of the Tropics! 

Gecko on House Wall at Mid-Day, Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga Province, Philippines

We just got back from a long vacation in Hong Kong and the Philippines--where we were serenaded each night by the chirping of these little guys as they scampered around the ceilings and upper walls of where we were staying.

And my wife and daughter thought I was going absolutely nuts when I was chasing geckos up and down the halls with my camera. The geckos weren't on the floor, however--they were either zipping along high on the wall or scrambling across the ceiling. This fellow was on the outside wall of a house during mid-day--going after miscellaneous ants and other bugs it might get lucky enough to eat.

Another View - Gecko Chasing Bugs on a Wall, Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga Province, Philippines

Geckos on the Ceiling! Geckos on the Windows! Geckos on Your T-Shirts! Geckos on Everything! 

Did you know? If you can't find what you're looking for here, just click on one of the items below and then, once their webpage displays, enter some keywords in the search-box that further define the item. Chances are good that the special thing you've always wanted will appear on the screen (or perhaps a good selection of things that come close!).

Crested Gecko Sticker (Rectangular)

Outstanding Crested Gecko Reflection Image.

Buy Now

Gecko Oval Car Sticker

What a cute little lizard! This is a great looking gecko oval car sticker!

Buy Now

Beware the Gecko Organic Toddler T-Shirt

Beware the Gecko! Let this playful little lizard bring some laughter to people's lives, for whatever reason you have in mind.

Buy Now

Powered by CafePress

These two should have talked with the Geiko Gecko first! 

Shera

Tiles

powered by YouTube

Geckos on Everything--Again! 

Did you know? If you can't find what you're looking for here, just click on one of the items below and then, once their webpage displays, enter some keywords in the search-box that further define the item. Chances are good that the special thing you've always wanted will appear on the screen (or perhaps a good selection of things that come close!).

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

Fun With Sticky Paws! 

In some tropical Asian areas, young boys have been known to tie a string around the waist of a gecko... and then the boys wait on a bridge over a walkway lower the gecko onto the hats of passersby.


Close-up of the Toe-Pads of a Tokay Gecko
Buy at AllPosters.com


When the gecko reaches the hat, it latches on with its sticky paws... and the boys can easily (with the help of the gecko, of course) lift off the hat. It makes a great prank... (and you can collect a lot of hats this way).

Gecko Peeking Out From Under Floorboards in Beachside Restaurant - Boracay Island, Philippines

Crumb Snatchers and Bug Zappers... Philippine Style - Boracay Island, Aklan Province 

We were enjoying a nice meal at a restaurant along Boracay Island's White Beach--and I caught a glimpse of something grey streaking across the floor. Hey, we're in an "open-air" restaurant. We're in the tropics. We're next to the beach. So, I had all sorts of ideas of what I might have seen.

As I looked across the table at the floor beyond, I saw a little head poke up through the floor boards. It was a lizard. On a closer look, I saw that it was a gecko.

I pulled out my camera and got a shot of it as it remained there with its head poking above the floorboards.

Then, the gecko hopped out, and started scampering across the floor toward us--it wasn't afraid of us. And it seemed intent on grabbing any of the crumbs we were dropping. Or, was it going after the ants that were attracted to the crumbs? I'm not sure, I didn't think to ask it. But it was fun watching it scrambling all over the floor.

My wife and daughter were not similarly amused, however. (Hey, I had fun--and got lots of pictures!)

Gecko Running Chasing Crumbs on Beachside Restaurant Floorboards, Boracay Island, Philippines

How Geckos In Hawaii (and Kauai) Check Out Their Stores!

Gecko Info Please? Get Your Sticky Paws on This Stuff! 

Global Gecko Association
The Global Gecko Association (GGA) is dedicated to gecko enthusiasts worldwide. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in gekkonids, from the professional herpetologist to the hobbyist.
Leaping Lizards! Gecko Site!
Greg and Leann's Leaping Lizards Day Geckos Site is a fun site that has pictures of Geckos and also provides care and feeding instructions for pet geckos. Cool website!

Great Stuff on Amazon 

Did you know? If you can't find what you're looking for here, just click on one of the items below and then, once their webpage displays, enter some keywords in the search-box that further define the item. Chances are good that the special thing you've always wanted will appear on the screen (or perhaps a good selection of things that come close!).

Geckos... Not Only in Tropical Asia, but Also in the Deserts of China, Africa, Australia, and the Americas! 

These little guys get around!

