Reptile · GBIF taxon 5959942
Hemidactylus mabouia
hemidactylus mabouiaAlso known as Cosmopolitan House Gecko, Afro-American House Gecko, Wood Slave
Tropical house geckos are highly adaptable nocturnal reptiles that have successfully colonized human habitations throughout the Americas. They change color from translucent pale tan at night to a darker mottled grey during the day to camouflage against bark or walls. Equipped with expanded toe pads covered in microscopic setae, these vocal lizards easily scale glass and ceilings in search of insects.
NocturnalReptileUrban Wildlife
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Moths
- Cockroaches
- Spiders
Predators
- Domestic cats
- Snakes
- Owls
ThreatsPesticide use and predation by domestic pets
HabitatsUrban areas, human dwellings, tropical forests, and coastal scrub
Life span3 to 5 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyGekkonidae
- GenusHemidactylus
- Specieshemidactylus mabouia
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Porch Light Watching: Look near outdoor light fixtures shortly after dusk where insects gather.
- Handle with Care: Avoid grasping by the tail, as they readily drop it to escape perceived threats.
- Listen for Calls: Listen for faint squeaking or chirping sounds during warm evening hours.
Close Relative Vengolis / CC BY-SA 3.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Close Relative (c) Shannon Foreman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Family Member (c) Bernard DUPONT, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Daniel Estabrooks · cc0
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