Indo-Pacific gecko

Not to be confused with Common house gecko.

Indo-Pacific gecko
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Gekkota
Family:	Gekkonidae
Genus:	Hemidactylus
Species:	H. garnotii
Binomial name
Hemidactylus garnotii A.M.C. Duméril and Bibron, 1836
Synonyms [2]
Hemidactylus garnotii A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1836 Hoplodion garnotii — Fitzinger, 1843 Doryura garnotii — Gray, 1845 Hemidactylus garnotii — Boulenger, 1885 Lepidodactylus garnotii — Henshaw, 1902 Hemidactylus garnoti [sic] — de Rooij, 1915 Hemidactylus garnotii — Conant & Collins, 1991

The Indo-Pacific gecko (Hemidactylus garnotii), also known as Garnot's house gecko, fox gecko, or the Assam greyish-brown gecko, is a species of gecko native to South and Southeast Asia, Polynesia, and the east coast of Australia.

Adults grow to about 10–13 cm (4–5 in) in length. Similar to H. frenatus, they exhibit the ability to change the colour of their skin, from dark gray or brown with light markings in daylight, to a pale, translucent colour at night. Often mistaken for a common house gecko, the species can be distinguished by its rows of large, spiny scales on the lateral edges of the tail.

Etymology

The species epithet, garnotii, is named in honor of the French naturalist Prosper Garnot. ^[3] The name gecko is onomatopoeic, in reference to the chirp of H. frenatus, one of three extant relatives of H. garnotii, which has historically been interpreted as a "gecko, gecko" sound. The common name fox gecko relates to the species' long, narrow snout, similar to that of a fox.

Description

The Indo-Pacific gecko bears a striking resemblance to its extant cousin H. frenatus, its closest relative. However, individuals of H. garnotii tend to be much larger than H. frenatus, with more prevalent markings on the back. The belly of H. garnotii is usually a pale yellow or orange. It also bears two large, spiky rows of scales, one along each side of its tail. These scales are soft, and are the same colour as the tail. Their purpose is unknown.

Reproduction

H. garnotii reproduces solely through parthenogenesis, ^[4] with all individuals being female. Like all reptiles, H. garnotii lays eggs, but because it is parthenogenetic, the eggs can hatch without the need for male fertilization. ^[5]

Geographic range

The Indo-Pacific gecko is native to South and Southeast Asia, Polynesia, and Australia's east coast. It can also be found in Remote Oceania (particularly New Zealand, Hawaii, and Fiji), Seychelles, the Bahamas, and tropical United States. In the U.S. states of Hawaii, Florida, and Georgia, it is considered an invasive species. ^{[6] [7]} In Australia, the Indo-Pacific gecko has only a few populations, though they are well-established. They can particularly be found in Sydney and Fraser Coast.

Gallery

• 
  Hemidactylus garnotii, Garnot’s house gecko – Nam Nao National Park

References

1. Thaksintham, W.; Sumontha, M.; Phimmachak, S.; Neang, T.; Lwin, K.; Stuart, B.L.; Wogan, G.; Danaisawat, P.; Yang, J.; Iskandar, D.; Wang, Y. (2021). "Hemidactylus garnotii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T176157A1434934. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T176157A1434934.en . Retrieved 18 February 2022.
2. Species Hemidactylus garnotii at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Hemidactylus garnotii, p. 98).
4. Pascatore, Linda (2008). "Birds and Plants of Kauai: The Gecko" Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine . accessed 6 February 2011
5. Kluge AG, Eckardt MJ (1969). "Hemidactylus garnotii Duméril & Bibron, a tripoid, all-female species of gekkonid lizard". Copeia1969 (4): 651–664.
6. Everglades CISMA Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area website, "Indo-Pacific Gecko" page Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine , accessed 6 February 2011
7. Georgia Invasive Species Task Force website, "Other Invasive Species of Concern in Georgia" Archived 2010-09-11 at the Wayback Machine , accessed 6 February 2011

Further reading

• Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. ISBN   0-394-50824-6. ("Hemidactylus garnoti [sic]", pp. 492–493 + Plate 401).
• Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. Geckonidæ .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. (Hemidactylus garnotii, pp. 141–142).
• Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1–48. ISBN   0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN   0-395-19977-8 (paperback). ("Hemidactylus garnoti [sic]", p. 84 + Plate 17 + Map 43).
• Crawford, Daniel M.; Somma, Louis A. (1993). "Hemidactylus garnotii (Indo-Pacific gecko)". Herpetological Review24 (3): 108–109.
• Das I (2002). A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. ISBN   0-88359-056-5. ("Hemidactylus garnoti [sic]", p. 98).
• Duméril AMC, Bibron G (1836). Erpétologie générale ou Histoire naturelle complète des Reptiles, Tome troisième [=Volume 3]. Paris: Roret. iv + 517 pp. (Hemidactylus garnotii, new species, pp. 368–369). (in French).
• Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR (1978). Introduction to Herpetology, Third Edition. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman. xi + 378 pp. ISBN   0-7167-0020-4. ("Hemidactylus garnoti [sic]", pp. 148, 285).
• Gray JE (1845). Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Edward Newman, printer). xxviii + 289 pp. (Doryura garnotii, p. 157).
• Meshaka, Walter E. Jr. (1995). "Hemidactylus garnotii ". Herpetological Review26 (2): 108.
• Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN   0-307-13666-3. ("Hemidactylus garnoti [sic]", pp. 68–69).
• Smith MA (1935). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II.—Sauria. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 440 pp. + Plate I + 2 maps. ("Hemidactylus garnoti [sic]", pp. 100–101).
• Stoliczka F (1871). "Notes on new or little-known Indian lizards". Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (Calcutta) 1871: 192–195.