Indo-Pacific Gecko

Fascinating facts about the Indo-Pacific Gecko

• Adults grow to about 10–13 cm (4–5 in) and can change colour from dark gray or brown with light markings in daylight to a pale, translucent colour at night.
• Two rows of large, spiny scales line each side of its tail, soft and the same colour as the tail, making the gecko look like it’s wearing tiny armor. Scientists still don’t know why the scales evolved, sparking curiosity about hidden defensive tricks.
• All individuals are female and reproduce without males, laying eggs that develop on their own.
• Native to South and Southeast Asia, Polynesia, and Australia’s east coast, the species is also found in Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, the Bahamas and New Zealand.
• In Australia the gecko exists in only a few well-established pockets, such as Sydney and Fraser Coast, despite being common elsewhere.

At a glance

About the Indo-Pacific Gecko

The Indo-Pacific gecko (Hemidactylus garnotii) is a striking reptile that bridges the familiar house gecko’s charm with a suite of unique adaptations. Adults reach 10–13 cm (4–5 in) and display a chameleon-like ability to shift skin colour, from dark gray or brown with light markings in daylight to a pale, translucent hue at night, mirroring the behaviour of its close relative H. frenatus. Its most distinctive feature is the pair of large, spiny rows of soft scales that line each side of the tail, a trait whose function remains a mystery. The belly is usually a pale yellow or orange, and the long, narrow snout that earned it the nickname “fox gecko” adds to its distinctive silhouette. Native to a vast swath of South and Southeast Asia, Polynesia, and Australia’s east coast, this gecko has also colonised remote Oceania, the Seychelles, the Bahamas, and parts of the tropical United States. In the U.S. states of Hawaii, Florida, and Georgia it is regarded as invasive, while in Australia it persists in only a few well-established pockets such as Sydney and Fraser Coast. All individuals are female and reproduce by parthenogenesis, laying eggs that develop without male fertilisation.

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