Common house gecko
Hemidactylus frenatus
Other names: Tako, moon lizard, wall gecko
Like flies, they are pretty harmless creatures who wander walls, often unmoving like statues.. Despite their size and non-violent nature, they will bite if faced with distress with enough force to pierce through skin. They are considered to be an invasive species in some areas of the world due to their alarming continuous growth. Even so, it’s as if their chirping is coming from nowhere, as if their sounds are being carried by the winds from some unknown land: when attempted to be searched for outside, one won’t find much luck, and so it is impossible to silence their deafening cries. Do not try to confront them when they are getting on your nerves, because I can promise you that your attempt will be fruitless. Sometimes they are mistaken for wall decor due to their tendency of not moving. When they do decide to move, this can cause great surprise to anyone who watches them.
Habitat
Although they always seem to skitter away when a human approaches them, the Common house gecko prefers urban environments where light is abundant. They’re constantly looking for ways to escape, which is why they can also be found in areas where cracks are present so that it will be easier for them to escape if they are faced with danger. Because they’re always alert and aware of their surroundings, these little creatures are very active at night and retreat into hiding early in the morning. If not in urban environments, they can be found in dense forests and woodlands. They originate from warmer climates which include Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Japan, and China. It is not unusual to find them dwelling within houses, though they can be quite alarming to spot if one is not expecting to see them. Their sizes range from one’s finger to the size of a small puppy.
Diet
They hunger for and thrive on cockroaches, termites, some bees and wasps, butterflies, moths, flies, spiders, and several types of beetles, which can also be found in urban environments where it is plentiful and more than enough for them to feast on. They seem to always be on a mission for their next meal.
Communication
Like cicadas in Japan, the Common house gecko can be quite irritating: they communicate with a series of distinct chirps which can be mistaken as a human shouting or yelling if one does not know the existence of these lizards. When aggressive, they release a long chirp. When distressed, they let out a single chirp. When defensive, they will chirp multiple times. In the Philippines, locals call them a “Takoo” because of the sound of their chirps. In a way, they’re almost like alarm clocks due to their perfect timing. They are often small but have voices of a blood-thirsty army.
Cultural attributes
Although they are considered to be poisonous in some parts of the world, they are thought to be carriers of good omens in southeast Asia. In the Philippines, they are believed to be an indication of an imminent letter or visitor. In Yemen and other Arab countries, they believe that a skin disease may occur if a gecko walks on one’s face while they are embraced by slumber. In some parts of India it is thought that the chirping sound they create is bad luck, while in countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, and West Bengal the sound indicates truthfulness of a statement that was just made because their chirping almost sounds like “thik thik thik” which translates to “right right right”.
