Gecko
Gecko is a small lizard found in various places in India. There are about twenty species of geckos in India.

Share this Article:

Gecko, LizardGecko is a very small and average-sized lizard found everywhere in India up to about four thousand metres. Most of the geckos are characterized by a soft skin, large unblinking eyes with a cat-like pupil, and expanded adhesive tips of the toes which allow them to walk on smooth, vertical surfaces. They are mostly nocturnal. The large genus Hemidactylus comprises sixty five species and is widely distributed throughout the warmer parts of the globe. About twenty species occur in India, Burma, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Of these, the commonest species are the Brook`s house Gecko, Hemidactylus brooki, the common gecko and the yellow-bellied of north India and Pakistan. The tree Gecko of South India, Rajasthan and Pakistan is common in human dwellings.

Geckos are found in different patterns and colours like pink, purple and blue and some of them are subtly modelled and almost rubbery in look, where as some others possess very bright colours. Some of the species of Geckos are capable of changing their colour in order to look the same with the environment or with specific temperature. The toes of Geckos possess special adaptation which helps them to stick to most surfaces even without using any liquid or with the help of surface tension.

The Geckos of the genus Cyrtodactylus found in India and Pakistan have clawed toes and mainly dorsoventrally compressed bodies. The fat-tailed Gecko, Eublepharis macularius, inhabits the arid areas of north-western India and is strictly nocturnal.

Several Geckos are restricted to hilly and forested tracts. Of these the commonest are tiny Geckos of the genus Cnemapsis of South India and Sri Lanka. The Andaman day Gecko is found throughout the Andamans and often enters houses. Another interesting forest Gecko is the so-called `flying Gecko`, Ptychozoon kuhli of the Nicobars, which can parachute small distances by means of the membranous expansions on the sides of its head, body, limbs and tail.

The Tokay, Gekko Gecko of north eastern India and Bangladesh. This red or orange-spotted lizard is the largest of all Indian Geckos. Its usual prey is cockroaches and other large insects, and other Geckos. Occasionally it takes a small bird or rat.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Flora & Fauna


Flora Of Uttarakhand
Uttaranchal falls under the west Himalayan Biogeography zone and it is well-known for floral diversity .
Flora and Fauna of Ladakh
Flora and Fauna is typical to t he kind of mountainous terrain which dominate the entire landscape of the region. Though some varieties of fauna are to be found here, the vegetation is very limited due to the dry and cold climate.
Flora and fauna in Tripura
Two-thirds of Tripura is forested where different species of trees, orchids, birds and wildlife are found. There are four sanctuaries in the state namely, Rowa wildlife sanctuary, Sepahijala wildlife sanctuary, Trishna wildlife sanctuary and Gumti wildlife sanctuary.
Flora and Fauna in Meghalaya
70 percent of Meghalaya is forested. Meghalayan forests are considered to be among the richest botanical habitats of Asia. These forests receive abundant rainfall and support a vast variety of floral and faunal biodiversity.
Flora and Fauna of Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is rich in flora and fauna. Flora includes thorn bush type of the arid plain to the temperate and alpine flora of the higher altitudes. Faunal species found here are leopard, cheetah and deer, wild sheep, bear, brown musk shrew, muskrat; varieties of snakes, bats, lizards etc.
Flora and fauna in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Economy of this region is primly based on agriculture. In Andaman island, paddy is the main food crop, while in Nicoabar island coconut and areca nut are the main crops. Some field crops like pulses, oilseeds and vegetables are also grown here.
Flora And Fauna Of Uttar Pradesh
Flora and Fauna of Uttar Pradesh is widely diversified and adds pride to the state.
Flora and fauna of Kerala
Flora and Fauna of Kerala are diverse. The favourable climate with heavy rainfall and good quality of the soils helps both the flora and fauna to thrive. Forest covers a large area in the Western Ghats of Kerala.
Flora and fauna of Karnataka
Flora and fauna of Karnataka are diverse and comprise of plants, animals, birds, reptiles, etc. Flora of Karnataka comprises of species like eucalyptus, teak and rosewood. Fauna of Karnataka comprises of species like leopard, gaur and wild pig.
Flora and Fauna of Rajasthan
The flora and fauna of Rajasthan supports all kinds of animal species and forests. The diverse flora and fauna of Rajasthan has made it a popular tourist destination.
Flora of Arunachal Pradesh
Flora of Arunachal Pradesh includes infinite species and is a subject of great interests for the botanists.
Flora and Fauna of Manipur
Flora and fauna of Manipur are known to be the assemblage of a huge variety including the endangered ones. The place is especially famed for orchid species which includes the most vibrant and beautiful ones of the world.