Are Geckos Viviparous or Oviparous? A Detailed Explanation of Gecko Reproduction

Gecko is a general term for all lizards in the family Gekkonidae, also known as climbing gecko, four-legged snake, ba gecko, etc. They are distributed in southwestern China and the regions south of the Yangtze River basin, and can adapt to different habitats from deserts to jungles. Many species often come to human dwellings and mostly feed on insects. Let us take a look below at whether geckos are viviparous or oviparous!

Are Geckos Viviparous or Oviparous?

Most species of geckos are oviparous, with white, hard-shelled eggs usually laid under tree bark or attached to the underside of leaves, but several gecko species in New Zealand are ovoviviparous animals. Most species of geckos expel fertilized eggs from the body and bury them in soil or sand, then rely on the radiant heat of the sun for development and hatching into larvae or juveniles. During embryonic development, they rely entirely on the yolk contained in the egg itself for nutrition.

Are Geckos Beneficial Insects or Pests?

Geckos are beneficial and harmless animals. They hide by day and come out at night, lurking during the day in hidden places such as wall cracks, under eaves, and behind cabinets, and becoming active at night. On summer and autumn evenings, they often appear on walls illuminated by lights, under eaves, or on utility poles. Their diet is very varied, usually mainly consisting of small live insects, chiefly preying on mosquitoes, flies, locusts, cockroaches, ground beetles, dragonflies, moths, crickets, spiders, and other insects and larvae.

Differences Between Geckos and Lizards

1. Geckos have suction pads on their feet, and their tails are short and thick, generally only half the length of the body. Lizards, however, do not have suction pads on their feet, and their tails are slender and long, with some varieties having tails longer than the body.

2. Geckos are mostly active from dusk to dawn and can make loud sounds that are harmless to humans. Lizards, however, are mostly active during the day, and most lizards cannot vocalize.

3. Geckos have a very varied diet, mainly consisting of small live insects. Most species of lizards are carnivorous, feeding on insects, earthworms, snails, and even mice.