# 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.

- **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.

## About

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.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/c87a5829-f661-4047-98b5-1e1bd94a2854
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/34615
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Tokay gecko
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/356069249/medium.jpg (Bernard DUPONT, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.