Did you know that there are more than one thousand five hundred species of gecko in the world? That is a lot of geckos! A gecko is a variety of small lizard which is quite common in nearly every kind of environment on earth.
With the exception of Antarctica. Geckos come in all different shapes, sizes, colors and patterns.
In fact, there are actually quite a few types in the United States of America, which is why we have written this article. Specifically we are going to take a look at fifteen different species of gecko that occur in Florida.
So, without further ado, let us dive right in and get started!
Fifteen Types of Geckos in Florida
In this section we are going to take a closer look at fifteen types of gecko that occur in Florida. So, without further ado, let us dive right in and get started!
1. Flat-Tailed House Gecko
This species of gecko is native to Asia. It is largely found in urban areas of Florida. So you will see them in and around houses. They tend to be about three inches in length.
On top of that they have thin flaps of skin along their bodies which makes them look bigger than they are. On top of that, these flaps of skin are used to help this gecko blend in with its environment.
They can actually hide their own shadow using it!
There are a few things that you need to know about these adorable little geckos (see also “Do Leopard Geckos Have Teeth?“). We have listed a few of the most prevalent things below for you to check out:
- Scientific Name – Hemidactylus Platyurus
- Active Hours – This species of gecko is nocturnal.
- Habitat – These geckos like to scurry across walls and other surfaces.
- Diet – This type of gecko eats small insects.
These geckos are most often a sandy color with different shades of brown in patterns in their back. Not very brightly colored but they are beautiful.
2. Reef Gecko
This species of gecko is actually native to Florida. All the other species are technically invasive. You are most likely to see these geckos at dusk and you will mostly see them in southern Florida.
They tend to be about two inches long and are largely brown with black spots and stripes. The females will usually have two white spots just behind their necks.
These amazing geckos are both beautiful and interesting. So, make sure to check out some fun facts associated with them below:
- Scientific Name – Sphaerodactylus Notatus
- Habitat – You are most likely to see these geckos on walls, and in trees.
- Active Hours – These geckos are most likely to be active during the day.
- Diet – This species of geckos tends to eat small insects for the most part.
These amazing geckos may be small but they can live for more than twenty years! That is impressive for such a small creature!
3. Common House Gecko
The common house gecko is a native species to Southern Asia. There are only a few areas in Florida where you see them. This species of gecko tends to grow up to between three and six inches in length.
They also have a lovely light gray or white-ish coloring. A notable feature are the spines around their tails.
If you want to see these geckos or you simply want to know a bit more about them, make sure to check out our list below:
- Scientific Name – Hemidactylus Frenatus
- Active Hours – These geckos are most active at night.
- Habitat – These geckos most enjoy living on walls or in trees.
- Diet – This type of gecko predominantly eats small insects and lizards.
These geckos are a little territorial which means that they will fight other geckos when they are provoked. While their bites are not harmful to humans, it can be detrimental to other geckos.
4. Tropical House Gecko
While these geckos are quite common in Florida, they are actually native to parts of Africa. They can grow quite large at about five inches in length. What makes these geckos stand out is the chirp they make to communicate with each other.
If you want to learn a little more about these geckos, make sure to check out the list below:
- Scientific Name – Hemidactylus Mabouia
- Active Hours – These geckos are largely nocturnal.
- Habitat – These geckos are most often found on walls.
- Diet – These geckos tend to eat other geckos and smaller insects.
The coloring on these geckos can range in shades of brown to an almost white coloring. This helps them to blend in with their environment.
5. Indo-Pacific Gecko
As with many of the geckos on this list, this species originated in Southeast Asia, but they are now quite common in Florida. They can grow up to between four and five inches in length and have beautiful smooth yellow and orange bellies.
If you want to get an idea about some of the specifics for this species of gecko, you should take a look at the list below:
- Scientific Name – Hemidactylus Garnotii
- Active Hours – This species of gecko is most active at night.
- Habitat – These geckos tend to live in trees, on walls and in debris piles.
- Diet – This type of gecko tends to eat small insects.
Fun fact, female Indo-Pacific geckos can lay eggs that are fertile without the help of males. Isn’t that wild!
