It might storm you to learn that , out of all the geckos found in Florida , only one is aboriginal ! This fascinating selective information surprise me when I first go reading about Gecko ! There are 24 distinguishable gecko species in the US , including incursive species , with some species being classified together based on similarity .
In this article , we ’ll bet at 20 different types of geckos inFlorida . All of Florida ’s gecko species have unique story to tell , drift from the shy and little Reef Gecko , which is aboriginal to the state , to the vivacious and aggressive Tokay Gecko , which was bring in through the preferent business deal .
Different Species of Geckos in Florida
Reef Gecko
The only native gecko to Florida is the Reef Gecko ( Sphaerodactylus notatus ) , which is also the smallest lizard in the US . With a maximal measurement of 2.25 inches ( 5.7 cm ) , it is frequently referred to as matchstick - sized . The Reef Gecko is active at dawn and nightfall , raven on tiny insects and spiders , in direct contrast to most other geckos , which are nocturnal .
Its brown - on - dark-brown food colour makes it a corking concealment in leaf litter and empty lots . While both sexes have dark patches on their brown skin , females have three grade insignia on their heads . They can pull through up to 20 years in captivity and pose only one egg at a meter , but they are threaten by exotic mintage and human body process in the natural state .
Tokay Gecko
With a maximal duration of 14 column inch ( 36 atomic number 96 ) , the Tokay Gecko , also known as the Gekko gecko , is the biggest species of gecko found in Florida . They are larger than the majority of grownup geckos of other type , even at birth . These tremendous animate being are often pale blue to green - gray-haired with brilliant white and orangish patterns .
They have flatten bodies , tumid heads , and beady skin . They are well - bed for making gaudy , recognizable calls that are hearable from a great length . Tokay Geckos are very protective of their district and can sting for extended periods of time , resulting in rip . Frogs , other lizard , and immense insects are their food sources .
Their home ground is still relatively isolated , but they pose a threat to aboriginal frog and lizard species in Florida due to their universe , which is derived from on the loose or unloose pets .
Common House Gecko
The Common House Gecko ( Hemidactylus frenatus ) is not a common coinage inFlorida , despite its name . Originating from Southern Asia , it has only recently arrived in Florida , mostly in storage warehouse districts close to Homestead , Ft . Myers , and the Keys . This Inner Light gray , brown , or blanched gecko has rows of spines border its tail and can pass on a maximum sizing of 5.5 in ( 14 centimetre ) .
They are strong-growing toward other species and are sly nocturnal stalkers that eat lizards and small insect . They can live up to five years , pose clutches of two eggs , and are quite territorial . humble lizard are the only ones they set a threat to , despite their power to bite people .
Mediterranean House Gecko
The most prevalent house gecko of all is the Mediterranean House Gecko ( Hemidactylus turcicus ) . alternate family gecko type are posing a growing threat to their tenacious existence in Florida . This gecko has a round nose , a flatten body , and extremely warty skin .
Its coloring varies from gray to brown , with a semitransparent abdomen and drear plot . They can rise up to 5 inches ( 13 centimeter ) in duration , come along darker during the day and ghostly white at night .
They are skilled at displacing other geckos from their home ground as they scrounge at night . They reproduce speedily and are pesticide - resistant , laying several clutches of two eggs during the summer .
White Spotted Wall Gecko
At up to 6 inch ( 15 cm ) in length , the White Spotted Wall Gecko ( Tarentola annularis ) is a immense gecko . Its legs are covered in raised scales , while its tail is armored and swirling . This gecko has a whitened belly and two white floater on each berm . It is gray to tan in color . Bulging eye and with child toe pads are key feature . They lay clutches of one or two egg and reside on walls .
They control their habitats and provender on louse and other geckos . They have even drive out the Tokay Gecko in Tallahassee . These geckos , which are aboriginal to Sub - Saharan and Saharan Africa , were first seen in Florida in 1999 when they escaped from a Tallahassee pet entrepot .
Amerafrican House Gecko
The Amerafrican House Gecko ( Hemidactylus mabouia ) , which is aboriginal to Sub - Saharan Africa , is also called the Tropical House Gecko because of its ability to flourish in Florida . These lizards are often see near beach , on trees , and on the wall of dwellings . They can gain a maximum size of it of 5 column inch ( 13 curium ) .
Nocturnal hunters have the power to alter their pelt tone in decree to blend in with their environs . They exhaust flying and cower insects . They have stripes stripes and moody bars on their tails , and their rough skin varies in colour from chocolate-brown to gray to pink .
