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Mourning Gecko

Lepidodactylus lugubris

Reptile · family Gekkonidae · order Squamata

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Typical length
4 in[3]

The Mourning Gecko is a small reptile in the gecko family that is introduced, not native, in Hawaii[4][5]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide[2].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Mourning Gecko a global rank of G5 (Secure)[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[6]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. In Hawaii, NatureServe gives it a state rank of SNA[7].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Least concern

Where Mourning Gecko lives

NatureServe lists the Mourning Gecko as introduced in Hawaii, so it is not native to any US state in that list[5]. People also report it on GBIF in Florida, California, Texas and North Carolina, though Hawaii has the most records[8]. Those counts follow where people look and report, not how many geckos live there[8]. The National Park Service records it in 7 park units, including units in Hawaii and American Samoa[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: introduced, state rank SNAHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[7].
Show state ranks (1 states)
StateRankMeaning
HawaiiSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records woodland with hardwood trees, suburban areas and orchards, and riparian areas as habitat types[10]. The notes describe it living in open areas without forest and often on buildings and other structures[11]. It is also found in areas that humans do not inhabit, where it usually rests under bark or rock during the day[11]. Females stick their eggs in cracks, holes, loose bark or behind objects, and several females may share one egg site[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size and diet

The Mourning Gecko is an invertivore, which means it eats small invertebrates, mainly small insects[12][13]. It often feeds on insects drawn to lights and may also lick juice from ripe fruit on the ground[13]. The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 10 cm (4 in)[3]. All individuals are female and reproduce without mating, a process called parthenogenesis[14]. A clutch is usually 2 eggs, sometimes 1 or 3, and breeding goes on all year in Hawaii[14].

Trait Value
Typical length[3] 10 cm (4 in)
Food habits[12] Invertivore

When to look for it

NatureServe records the Mourning Gecko as nocturnal, meaning active at night[15]. It can sometimes be seen at any hour, and hatchlings are the ones most likely to be seen in daytime[16]. Breeding runs through the year in Hawaii[14]. GBIF records in the United States are highest in July, August and September, but that reflects when people look and report, not how many geckos there are[17].

January: 156 recordsJanFebruary: 261 recordsFebMarch: 194 recordsMarApril: 237 recordsAprMay: 254 recordsMayJune: 207 recordsJunJuly: 644 recordsJulAugust: 313 recordsAugSeptember: 266 recordsSepOctober: 141 recordsOctNovember: 130 recordsNovDecember: 194 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[17].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January156
February261
March194
April237
May254
June207
July644
August313
September266
October141
November130
December194

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Mourning Gecko as present in 7 park units[9]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Hawaii, Florida, California, Texas, North Carolina[8]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Mourning Gecko endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the Mourning Gecko live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as introduced in Hawaii[5]. GBIF records also come from Florida, California, Texas and North Carolina[8].
What does the Mourning Gecko eat?
It eats mainly small insects and often feeds on those drawn to lights[13]. It may also lick juice from ripe fruit[13].
How big is a Mourning Gecko?
NatureServe records a typical length of 10 cm (4 in)[3].
When is the Mourning Gecko active?
It is mainly nocturnal, so it is active at night[15]. It can sometimes be seen during the day[16].

Facts and sources

  1. Mourning Gecko is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Mourning Gecko: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 10 cm (4 in). NatureServe Explorer
  4. Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris) is a reptile in the family Gekkonidae, order Squamata. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe lists Mourning Gecko as introduced (not native) in: Hawaii. NatureServe Explorer
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe state ranks for Mourning Gecko (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  8. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Mourning Gecko: Hawaii, Florida, California, Texas, North Carolina. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  9. NPSpecies park lists recording Mourning Gecko as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Mourning Gecko: Woodland - hardwood, Suburban/orchard, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Mourning Gecko. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Mourning Gecko. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Mourning Gecko. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on phenology for Mourning Gecko. NatureServe Explorer
  17. GBIF observation records of Mourning Gecko in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.