Tokay Gecko
Gekko gecko
Their climbing power comes from millions of microscopic, hair-like structures on their toe pads called setae, which utilize van der Waals forces to stick to almost any surface.
- Scientific name
- Gekko gecko
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Reptilia › Squamata › Gekkonidae › Gekko
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Tropical rainforests, rocky cliffs, and rural or urban dwellings
- Diet
- Insects, spiders, small rodents, and smaller lizards
- Range
- Southeast Asia, Northeast India, Southern China, Indo-Australian Archipelago, Introduced in Florida
- Size
- 25-40 cm (10-16 inches)
- Lifespan
- 10-15 years
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Over-harvesting for traditional medicine, the exotic pet trade, and habitat fragmentation.
- Safe to approach?
- Defensive. Tokay geckos are non-venomous but possess extremely powerful jaws and a tenacious bite; they will bite if cornered or handled. Maintain a safe distance of 3-5 feet to observe. If bitten, do not pry the jaws open as this can injure the gecko or tear your skin; wait calmly for it to release its grip, or place it under lukewarm running water to encourage it to let go. Wash the bite area thoroughly with soap and water.
The tokay gecko ( Gekko gecko ) is a nocturnal arboreal gecko in the genus Gekko , the true geckos. It is native to Asia and some Pacific Islands.
Photo: Bernard DUPONT, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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