6. White-Spotted Wall Gecko
These geckos originated from Northern Africa. In Florida they are most often found in an area known as Miami-Dade and Lee counties. Their coloring is quite unique as they have white bellies, and white spots on their shoulders.
On top of that their scales look quite rough.
These beautiful geckos are fascinating. Which is why you need to check out some fun facts about it. Below are a few interesting facts about this type of gecko:
- Scientific Name – Tarentola Annularis
- Active Hours – This type of gecko tends to be more active at night.
- Habitat – These geckos are most at home on walls.
- Diet – These geckos eat a varied diet of large and small insects and also lizards.
These geckos grow up to about six inches in length, which is quite large for an urban gecko.
7. Mediterranean House Gecko
As you might have guessed by the name, these geckos originated in the Mediterranean. They are now quite prolific in Florida but are most often seen in urban areas of this state.
These geckos can grow quite large at about four or five inches in length.
If you want to know a few things about these gorgeous geckos, you should take a closer look at the list below:
- Scientific Name – Hemidactylus Turcicus
- Active Hours – These geckos are most active at night.
- Habitat – You will most often see these geckos in walls.
- Diet – These geckos tend to eat mainly small insects.
These geckos are very adaptable and can settle well just about anywhere nice and warm.
8. Ocellated Gecko
This species of gecko originally came from Jamaica and Cuba. They grow to between two inches and two and a half inches in length. Their coloring is most often brown with white spots.
These amazing geckos are both beautiful and interesting. So, make sure to check out some fun facts associated with them below:
- Scientific Name – Sphaerodactylus Argus
- Active Hours – These geckos are most active during the daytime.
- Habitat – You will mostly find these geckos in trees, and on walls.
- Diet – These geckos mostly eat small insects.
These reptiles are not actually that common in Florida and are considered to be quite rare.
9. Ashy Gecko
These geckos were originally from Cuba and Hispaniola but they are not a common sight in the Florida Keys, especially at night. This species of gecko tends to grow to about three inches in length and they have a gray brown color with beautiful white spots.
If you want to get an idea about some of the specifics for this species of gecko, you should take a look at the list below:
- Scientific Name – Sphaerodactylus Elegans
- Active Hours – These geckos tend to be most active during the day.
- Habitat – You will see these geckos most often on walls, in trees, and in rocks.
- Diet – These geckos mostly eat small insects.
These geckos are considered dwarf geckos but they are actually on the larger end of that spectrum.
10. Tokay Gecko
Tokay geckos were originally from some Pacific Islands. They grow to a maximum of fourteen inches in length and the males have a vivid white coloring while the females tend to be a bit duller.
The list below shows a few fun and interesting facts surrounding these amazing creatures. So, make sure to check out the list below:
- Scientific Name – Gekko Gecko
- Active Hours – These geckos are likely to be more active during nighttime.
- Habitat – You are most likely to find these geckos scurrying across walls.
- Diet – These lizards mainly eat other lizards and large insects.
These geckos can be quite aggressive and have a painful bite if you get too close.
11. Yellow-Headed Gecko
These stunning geckos are native to South and Central America. But they are not quite common in Miami and the Keys. They are quite small at about four inches in length.
Their coloring is quite stunning, the males have a vivid yellow head while the females tend to be a bit more gray and plain in color.
If you are keen to learn more about this amazing species of gecko, you should certainly take a closer look at the list of fun facts below:
- Scientific Name – Gonatodes Albogularis
- Active Hours – This variety of gecko tends to be more active during the daytime.
- Habitat – You will likely find these lizards in bushes, on walls or in piles of rocks.
- Diet – They tend to largely eat small insects.
These geckos are unique in the way that they have toe pads which make it so that they can stick to smooth vertical surfaces. Isn’t that neat?!
12. Mourning Gecko
The mourning gecko is native to Southeast Asia and grows up to four inches in length. They are nocturnal animals. Their coloring can vary depending on their environment.
If you want to learn more about these gorgeous little geckos, make sure to check out some interesting facts below:
- Scientific Name – Lepidodactylus Lugubris
- Active Hours – These geckos tend to be more active during the night.
- Habitat – You will often find this type of gecko in the trees, in bushes or on walls.
