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.
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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.
Contents at a Glance
- In Hawaii, Geckos Are Everywhere. They Even Have Their Own Store!
- A gecko running across the walls, the ceiling, and the windows...
- Geckos among us...
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?
Giant Gekko Lizard of Thailand
Small film of large gekko crawling around kitchen walls.
Geckos among us...
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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
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!
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.
These two should have talked with the Geiko Gecko first!
Geckos on Everything--Again!
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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.
Buy at AllPosters.comWhen 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!
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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.
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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
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 lizard craze is undeniable, and the small, fri more...0 points
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
Get your one-stop guide for understanding and rais more...0 points
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
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 ^__^
Posted 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.
Posted November 30, 2008
StephenC wrote...
Nice lens! Good stuff, enjoyed the visit!
Fun Facts about San Bernardino
StephenC
Posted October 06, 2008
Teddi14 wrote...
They are just the coolest little creatures! Nice lens. Love the pics. 5 *'s
Posted 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.
Posted August 28, 2008
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
The Alligators stopped by to check out your yummy lens and left you 5 stars!
Posted 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
Posted 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!
Posted January 29, 2008
yamonomina wrote
The information of a lot of geckos gathers here; is glad to be able to find it :-)
http://geckoo.seesaa.net/
Posted January 05, 2008
DogWhisperWoman wrote...
5* I like to learn about all creatures that crawl from a respectful distance. Best Dog For Child
Posted October 11, 2007
Gatsby wrote...
5* I always thought that walking up the wall thing was a joke. Best Natural Dog Food
Posted 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
Posted September 01, 2007
Classic wrote...
Oh, My! They are cute, but I won't want them inside my house, hahaha!
Posted 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...
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