The American Indians (Native Americans) have included geckos in their legends and paintings.


Painted Gecko Lizard on Wall, Tucson, Arizona, USA


Buy at AllPosters.com

In their artwork and crafts, the Native Americans of the desert Southwest (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and southern California) have depicted the gecko in the same petroglyphs and on the same jewelry and pottery as their famous flute-player, the Kokopelli.

Get Your Sticky Paws on Some Good Reading! 

Geckos (Complete Pet Owner's Manual) by R.D. Bartlett, Patricia Bartlett

Geckos (Complete Pet Owner's Manual) by R.D. Bartlett, Patricia Bartlett

Terrarium hobbyists will find expert advice on pur more...0 points

The Gecko: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet by Audrey Pavia

The Gecko: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet by Audrey Pavia

The lizard craze is undeniable, and the small, fri more...0 points

The Herpetoculture of Leopard Geckos by Philippe de Vosjoli, Ron Tremper, Roger Klingenberg

The Herpetoculture of Leopard Geckos by Philippe de Vosjoli, Ron Tremper, Roger Klingenberg

Finally a more advanced book on the most popular p more...0 points

Leopard Geckos For Dummies (For Dummies (Pets)) by Liz Palika

Leopard Geckos For Dummies (For Dummies (Pets)) by Liz Palika

Get your one-stop guide for understanding and rais more...0 points

Leopard Gecko in Captivity (Professional Breeders Series) by Robbie Hamper

Leopard Gecko in Captivity (Professional Breeders Series) by Robbie Hamper

For those thinking of keeping the interesting and more...0 points

Let's Take Care of Our New Leopard Gecko by Alejandro Algarra

Let's Take Care of Our New Leopard Gecko by Alejandro Algarra

Titles in the Let's Take Care of ... color-illust more...0 points

Get Your Sticky Paws on a Keyboard, and Leave a Note Here! 

littleliz wrote...

cool lens. 5* from me. Im going to lens role you to my reptile party lens ^__^

ReplyPosted December 13, 2008

naturegirl7 wrote...

We have geckos here in south Louisiana, but they are not native. They're great little creatures. Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens link to the appropriate plexo and vote for it.

ReplyPosted November 30, 2008

StephenC wrote...

Nice lens! Good stuff, enjoyed the visit!
Fun Facts about San Bernardino
StephenC

ReplyPosted October 06, 2008

Teddi14 wrote...

They are just the coolest little creatures! Nice lens. Love the pics. 5 *'s

ReplyPosted September 21, 2008

KimGiancaterino wrote...

I fell in love with geckos during a trip to Hawaii. They were climbing all over my friend's walls! I still have a ceramic gecko pin that I bought to remember them by. Fun lens... Squid Angel Blessed.

ReplyPosted August 28, 2008

Evelyn_Saenz wrote...

The Alligators stopped by to check out your yummy lens and left you 5 stars!

ReplyPosted August 23, 2008

ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...

Geckos remind me of the lizards that hang around my flower garden and by my back door. They're fun to watch.
Great lens
Lizzy

ReplyPosted August 09, 2008

writeon wrote...

When I was 3 I lived on Guam and got a toy car for my birthday. That night I dreamt that a gecko drove my car to the other side of the room. The next morning, my toy car was not where I left it, by the side of my bed, but across the room, where the gecko had driven it in my dream.
You can't make this stuff up!

ReplyPosted January 29, 2008

Lensmaster

yamonomina wrote

The information of a lot of geckos gathers here; is glad to be able to find it :-)
http://geckoo.seesaa.net/

Reply Posted January 05, 2008

DogWhisperWoman wrote...

5* I like to learn about all creatures that crawl from a respectful distance. Best Dog For Child

ReplyPosted October 11, 2007

Gatsby wrote...

5* I always thought that walking up the wall thing was a joke. Best Natural Dog Food

ReplyPosted October 11, 2007

FESA wrote...

Great lens. I love geckos. I have hundreds of pics of them from various visit to the Hawaiian Islands. In fact, my laptop has one of my gecko pics as the screensaver. Lots of great information. Thanks, Fran

ReplyPosted September 01, 2007

Classic wrote...

Oh, My! They are cute, but I won't want them inside my house, hahaha!

ReplyPosted August 28, 2007

by EditorDave

Living on Guam is what now "defines" me.  It was such a dramatic difference in my life and outlook on things that there's no way I'd be the same...

(more)

EditorDave Recommends...

Create a Lens!