Geckos

Geckos are found in most parts of the world and are generally innocuous. A number of species are common ‘house geckos’, scuttling across our walls and ceilings in pursuit of insects. These animals are a remarkably diverse group and have a broad distribution through tropical and warm temperate regions of the world. The Asian House Geko Hemidactylus frenatus has become common place in many tropical homes in Australia haven gotten a foot hold and displaced the smaller native Northern Dtella. Some species of Australian gecko are parthenogenetic having all members of the population being female and not requiring any male participation in their reproduction. The offspring are then effectively clones of the mother, being identical. This of course is not true for many species of gecko. Geckos mostly lay two eggs in a clutch.

Australian geckos belong to the families Diplodactylidae, Carphodactylidae and Gekkonidae.  They are mostly nocturnal with soft bodies and tiny granular scales.  They have well-developed limbs with five digits, large eyes with vertical pupils, no eyelids, and broad fleshy tongues.  In the absence of eyelids, the tongue is used to lick the eye clean. Some species have expanded toe pads which provide adhesion and allow them to grip to vertical or slippery surfaces and even overhead surfaces. Other species hace bird like feet with clawed toes for climbing on trees and rocks.

Although generally speaking the main diet of most geckos is insects, some species supplement their diet with nectar and sap and other small vertebrates such as other geckos and frogs. They generally prefer to inhabit dry places and only a few species are found in rainforests and other wet areas.