Classification: Introduced Species

Description: The golden gecko gets its common name from the gold-colored scales on its body. Males grow to around 7 to 8 inches in total length (including tail), while females stay around 5 to 6 inches. Males have a longer tail base, with fleshy knobs at the base of the tail. Pores appear on the insides of the legs. Females have none of these.

Habitat: The preferred natural habitat of G. badenii is granite rocky areas including those in lowland rainforest, at altitudes from sea level to 3,235 ft.

Range: G. badenii has been reported from the Tay Ninh Province and Kon Tum Province of southern Vietnam (the latter following the recognition of Gekko ulikovskii as a synonym of this species).

Found in these States: FL | GA

Diet: The golden gecko is primarily an insectivore but will also take some fruit. The golden gecko hydrates by drinking water from rainfall collecting on leaves.

Reproduction: G. badenii is oviparous.

Status: Gekko badenii has been assessed as Endangered on the basis that it has an extent of occurrence of approximately 4,000 km2, it is known from three localities each considered a separate location defined by a primary threat from harvesting, and it appears to be undergoing a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals resulting from extensive harvest, principally for food.

Subspecies: None

Taxonomy: