List of Geckos

Gecko Subfamilies

• There are five subfamilies of gecko. The Gekkoninae subfamily is the most diverse, with hundreds of species spread throughout the world across more than 70 genera. The Diplodactylinae subfamily contains 17 genera, which are found mostly in Australasia. The subfamily Eublepharinae contains five genera, and members of this family are commonly known as eyelid geckos. The subfamily Teratoscincinae contains a single genus and six species, which are also known as wonder geckos. The subfamily Aeluroscalabotinae contains a single genus and species, commonly known as the cat gecko.

Gekkoninae

• The Gekkoninae subfamily contains the most genera. Some of the most common genera are rock geckos (Afroedura), house geckos (Hemidactylus), leaf-toed geckos (Phyllodactylus), and reef geckos (Spaerodactylus). A genus from Southeast Asia, commonly known as the flying gecko (Ptychozoon), is a species with webs of skin around their legs, tails and torsos. These membranes can be extended, allowing the geckos to glide, or control falls like a parachute.

Diplodactylinae

• The Diplodactylinae subfamily incudes crested geckos (Rhacodactylus) and Australian leaf tailed geckos (Phyllurus). Members of this subfamily are found in Australasia and New Caledonia. Leaf tailed geckos use their leaf shaped tails as camoflague. Some species of the genus Strophurus react to threat by squirting a smelly secretion from glands in their tails.

Eyelid Geckos

• Geckos from the subfamily Eublepharinae are also known as eyelid geckos. Eyelid geckos are the only geckos to have eyelids that can blink. All other geckos have transparent membranes, which they lick clean, in place of eyelids. Eyelid geckos also lack the sticky footpads many other geckos possess. Generea of this subfamily include banded geckos (Coleonyx), which are commonly found throughout Mexico and the southwestern United States, and leopard geckos (Eubelpharis), which are often kept as pets.

Wonder Geckos

• The subfamily Teratoscincinae contains the single genus Teratoscincus. The six species in the genus are often called wonder geckos or frog eyed geckos. They are nocturnal and inhabit deserts and arid areas of southern Asia, from the Arabian Peninsula to Mongolia and China.

Cat Geckos

• The subfamily Aeluroscalabotinae contains the single genus Aeluroscalabotes. The cat gecko (Aeluroscalabotes felinus) is the only species in the genus. The cat gecko is a small arboreal gecko from Indonesia, Malaysian Singapore and Thailand. It derives its name from a habit of sleeping curled in a ball with its tale wrapped round itself, similar to a cat.