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Lizards of Zihuatanejo

SUBORDER​ SAURIA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Reptiles (Class Reptilia)

-​Snakes and Lizards (Order Squamata)

-Lizards (Suborder​ Sauria)

-​Geckos (Infraorder Gekkota)

-T​ypical Geckos (Family Gekkonidae)

-​House Geckos (Genus Hemidactylus)

-Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)


Originally a tree-living species, Asian House Geckoes now thrive in human dwellings and buildings, where their feeding strategy is greatly enhanced by lights that attract insects, and flat walls and ceilings upon which prey animals (insects etc.) are concentrated. Asian House Geckos are generalist predators, eating a large variety of prey, including insects, spiders and other small lizards. Geckos are nocturnal, hiding during the day and foraging for insects at night. These small geckos are non-venomous and not harmful to humans.

Asian House Gecko

Hemidactylus frenatus

Diet

  • Primarily insectivorous, feeding on mosquitoes, moths, flies, termites, ants, cockroaches, beetles, spiders, and other small arthropods.

  • Hunts at night, often around lights where insects congregate.

  • An opportunistic predator that also consumes small geckos and other tiny reptiles when available.

Range

  • Native to South and Southeast Asia.

  • Introduced throughout the tropics and subtropics worldwide, including Mexico, where it has become well established along both the Pacific and Gulf coasts.

  • Common throughout the Zihuatanejo region, especially in towns, villages, and coastal developments.

  • Occurs from sea level to approximately 1,600 m (5,250 ft).

Habitat

  • Closely associated with human habitation, including houses, hotels, restaurants, warehouses, gardens, and other buildings.

  • Also occurs on trees, rocky outcrops, bridges, and walls in tropical forests and coastal habitats.

  • Nocturnal, spending the day hidden in cracks, beneath loose bark, or behind shutters and emerging after dark to forage.

Size

  • Total length: 7.5–15 cm (3.0–6.0 in)

  • Snout-to-vent length (SVL): 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in)

  • Weight: 4–8 g

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