- Diet – Their diet is largely made up of small insects, nectar, pollen, and fruit.
These geckos have no males as the females can lay fertile eggs that can hatch.
13. Golden Dust Day Gecko
These stunning geckos are vibrantly colored and originated in Northern Madagascar. They grow up to between four and five inches long and they love eating fruit and small insects.
To learn a little more about these geckos, you need to check out the list below:
- Scientific Name – Phelsuma Laticauda
- Active Hours – This species of gecko is more active in the daytime.
- Habitat – You are most likely to find these geckos in trees.
- Diet – This type of gecko tends to eat fruit, small insects, nectar, and pollen.
Their coloring is a mixture of blue, yellow and green to make a beautiful vibrantly colored gecko that you will not soon forget.
14. Golden Gecko
These geckos are native to Vietnam and were only introduced to Florida because of the exotic pets trade. They grow up to eight inches long and have a beautiful golden yellow color that is quite striking.
If you want to get an idea about some of the specifics for this species of gecko, you should take a look at the list below:
- Scientific Name – Gekko Badenii
- Active Hours – These geckos are most active at night.
- Habitat –These geckos mostly enjoy living in trees, on stumps and in bushes.
- Diet – These geckos enjoy eating fruit, nectar, pollen, and some insects (see also “What Does A Leopard Gecko’s Diet Look Like?“).
For this species of gecko, the males tend to be quite a bit larger than the females which generally grow up to between five and six inches in length.
15. Moorish Gecko
The Moorish Gecko is native to the western Mediterranean area of Europe as well as Northern Africa. They Are now quite prolific in Florida. This species of gecko tends to grow up to six inches in length and their coloring is a kind of sandy gray.
There are a few things that you need to know about these adorable little geckos. WE have listed a few of the most prevalent things below for you to check out:
- Scientific Name – Tarentola Mauritanica
- Active Hours – These geckos are largely nocturnal.
- Habitat – This species of gecko is most often found on walls and in trees
- Diet – These geckos tend to eat insects and may even eat small invertebrates.
These geckos are actually referred to as wall geckos which means that you are most likely to find them on walls in urban areas.
Are there Other Types of Geckos in Florida?
There are actually quite a few other species of gecko in Florida. Below we have listed fourteen more gecko varieties that have been found in the state of Florida:
- Chondrodactylus Bibronii – The common name for this gecko is the Thick-Toed Gecko.
- Chondrodactylus Turneri – More commonly known as the Turner’s Thick-Toed Gecko.
- Eublepharis Macularius – More Commonly Known as a Leopard Gecko.
- Gehyra Mutilata – It is Also Known as the Common Four-Clawed Gecko.
- Christinus Marmoratus – This Gecko is Otherwise Known as the Marbled Gecko.
- Gekko Vittatus – More Frequently Called the Lined Gecko.
- Lygodactylus Luteopicturatus – Also Known as the Dwarf Yellow-Headed Gecko.
- Lygodactylus Williamsi – It is also more commonly called a Turquoise Dwarf Gecko.
- Phelsuma Dubia – More Commonly Known as the Zanzibar Day Gecko.
- Phelsuma Grandis – This Gecko is Also Called the Madagascar Giant Day Gecko.
- Phelsuma Standingi – It is Also Known as the Standing’s Day Gecko.
- Gekko Kuhli – This gecko is more commonly known as the Kuhl’s Flying Gecko.
- Gekko Lionotum – The Common Name is Smooth-Backed Gliding Gecko
- Ptyodactylus Ragazzii – Also Known as the Ragazzi’s Fan-Footed Gecko
Final Thoughts
We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learning about the fifteen main types of geckos in Florida. These creatures are amazing and the variety that you encounter is quite phenomenal.
If you would like to learn more about geckos or other reptiles, make sure to check out our website. We have a wide selection of articles there that you can check out.
You are bound to find something there that you will find interesting or useful. So, head on over when you get the chance!
This is what inspired me to start The-Lizard-Lounge.com. I wanted to create a space that offers information about the care of various reptiles and lizards, to help those passionate about these animals learn how to care for them.
Join me, and learn all about these fascinating and fantastic creatures!
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