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The tokay gecko ( Gekko gecko) is a nocturnality arboreal gecko in the genus Gekko, the true geckos. It is native to Asia and some Pacific Islands.
Whether the species is native but very uncommon in Taiwan or whether the rare reports of individuals since the 1920s are based on repeated anthropogenic translocations that may or may not have resulted in established populations by now is unclear.
The skin is soft to the touch and is generally blue-gray with red or orange spots and speckles, but the animal can change the color of its skin to blend into the environment. The species is sexually dimorphic, with the males being more brightly colored and slightly larger than females.Corl, J. 1999. Gekko gecko. Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved 19 February 2016. They have two visual pigments: a "green" with λmax at 521 nm and a "blue" at 467 nm.
It is a strong climber with foot pads that can support the entire weight of its body on a vertical surface for a long period of time. Compared to other gecko species, the tokay gecko has a robust build, with a semiprehensile tail, a large head, and muscular jaws.
Females lay clutches of one or two hard-shelled eggs and guard them until they hatch. Communal nesting has been observed in Cambodia with as many as four adults guarding the clutch of about eleven eggs.
The tokay gecko's call is also responsible for the name given to it by Filipino residents: "Tuko," and by U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War, the "Fuck-you lizard".
Light and temperature can affect its vocalizations. The most frequent calling occurs in May at dusk, and the second peak of call frequency occurs in May at dawn. Vocalizations and associated behavior were strongly affected by ambient temperature in both the lab and field and could thus play a role in regulating animal energetic metabolism
This species is poaching for the medicinal trades in parts of Asia. The tokay gecko is an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, known as Ge Jie (蛤蚧). It is believed to nourish the kidneys and lungs, beliefs that are not substantiated by medical science. The animal remains highly sought after in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and other parts of Asia with Chinese communities, to the point where unscrupulous merchants have taken to disfiguring with prosthetics to pass them off as colossal tokay gecko specimens.
From 2009 to 2011, the poaching of tokay geckos intensified because of a short-lived belief that they were an effective HIV cure.
The tokay gecko is quickly becoming a threatened species in the Philippines because of indiscriminate hunting. Collecting, transporting and trading in geckos without a license can be punishable by up to 12 years in jail and a fine of up to Philippine peso1 million under Republic Act 9147, in addition to other applicable international laws. Illegal trading of gecko poses threat to the environment. ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity. However, the trade runs unchecked because of the sheer number of illegal traders and reports of lucrative deals. Chinese buyers and other foreign nationals are rumored to pay thousands of dollars for large specimens, because of their alleged medicinal value or as commodities in the illegal wildlife trade.
The species is protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning international trade (including in parts and derivatives) is subject to the CITES permitting system.
When well cared for, tokay geckos can live up to 15–20 years.
Captivity
Tokay geckos are becoming more popular as pets because of their striking colors and large size. Most of them are wild-caught imports, but captive-bred ones are becoming more common. Wild-caught adults are simple to keep in captivity, as the husbandry requirements can be fulfilled with standard hardware that is widely available from pet-supply vendors. Wild-caught tokay geckos can be difficult to handle because of their aggressive nature and powerful bite, but it has been commonly reported among hobbyists that captive-bred (those hatched in captivity from eggs laid by either wild-caught adults or by captive-raised adult progeny) tokay geckos can be less aggressive.
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