Common smooth-scaled gecko
Lepidodactylus lugubris, known as the mourning gecko or common smooth-scaled gecko, is a species of lizard, a gecko of the family Gekkonidae.
Mourning geckos are small lizards typically light to dark tan in color with dark spots down the length of their back and a brown stripe from the ear to the tip of the nose. These little creatures are capable of firing up/down to change their color, and so the same individual may appear light or dark at different times during the day.
Mourning geckos are found in coastal regions of the Indian and Pacific oceans, including the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Hawai'i, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Australia (Cocos Island), Western Samoa, Guam, the Society Islands, Pitcairn, and the Mascarene Islands. They live in a wide range of lowland habitats including rainforests, deserts, plantations, and other human-modified areas.
Mourning geckos are social reptiles. They are cathemeral and can be heard and observed chirping at and chasing one another at virtually any time of day or night. Geckos are very agile climbers; this is due to specialized toe pads that enable them to climb smooth and vertical surfaces, and even cross indoor ceilings with ease. When threatened, they usually flee and hide under the nearest surface objects or in crevices. If captured, they will lose their tails in defense, a process called autotomy.
Mourning geckos have an omnivorous diet which typically consists of insects, fruit, and pollen.
Mourning geckos are parthenogenic, which means that males are not necessary for reproduction. As such, while males do exist, they are very rare and often sterile. Females lay 1-2 eggs at a time and glue them to surfaces in protected locations. Clutches are usually laid every 4 to 6 weeks and the incubation period lasts 65-103 days.
This species is very widespread across its native range and doesn't face any major threats.
Presently, the Mourning gecko is not included in the IUCN Red List and its conservation status has not been evaluated.
