Types of Geckos in Hawaii

One gecko is all it takes to colonize an area. A number of gecko species are parthenogenetic, meaning they can spawn asexually. When one female is introduced to an area, such as an island, it can lay unfertilized eggs that hatch into clones of the mother, according to Explore Biodiversity. It is unclear how the lizards made it to Hawaii, but there are at least nine species that inhabit the islands.

  1. Common House Gecko

    • The light-gray common house gecko has spread from Asia to around the Pacific, including Hawaii. They are nocturnal, and Hawaiians see them in house lights more than any other gecko. They eat mostly insects, but larger adults may dine on spiders, invertebrates and occasionally a younger, smaller gecko.

    Mourning Gecko

    • Cream-colored with dark spots, mourning geckos thrive in Hawaii as well as much of the rest of the Pacific islands. They eat small insects, such as crickets and waxworm larvae, but they also enjoy some human foods like baby food. They can also be cannibalistic, eating the yolks of their own species' eggs. They can live in several types of habitats: trees, rocky shorelines and cities.

    Stump-Toed Gecko

    • Also known as the four-clawed gecko, the stump-toed gecko gets its name from its lack of an inner claw--most geckos have five. The stump-toe is as versatile with its habitats as mourning geckos. Their skin tends to be somewhat translucent, giving them a dark-pink or purple tone.

    Indo-Pacific Gecko

    • The Indo-Pacific gecko distinguishes itself from other house geckos with its yellow or orange stomach. During the day, its skin is a dark gray or brown with markings. It then fades to a lighter, almost translucent color at night.

    Indopacific Tree Gecko

    • The smallest lizards in Hawaii, Indopacific tree geckos have slender, translucent bodies that lack spines or the tubercles many other geckos have. Their bodies are 2.2 to 3.5 inches, with equally long or longer tails. Also separating them from other geckos is their habitats, which are mostly forested areas and no urban ones.

    Tokay Gecko

    • Tokay geckos get their name from the males' nocturnal territorial cry, which sounds like "to-kay." The lizards are extremely territorial and may attack intruders with bites strong enough to lacerate human hands. They can grow as large as 14 inches head-to-tail. Because of their size and aggression, some people release them in houses to fend off cockroaches.

    Orange-Spotted Day Gecko

    • The orange-spotted day gecko radiates color with its bright green body, orange lines and light-blue neck and shoulders. It is predominantly on the island of Oahu, but it is native to a small island east of Madagascar. Along with eating insects, orange-spotted day geckos drink nectar and sap from flowers and fruit.

    Gold Dust Day Gecko

    • With bright green and yellow colors, the gold dust day gecko is similar to the orange-spotted day gecko. But instead of blue, it has golden specks on its shoulders and neck. It has blue rings around its eyes with reddish marks on its snout and head. The gecko lives on the islands of Hawaii, Oahu and Maui.

    Giant Day Gecko

    • Second in size out of all the Hawaiian geckos to the Tokay, the giant day gecko can reach as long as 11 inches head-to-tail. They are common in the Florida keys, but scientists discovered them in 1996 in Hawaii. They mostly live on Oahu and in the Manoa Valley. People mostly find them living around buildings. They are agile climbers and spend little time on the ground.