Hawaiian geckos may have a duller appearance to blend in, or they may be more brightly colored.
While 1,200 species of geckos exist throughout the world, only eight live in Hawaii. Geckos are not native to Hawaii. Early Polynesian settlers brought most of them over, while travelers in the 20th century brought over the rest. Hawaiian geckos differ greatly in color. Some are duller while others are bright, but all communicate through chirps that sound similar to singing.
Small Tree Gecko
The Small Tree Gecko is found across the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, India and Sri Lanka. Found in forested areas, this gecko lives on large leaves and eats small insects. Small Tree Geckos are light-to-medium brown in color, and their body color becomes lighter toward the tail. The tail is one of their most distinctive features as it is constantly curled tightly against their body.
Stump-Toed Gecko
Named after its most distinctive feature, the Stump-Toed Gecko, also called the Four-Clawed Gecko, has a short, nearly absent fifth digit on each of its feet. This gecko is found across Southeast Asia, the South Pacific and Mexico. Its nearly translucent skin is a pale pink or purple color and it may have some small pale spots across its body.
Gold Dust Day Gecko
The Gold Dust Day Gecko is native to Madagascar, and, in the '70s, a college student brought it to Hawaii. The population has grown rapidly and it has since spread to Oahu, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii. This species is very colorful; its bright green skin is accented with gold and orange spots, and it has red and blue lines on its face. The Gold Dust Day Gecko has proliferated around human dwellings, especially in suburban areas.
Orange Spotted Day Gecko
A close relative of the Gold Dust Day Gecko, the Orange Spotted Day Gecko is native to a small island near Madagascar. It was introduced in Hawaii in the 1980s and is now found chiefly on the island of Oahu. This species is diurnal, meaning that it is active during the day. The Orange Spotted Day Gecko is bright green with thick orange stripes and spots down the length of its body.
Giant Day Gecko
Another Madagascar transplant, the Giant Day Gecko lives chiefly in the Manoa Valley on the island of Oahu. This gecko makes its home in the forest and in urban areas. As their name suggests, these geckos are among the largest, at around 6 inches long. Their bright green skin is very delicate and is speckled with red spots on their face and torso.
House Gecko
House Geckos live in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. House Geckos are chiefly found in human dwellings and are comfortable in urban areas. House Geckos are light-to-medium brown in color and easily blend into buildings. House Geckos were introduced to Hawaii in the late 1940s, following World War II.
Fox Gecko
The Fox Gecko lives in homes in tropical areas around the world. Its name comes from its distinctive long and narrow nose. It is also called the Indo-Pacific Gecko because of its wide range. This gecko is thought to have been introduced to Hawaii by early Polynesian settlers or travelers. The Fox Gecko is dark brown or gray in color with darker-striped marks along the length of its body.
Mourning Gecko
The Mourning Gecko consists entirely of females who reproduce asexually, without a male contribution. They live both in the wild and in and around human dwellings. Mourning Geckos are a pale cream color with a patterned dark brown overlay. This enables them to camouflage themselves in varied surroundings.
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