To elude predators , they seem black during the 24-hour interval . They typically infringe with the smaller native Reef Gecko due to their territorial and aggressive nature . They live on for around 5 old age and lay clutches of 2 egg multiple times a season .
Flat-tailed House Gecko
Popular as a favorite , the directly - tailed House Gecko ( Hemidactylus platyurus ) is also referred to as the “ sign gecko . ” grow in Asia , it was ab initio observed in Florida during the 1980s in a Clearwater funnies promenade . Though it is trespassing , its facing pages has n’t been expectant .
This littlespecies has white bellies , grainy scales , a grayish body with grey-headed streaks , and a unequaled matted , broad poop . It can uprise to a maximal distance of 3.5 in ( 9 cm ) . Their physical structure include thin flaps along the sides that help them blend in with their milieu and hide their shadow .
They are preyed upon by the White Spotted Wall Gecko and are found in metropolitan areas . Because of their passive disposition and cut back power to expand their surround , they make excellent pets .
Since then , Lee and Miami - Dade counties have reported seeing them . Because of their carnivorous drug abuse and capacity to outcompete other gecko coinage , their bearing may be a menace to native lounge lizard population .
Indo-Pacific Gecko
The Indo - Pacific Gecko ( Hemidactylus garnotii ) has a foresightful , thin snout and a flat tail end with spiny scales that resemble sawtooths along the lateral border . It can extend to a maximum length of 5.5 inches ( 14 atomic number 96 ) . Its belly is lemony chicken to orange , and it has light and smuggled marking on a dark grayish - dark-brown background .
Because of its extended nerve , it is sometimes referred to as the “ fox gecko . ” It possesses the toe pad of a normal gecko but looks more like an anole . This species is agamic , mean that all of its female members lie fertilized testicle on their own without the help of a man .
The Indo - Pacific Gecko move from Southeast Asia and the Polynesian Islands to India , where it hitched a ride on works and construction materials before settle inFlorida . It is well - instal along the Eastern Coast and in Southern Florida , exsert from the Keys to Lake Okeechobee .
Cuban Ashy Gecko
With a maximum size of it of 2.75 inch ( 7 cm ) , the Cuban Ashy Gecko ( Sphaerodactylus elegans ) is the largest nanus species of its kind . Its skin is a dark gray - brownish vividness with patches of pepper and salt . Juveniles have an orange bum and a greenish body with prominent bands . This arboreal gecko is dynamic from dusk to break of day , chasing small insects near lights . It prefers to be in trees and on wall rather than on the earth .
Larger gecko , like the American House Gecko and the Common House Gecko , feed on them . They occasionally lie their only eggs in the nest of other gecko , including those of their predators , among leaf bedding and other detritus . Originally from Hispaniola and Cuba , they have lived in the Florida Keys since the 1920s . Their distribution can not grow because other non - aboriginal mintage control their routine .
Ocellated Gecko
Another matchstick - sized gecko , the Ocellated Gecko ( Sphaerodactylus argus ) , reaches a maximum length of just 2.5 inches ( 6 curium ) . They have small toe pads and cilium - comparable projections over their eyes . They are brown withtiny Edward Douglas White Jr. dotsthat shape lines over their bodies . These geckos are busy between sunrise and dusk , look through folio bedding and other detritus for insects to nibble on . They lay solitary clutches of eggs and like empty bunch over densely populate place .
They are reckon to be quite uncommon , and their distribution is limited . They are indigene of Jamaica and Cuba , with a minor population in the Lower Keys . Since they are an foreign metal money , they are not very dangerous to the local wildlife .
Yellow-headed Gecko
intimate dimorphism is evident in the Yellow - direct Gecko ( Gonatodes albogularis ) , with female having a light neckband bank line and streak hoary consistence and males having xanthous - orange heads and dark blue toblack body with whitetail deer . With no toe pads , these gecko can mount most vertical surfaces and contact up to 3.5 inch ( 9 cm ) . Their habitsinclude foraging for diminished insectsand spiders , and they are nocturnal and non - vocal .
They can be frequently observed scuttling in small quad . Although they have live on in the Keys and Miami for more than 60 year , having originally come from the West Indies and Cuba , they have not increased their range and have become rare as a result of competition with more numerous , big metal money .
Bibron’s Thick-toed Gecko
The Bibron ’s Thick - toed Gecko ( Pachydactylus bibronii ) has dark bars and livid nodule on its tan , brown , or gray body . It can grow to 5.5 inches ( 14 cm ) in length and resembles a little crocodile due to its huge head , compact torso , and characteristic bulbous toes . This nighttime predator feeds on both big and small insect , as well as at times other lizards .
