Beware the biting gecko!

[Miulang]

A new, very aggressive species of biting gecko has been identified as invading neighborhoods on Oahu. The tokay gecko (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokay_gecko), whose original habitat is in Asia, has been spotted in Manoa, Kaneohe and Makiki. It's said to have a mating call as bad as that of the coqui frog and can inflict a very painful (though harmless) bite. It's much larger than the beloved Hawaiian gecko, has no local predators and could potentially damage endemic bird populations, so unless people help control the species now, it could eventually spread throughout Oahu and to the Neighbor Islands.

For more information and to report sightings (or if you hear them) of the tokay gecko, call 643-PEST or go to the Hawaii Ecosystems At Risk website for more information at http://www.hear.org/oisc/oisc_target_species/gekko_gecko.htm,

Miulang

[Pua'i Mana'o]

great, a friggin' mini-gator roaming O'ahu...

[Da Rolling Eye]

Well, at least there's no mistaking them for the kind we let run amock in the house. ;)

[Miulang]

There's another large, highly aggressive gecko that the DoA is asking Honolulu residents to be on the lookout for: the Madagascar Giant Day gecko (http://www.khon2.com/news/local/7129826.html). So far, the only established colony has been found in the East Manoa area, but the DoA is trying to contain the infestation because of the damage these geckos can do to native birds and insects. These geckos (with orange spots on the sides of their heads) look like the gecko seen in an insurance commercial.

Miulang

[Honoruru]

There's another large, highly aggressive gecko that the DoA is asking Honolulu residents to be on the lookout for: the Madagascar Giant Day gecko (http://www.khon2.com/news/local/7129826.html). Miulang

That Madagascar Giant Day gecko looks a lot like the green anole (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_anole). I used to see a lot of anoles several years ago, but I haven't seen many of them recently. They also can grow quite large. I once saw one (an anole) almost a foot long at Foster Botanical Garden. The only difference between an anole and the Madagascar, at least to my eyes, seems to be the orange spot near the eyes of the Madagascar.

[cezanne]

That Madagascar Giant Day gecko looks a lot like the green anole (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_anole). I used to see a lot of anoles several years ago, but I haven't seen many of them recently. They also can grow quite large. I once saw one (an anole) almost a foot long at Foster Botanical Garden. The only difference between an anole and the Madagascar, at least to my eyes, seems to be the orange spot near the eyes of the Madagascar.

We got lots of those "chameleons" around our house in the gardens. My wife calls them our little dinosaurs. Anoles... so that's what they are.

[Adri]

A new, very aggressive species of biting gecko has been identified as invading neighborhoods on Oahu. /snip[/url],

Miulang

Ack! A friend of mine was just saying that she saw a weird gecko with orange spots. I better warn her that they may bite :eek:

[Miulang]

Ack! A friend of mine was just saying that she saw a weird gecko with orange spots. I better warn her that they may bite :eek:
More importantly, tell her to call the Dept of Agriculture and report the sighting. It's extremely important to stop this critter from spreading throughout Oahu, because its next destination could very well be on one of the Neighbor Islands, where it doesn't currently live.

Miulang