Richard Owen photo.
Indo-Pacific Gecko, Hemidactylus garnotii
The Indo-Pacific gecko is native to southern Asia and was first discovered in the Miami area in the 1960's. It is pale pink to gray and has a flattened tail. Its skin is smooth. It has no eyelids; its eyes are covered with a transparent scale. In Fort Matanzas National Monument and elsewhere in Florida, this lizard is found primarily on buildings. It is nocturnal, hiding during the day behind shutters, under shingles, and in cracks and crevices. It emerges at night to catch insects around lighted windows and outdoor lights. It is an all-female species. No males are known. Mature females lay fertile eggs that hatch into more females.