It has a strong bit and has the ability to extract blood . They are frequently observe waiting for prey on telephony poles and walls . This gecko , which is native to Southern Africa , was wreak to Brandon , Florida , in the 1970s . It does not appear to gravel a scourge to the local populace and has not greatly increased its range .
Giant Day Gecko
live dependable to its name , the Giant Day Gecko ( Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis ) is mainly active during the day and can grow as large as 11 inches ( 28 centimetre ) . Its spherical pupils , distinctive of diurnal lizard , are accented by stripe of orange tree and red on a intense green setting . Its eyelid are firm , making it one of the rare gullible lizards . It has a broad diet , including worm , nectar , pollen , and fruit sap . It prefers to climb tree diagram and wall .
This gecko , which is native to Madagascar , can be found in Broward , Lee , and Miami - Dade county , as well as the Florida Keys . It can survive up to 20 years in captivity after being precede by pet owners or importer . Despite being present , it is not thought to bewilder a serious threat because it does not have a all-embracing dispersion throughout Florida .
Common Wall Gecko
The golden eyes with perpendicular pussy and the sandy gray skin address in tuberosity give the Common Wall Gecko ( Tarentola mauritanica ) a flying dragon - like flavor . It has flesh out toe pad and can grow up to 6 inch ( 15 atomic number 96 ) in length . It is active at Nox , hunt insects on street lamp - lit walls . Males squeal and are territorial animals . In the saltation and summertime , females lie pair of eggs twice a twelvemonth .
In immurement , they can live up to ten years longer . Due to pet releases , they have tiny number in Lee and Miami - Dade county in Florida , despite being aboriginal to the Mediterranean coast and Africa . For local lizard , they are not very dangerous .
Fan-footed Rock Gecko
The Fan - footed Rock Gecko ( Ptyodactylus hasselquisti ) has dark bands on its hindquarters and body and ranges in color from golden brown to gray , tan , or pinkish . It can reach a maximum length of 6 column inch ( 15 curium ) . At Nox , its tintturns a ghostly white . Its fan - work toe pads and frog - like , springy rearward legs are what make it so unique .
It is nimble , can hound microscopical insects on wall , and when it is frightened , it arches its back to make itself appear larger . It is native to the Arabian Peninsula , Israel , Sinai , and Sudan . It was work to Gainesville in 1995 as a pet and has since been restricted to the city .
Golden Gecko
At up to 8 inches ( 20 curium ) in length , the Golden Gecko ( Gekko badenii ) lives up to its name with a golden yellow-bellied coloring . They have emollient - colored bellies and limbs , and males are identified by having farseeing tails with fleshy bumps at the base . little and less bouncy than man , females display sexual dimorphism . These lizards that live in trees sleep with their surroundings . They consume dirt ball and sometimes coddle in sweet fruit juice .
In Florida , they have become savage populations due to their grow popularity as alien pet . They are stalwart and easy to deal for , despite their reputation for snappy behavior . Originally from Vietnam , sightings of wild people are uncommon in the US and are mostly record around Hollywood , Florida .
Gold Dust Day Gecko
The Gold Dust Day Gecko ( Phelsuma laticauda laticauda ) is a prominent green gecko that sound by the moniker “ living jewel ” due to its centre - pick up blue and blood-red “ eyeshadow ” and bright green skin speckle with gold speck . Reaching a maximum duration of 5.5 inches ( 14 cm ) , it exhibit societal pool cue through the use of vivid coloration .
This is a diurnal mintage that feeds on nectar , pollen , and the fluids of overripe fruit , in accession to small worm . They bank two testicle , which frequently stick together in group nests . They are native to Madagascar and have been see in Florida Keys Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , most potential as escape or freed PET . They do n’t seem to be a hazard to local coinage based on their lilliputian numbers .
Mourning Gecko
Reaching a maximal length of 3.7 inches ( 9.5 curium ) , the Mourning Gecko ( Lepidodactylus lugubris composite ) is a tiny yet robust reptile . Its skin is silklike and range from cream to brown , with a black-market line that endure clearly along its incline and between its heart . This is a slow - moving , clumsy , all - female , agamic coinage that is most active at night and lives in tree diagram and bush .
They eat a flexitarian diet and are often see nibbling on leftover sweets in star sign . Every four to six week , they lay clutches of two eggs , each of which is resistant of saltwater , which helps the egg spread across the sea . They originated on the coasts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans , but due to innate dispersal or the pet swap , they are now found all over the mankind , including Southern Florida .
