Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR) logo OISC target species
Tokay gecko

Tokay gecko

Gekko gecko (Gekkonidae)

The Oahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC) wants to know about Tokay geckos in residential areas. If you think you have one, call 643-PEST.

You might wonder, "why worry about Tokay geckos?" Tokay geckos grow up to 12 inches long, they are aggressive, and they bite--hard! Tokay geckos will eat bird eggs if they find them, threatening our native bird species. Native to Southeast Asia, Tokay geckos were probably introduced to Hawaii via the illegal pet trade. They have been found in Manoa, Kaneohe, and Makiki. We need your help to stop them from spreading.

Identification:
Most people will hear the unusual call of the Tokay gecko before they see this noisy reptile. Their call sounds like their name, "To-kay, To-kay" and is usually repeated several times in row. Tokay geckos can grow up to 12 inches long and have skin that ranges from light blue, gray or dark brown with orange spots. This species comes out mostly at night and lives in trees or the in the eaves of houses.

For more information:

Tokay gecko (Gekkos gecko)
Tokay gecko
(Gekko gecko)
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The source material for the content of this page was provided by the OISC and edited by HEAR . Photo credit: copyright (c) 1998 Richard Ling/GFDL; used with implicit permission. This page was created on 22 March 2007 by LF, and was last updated on 27 March 2007 by LF. Valid HTML 4.01!