What are geckos?
Geckos are small to average sized lizards that live in warm climates. They are most numerous in Southeast Asia, Africa and Australia. There are an estimated 800 or more species of gecko, belonging to the family Gekkonidae and ranging in size from 3.5 to 36 centimetres long. The largest gecko is the Tokay, growing 25 to 36 centimetres in length. The Tokay gecko is found in Malaysia.
75% of geckos are nocturnal, and have narrow, vertical pupils that block out light. All geckos, like snakes, have fused eyelids that make them unable to blink. To clean their eyeballs geckos lick them with protrusible notched tongues. Geckos vary across species in shade, shape and size. Some species can change colour, allowing them to camouflage in different environments. Others can drop and subsequently regrow their tails if attacked. Common gecko species include the Leopard Gecko, the House Gecko, and the Tokay Gecko.
Walking on walls
Contrary to popular myth, geckos do not have sticky webbed feet. Their ability to crawl nimbly across walls is due to thousands of tiny bristles (also called setae) on the underside of their toes. These long toes can be curled away from surfaces to loosen the hairs and allow the lizard to move freely. The scientific term for the sticky attraction between a gecko’s setae and a smooth surface (such as a wall) is Van der Waals force (named after Dutch scientist Johannes Diderik van der Waals).
What’s in a name?
Geckos have an ability that is unique among lizards – they can produce sounds. Some species emit high pitched chirps, while others produce sounds that resemble the quack of a duck or a dog’s bark. The name ‘gecko’ – originally from the Indonesian word ‘Tokek’ – mimics the call of some species. Other languages, also naming the gecko after the noise it makes, have different interpretations. In Malaysia and Singapore the gecko is called ‘cheek chak’; in the Philippines it is the ‘tuko’; in Thailand ‘jing-jok’; and in Cambodia geckos are known as ‘chhin chhos’.
The Common House Gecko
Originally from Southeast Asia, the Common House Gecko or Asian Gecko was spread by ships and now resides in many parts of the world. These small lizards, about 7 centimetres in length, are found countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia. They range in colour from pale pink or light yellow to greyish-white, sometimes appearing almost transparent. These geckos are not bad housemates, as they eat mosquitoes and spiders.
New gecko
Some estimates put the number of gecko species on the planet in the thousands, with many of them yet to be discovered. In 2010 a new species of gecko was found in Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountain range, one of the least explored jungles in Asia. The new gecko, named Cnemaspis neangthyi, is olive in colour with light blotches, making it extremely adept at camouflage.
With impressive colouration, distinctive sounds and extraordinary climbing capabilities, geckos are truly remarkable creatures.
References
The Reptile House
'New gecko species discovered in Cambodia '
Carly Nugent - I am a 26 year old Australian currently living and working in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I have a Bachelor of Arts with a major in literature. ...
