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Abbreviation Legend

  • (CE) - Criticially Endangered
  • (CI) - Critically Imperiled
  • (E) - Endangered
  • (I) - Introduced
  • (IM) - Imperiled
  • (NT) - Near Threatened
  • (T) - Threatened
  • (V) - Vulnerable
  • (**) - Recent Classification Change
Home »» Lizards »» Gekkonidae (Geckos)

Geckos (Gekkonidae) of the United States


Gekkonidae typically have flattened bodies and short limbs. In addition to claws, many species have expanded toe pads. On the bottom of each toe pad are scales covered with a myriad of microscopic hairlike bristles. Minute suction cups on the tips of the bristles permit geckos to walk up walls and across ceilings. Most species lack moveable eyelids, instead the perpetually open eyes are protected by a transparent scale, the spectacle. The American genus Coleonyx is an exception, it has eyelids. Among diurnal species the pupil of the eye is round, in nocturnal species it is vertically elliptical. Many geckos appear fragile, their thin soft skin tears easily and the tail breaks so readily it seems cast off even before it is grasped. Among some populations many individuals will be found to have the tail in some stage of regeneration. Geckos are the most vocal of lizards. Voices vary from the sound that prompted the family name: the raucous "geh-oh" of the giant Asian Tokay Geckos to the cricketlike chirps small species give when efending a feeding site. Most geckos lay two eggs at a time, Sphaerodactylus and Gonatodes lay only single eggs.

There are 29 species, representing 12 genus found in the United States with only 8 species that are native, while 21 species are Introduced.

Texas Banded Gecko
(Coleonyx brevis)

Reticulate Banded Gecko
(Coleonyx reticulatus)

Barefoot Banded Gecko
(Coleonyx switaki)

Western Banded Gecko
(Coleonyx variegatus)
(I) (V)

Crested Giant Gecko
(Correlophus ciliatus)
(I)

Keeled Rock Gecko
(Cyrtopodion scabrum)
(I)

Common Leopard Gecko
(Eublepharis macularius)
(I)

Common Four-Clawed Gecko
(Gehyra mutilata)
(I) (E)

Ba Den Golden Gecko
(Gekko badenii)
(I)

Tokay Gecko
(Gekko gecko)
(I)

Khanh Hoa Narrow-Disked Gecko
(Gekko grossmanni)
(I)

Japanese Giant Gecko
(Gekko japonicus)
(I)

Yellow-Headed Gecko
(Gonatodes albogularis)
(I)

Common House Gecko
(Hemidactylus frenatus)
(I)

Indo-Pacific House Gecko
(Hemidactylus garnotii)
(I)

Tropical House Gecko
(Hemidactylus mabouia)
(I)

Spotted House Gecko
(Hemidactylus parvimaculatus)
(I)

Asian Fat-Tailed Gecko
(Hemidactylus platyurus)
(I)

Mediterranean House Gecko
(Hemidactylus turcicus)
(I)

Indo-Pacific Slender Gecko
(Hemiphyllodactylus typus)
(I)

Mourning Gecko
(Lepidodactylus lugubris)
(I)

Madagascar Giant Day Gecko
(Phelsuma grandis)
(I)

Gold Dust Day Gecko
(Phelsuma laticauda)

Peninsula Leaf-Toad Gecko
(Phyllodactylus nocticolus)

Ocellated Gecko
(Sphaerodactylus argus)

Ashy Gecko
(Sphaerodactylus elegans)

Reef Gecko
(Sphaerodactylus notatus)
(I)

Ringed Wall Gecko
(Tarentola annularis)
(I)

Moorish Gecko
(Tarentola mauritanica)
 

 

 

 

Recommended Books at Amazon.com


Handbook of Lizards: Lizards of the United States and of Canada     Lizards of the World: A Guide to Every Family     Texas Lizards: A Field Guide     National Geographic Readers: Lizards



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Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 
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