The tokay gecko is a big, boldly spotted Asian gecko named for the male's loud "to-kay" call. It usually reaches 10–12 in (25–30 cm) long and has blue-gray skin dotted with orange or red. In the United States it has been established in Florida since the 1960s, mostly around buildings, after releases and escapes from the pet trade.
Appearance
- Appearance
- A stout gecko with a large triangular head and vertical, cat-like pupils. It can shift its color lighter or darker. Males are a bit larger and brighter than females.
- Voice
- Males give a loud, croaking "to-kay" call, often after a quick cackling series.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Rainforests
- Cliffs
- Walls and ceilings of buildings
- Range
- Native from northeastern India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh through Southeast Asia to western New Guinea. Introduced populations live in Florida (reported from Key West north to Leon County), Martinique, and parts of Belize, and possibly in Hawaii.
- Preferred conditions
- In its native range it lives in trees and on cliffs, but it does well around people. In Florida it is found mainly in and around houses and other buildings.
Behavior
- Diet
- Mostly insects and other invertebrates, plus small vertebrates such as other geckos. It tends to sit and ambush prey.
- Activity
- Active at night and mostly . Its toe pads let it cling to walls and even glass.
- Social life
- Territorial and quick to bite, with a strong grip.
Life cycle
- Nest
- Females glue hard-shelled eggs to a firm surface and guard them until they hatch.
- Clutch size
- 1–2 eggs
- Lifespan
- Up to 15–20 years in captivity with good care.
Name and classification
- About the name
- Linnaeus described it in 1758 as Lacerta gecko. Two subspecies are recognized: G. g. gecko across tropical Asia and G. g. azhari, found only in Bangladesh. Tokays from southern China and northwestern Vietnam were long lumped in with this species but have been treated as a separate species, Reeves's tokay gecko (G. reevesii), since 2011. A genetic study published in 2025 found two distinct forms of tokay in southern Florida, pointing to at least two separate introductions.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
- Status
- Since 2019 it has been listed on Appendix II, so international trade needs permits. In Florida it is a non-native species; its effects on native wildlife are not yet known.
- Threats
- In Asia, large numbers are collected for traditional Chinese medicine, though there is no evidence it works. Poaching surged around 2009–2011 because of a false claim that tokays could cure HIV.
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- In Southeast Asia the tokay is a symbol of good luck and fertility.
- The word "gecko" itself comes from a Malay name for this species, imitating its call.
- It is one of the most familiar large geckos in the pet trade, though many animals sold are still wild-caught.
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