Hemidactylus frenatus (common house gecko; wall lizard)

Family Gekkonidae/endemic/ protected species

The Hemidactylus frenatus (common house gecko; wall lizard) can grow up to ten centimeters in length, with the tail occupying half of the length. Because of the thorn -like projections on the tail, it often cuts itself. It has a flat configuration and stout limbs for high-speed running. With flat flaps on its toes, it can easily cling to surfaces. The common house gecko, generally seen in central and southern Taiwan, is a gecko species that calls, while that living in the north is another species called Bowring's gecko, which doesn’t call, which is why in Taiwan people often say that “Southern geckos call while those of north don’t.” But with migration between the two ends of Taiwan, these two species also move along hiding in the furniture. As a result, the geographically segregation of gecko species doesn’t exist in Taiwan.

　　Photographed by Yang Yu-Shiang