Wildlifeof Thailand
Tokay Gecko
Geckos
Photo: Gabriel (iNaturalist) · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Gekko gecko
Basic stats
Diet
Insects and small vertebrates
Habitat
Rainforest trees and cliffs; also walls and ceilings of buildings
Range
Northeast India, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh through Southeast Asia to western New Guinea
Clutch size
1–2 hard-shelled eggs
Size
Total length 25–30cm on average; up to about 40cm
The tokay is a large, nocturnal, tree-dwelling gecko with a robust body, a big head and strong jaws. The skin is soft and generally blue-grey with red or orange spots, and the animal can shift its colour to blend in. Males are slightly larger and more brightly coloured. It typically reaches 25–30 cm in total length and some grow to about 40 cm (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is a powerful climber and frequently adapts to rural buildings, where it roams walls and ceilings at night hunting insects. Wild animals are aggressive and territorial and can bite hard. The male's loud call is a croak commonly rendered as 'to-kay', which gave the species its name. Females lay one or two eggs and guard them; communal nesting with about eleven eggs has been observed in Cambodia (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Tokay Gecko eat?
- Insects and small vertebrates
- What habitat does the Tokay Gecko live in?
- Rainforest trees and cliffs; also walls and ceilings of buildings
- Where is the Tokay Gecko found?
- Northeast India, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh through Southeast Asia to western New Guinea
- How many eggs does the Tokay Gecko lay?
- 1–2 hard-shelled eggs
- How big is the Tokay Gecko?
- Total length 25–30cm on average; up to about 40cm