While Geckos might not be the most popular reptile people look for while herping, they are still desirable due to their unique appearance and fascinating behavior. Known for their ability to climb walls and smart hiding techniques, finding them can sometimes be a real challenge. Geckos, short for Gekkonidae, can be found all over the United States, there are 29 species with 8 naive and 21 introduced species spread across 12 different genera. In this post, we’ll dive into five types of geckos, exploring where they’re found, what they eat, and more. 

Texas Banded Gecko 

The Texas Banded Gecko is small, has brown and yellow stripes with black speckling, and thrives in desert climates. The states they typically reside in are in southeastern New Mexico and western Texas. Hiding underneath rocks or under debris near human habitation is where they spend most of their time inactive. When active, it’s mostly in the night time in places with flat rock or succulent vegetation. Their preferred food is small arthropods

Mediterranean House Gecko

The Mediterranean House Gecko is also a small lizard and is found in a variety of different habitats. From mountain cliffs and caves to urban areas of homes, some of their nests can even be found in trash piles. They can be found in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Similar to moths, they can be found near light sources at night but their goal is to eat the moths. They mostly eat insects like spiders, roaches, and crickets.

Gold Dust Gecko 

Gold Dust Geckos are beautifully colored bright green or yellowish green with red speckles on the neck and the upper back. These stunning geckos mostly live in Hawaii but can be found in California, Texas, and New Mexico. They can be found on plants in gardens or inside/outside human dwellings. Their diet includes insects, fruit, pollen, nectar from flowers, and sometimes smaller lizards.

Japanese Giant Gecko 

Japanese Giant Geckos are native to Japan but were introduced in Virginia in the United States. With a camouflage like body, they are five to six inches long with granular skin texture. Like other geckos they are found in both forests and urban areas. They use hunting tactics to capture insects or spiders for food.

Yellow-Headed Gecko 

Named the Yellow-Headed gecko due to its orange and yellow like head but the males are the only ones that present themselves with these colors. The female geckos have grayish white or light brown heads and bodies. These geckos are mostly found in Florida where the humid tropical-like environment is ideal for them. They can also be found in places like Guatemala, Mexico, and South America. Similar to other geckos, they eat insects and spiders.

While these geckos have their differences, they also have their similarities. Encountering one in person is a real treat. Although, it’s important to remember finding geckos in the wild can be a challenge, but a herping tour could be your best bet for spotting them!