Hemidactylus platyurus (Schneider, 1792)
Family: Gekkonidae Flat-tailed House Gecko Status: Potential Colonizer Description: A medium sized gecko that reaches up to 69 mm SVL (Das 2006). There is a fringe of skin on the sides of the body and the back of the hind limbs. The original tail is greatly flattened and has a prominent serrated lateral fringe. Like most geckos, H. platyurus can undergo dramatic shifts in color intensity and pattern though there is generally a dark stripe that extends posteriorly from the eye and extends to the shoulders and beyond along the lower side of the body. There is a series of widely spaced darker squarish blotches along the spine. The presence of a fringe of skin along the sides of the body should distinguish it from all other geckos in the region. Until recently this gecko was placed in the genus Cosymbotus. Biology: The flat-tailed house gecko is a very common commensal species. It thrives is disturbed and habitats, even large cities and completely developed areas. It is most frequently observed at night on the sides of buildings near lights but it is also commonly seen in the open on tree trunks and fence post during the day. Distribution: This species occurs throughout southern Asia from India through China, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines (The Reptile Database 27 Oct 2012). Populations are established in Florida. It is included in this book because it is an abundant human commensal that occurs in several areas that have high traffic levels to Guam and the Mariana Islands and has proven itself to be a capable colonizer. |