Tropical House Gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia) lives in tropical rainforest across Sub-Saharan Africa. It feeds on insects and spiders. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Tropical House Gecko
- At just over a foot long, the tropical house gecko packs a punch: its total length ranges from 10-12.7 cm and it weighs about 4.6 g, yet females tip the scale at 54.47 mm SVL versus 51.56 mm for males. This tiny size hides a super-sticky secret, scaly lamellae on the toe undersides let it cling to walls like a living suction cup.
- A single female can lay two eggs up to seven times a year, producing a steady stream of offspring. Each clutch is fixed at two eggs, regardless of the female's size, and the eggs incubate for 22-68 days (average 56 days) before hatching. Hatchlings emerge at about 23 mm SVL and weigh 0.20-0.35 g, reaching sexual maturity in just 6-12 months.
- Urban surveys show densities of 0.04 to 0.21 individuals per square metre. especially among juveniles who stay low to avoid aggression from larger males perched higher on buildings. This vertical segregation reshapes local insect predation patterns, with juveniles eating more ground-dwelling bugs while adults patrol the illuminated heights.
- A single night-time hunt can include isopods, centipedes, spiders, scorpions, cockroaches, beetles, moths, flies, mosquitoes, snails, frogs, anoles, other geckos and blind snakes, with Orthoptera (grasshoppers) being the most important prey. This broad menu makes the gecko a valuable pest controller in homes, yet its droppings, about 5 mm long and 2 mm wide, can stain light-coloured carpets, turning a helpful roommate into a cleaning nuisance.
- Native to sub-Saharan Africa, this gecko. It thrives in urban settings from sea level up to 1 600 m, and has been introduced to the Caribbean, Central and South America, Florida Keys.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSub-Saharan Africa
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietInsects and spiders
About the Tropical House Gecko
In the sweltering nocturnal realms of the tropics, a diminutive yet fascinating creature emerges, the Tropical House Gecko, its slender form gliding effortlessly across walls and ceilings with an ethereal silence. With eyes like shimmering onyx, it navigates the shadows, its delicate feet barely touching the surface as it pursues its insect prey with calculated precision. As it moves, its mottled skin seems to blend seamlessly with the surroundings, rendering it all but invisible, a master of stealth in a world where survival depends on the art of concealment.
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