# Tokay Gecko (*Gekko gecko*) The Tokay Gecko is a colorful lizard that loves to climb trees and walls! It has a loud call that can be heard at night. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Tropical forests - **Also known as:** Gekko gecko, Tokay ![Tokay Gecko](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426616/objects/5706.jpg) ## Appearance The Tokay Gecko is a large, stout lizard famed for its striking grey-blue body covered in bright orange or reddish-brown spots. It possesses large eyes with vertical pupils, and its rough skin makes it distinctly different from smoother geckos. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Reptilia - **Order:** Squamata - **Family:** Gekkonidae - **Genus:** Gekko ## Interesting facts - A Tokay Gecko can drop its tail to escape danger, which then grows back! - These geckos have huge eyes with vertical pupils to see perfectly while hunting at night! - Tokay Gecko eggs are often glued to surfaces like trees or rocks until they hatch! - Tokay Geckos are known for their powerful bite and feisty attitude when feeling threatened! ## Special abilities - **Sticky Grip:** Tokay Gecko can cling to almost any surface because of specialized toe pads that help them climb walls and ceilings. - **Loud Call:** Tokay Gecko has a distinctive, loud 'tokay-tokay' call that helps them communicate and defend their territory. - **Color Changer:** Tokay Gecko can subtly change the intensity of its skin color to help them blend into different environments. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-35 cm - **Weight:** 0.15-0.4 kg - **Lifespan:** 7-10 years - **Speed:** 3 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 60-120 days ## Diet & Feeding A hungry hunter, the Tokay Gecko eats mostly insects and small creatures it ambushes at night. - **Primary Foods:** insects, spiders, scorpions, small rodents, small birds, other lizards - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** King Cobra (*Ophiophagus hannah*) — King Cobras hunt them in their shared jungle habitat. - **Eaten by:** Changeable Hawk-eagle (*Nisaetus cirrhatus*) — Hawk-eagles snatch geckos from trees and walls. - **Hunts:** [American Cockroach](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-cockroach) (*Periplaneta americana*) — They are important predators of household and forest insects. - **Hunts:** [House Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-mouse) (*Mus musculus*) — Tokay Geckos help control rodent populations in homes. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tokay Gecko? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Tokay Gecko? 20-35 cm ### How much does Tokay Gecko weigh? 0.15-0.4 kg ### How long does Tokay Gecko live? 7-10 years ### How fast can Tokay Gecko move? 3 km/h ### What does Tokay Gecko eat? A hungry hunter, the Tokay Gecko eats mostly insects and small creatures it ambushes at night. ### Where is Tokay Gecko usually found? Tropical forests ### How does Tokay Gecko hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Theater of the Sea](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/theater-of-the-sea) — US · Zoo ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Tokay Gecko: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tokay-gecko)