Geckos
Gekkonidae
Native species in Hawaii: 0
Introduced species: 7
Geckos are one of the few reptiles or amphibians that are notorious for colonizing islands. Part of the reason for this is that some geckos have the amazing ability of pathogenesis. In essence, this means that one gecko, who successfully made it do an island can produce unfertilized eggs that later become a whole clan of female clones! That's pretty amazing isn't it! Its the same reason that the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park II and III were able to come back, even though they made them all girls!
In Hawaii there are currently 7 geckos. They are all introduced, yet they are unsure which may have been introduced by polynesians. Presently the suspected polynesian introductions include, the Morning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris), the Stump-toed Gecko (Gehyra mutilata), the Small Tree Gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus typus), and the Fox Gecko (Hemidactylus garnottii). The other three were introduced. In 1940, the Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus), in the 1970's the Gold-dust Day Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda), and in the 1980's the Orange-spotted Day Gecko (Phelsuma guimbeaui)
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Iguanas and Anoles Iguanidae |
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Geckos Gekkonidae |
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Chameleons Chamaeleonidae |
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Skinks Scincidae |
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