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Tokay Gecko

Gekko gecko

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]
Longest recorded life
23.5 years[3]

The Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) is a reptile in the gecko family[4]. In the United States it is an introduced species, listed by NatureServe in Florida and Hawaii[5].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Tokay Gecko a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[6]. The species is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. In both Florida and 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 Tokay Gecko lives

NatureServe treats the Tokay Gecko as introduced, not native, in Florida and Hawaii[5]. Florida, California, Hawaii, Wisconsin and Washington have the most GBIF observation records[8]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, so they do not show how many geckos live in each state[8]. NatureServe lists the species as introduced in two states, Florida and Hawaii[5].

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: introduced, state rank SNAFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[7].
Show state ranks (2 states)
StateRankMeaning
FloridaSNANot Applicable
HawaiiSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records the Tokay Gecko in hardwood forest, hardwood woodland, suburban or orchard areas, and urban settings around buildings[9]. In Hawaii, NatureServe says it uses big banyan, fig and coconut palm trees[10]. It is sometimes found in houses, especially in attics[10].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[9]

Lifespan

The oldest known Tokay Gecko lived over 23 years[3]. That animal was in captivity, and this is the longest recorded lifespan in the AnAge database[3]. It is a record and not a typical lifespan[3]. The facts gathered for this page do not cover size, diet or young.

Trait Value
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[3] 23.5 years (captivity)

When to look for it

People report Tokay Geckos in the United States in every month of the year on GBIF[11]. Most records fall in April, May and July[11]. These counts show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[11].

January: 30 recordsJanFebruary: 47 recordsFebMarch: 71 recordsMarApril: 89 recordsAprMay: 88 recordsMayJune: 57 recordsJunJuly: 81 recordsJulAugust: 44 recordsAugSeptember: 61 recordsSepOctober: 38 recordsOctNovember: 28 recordsNovDecember: 25 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[11].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January30
February47
March71
April89
May88
June57
July81
August44
September61
October38
November28
December25

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Tokay Gecko as present in 1 park units[12]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

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

Questions people ask

Is the Tokay Gecko endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the Tokay Gecko live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as introduced in Florida and Hawaii[5]. It is not native to the United States[5].
Where does the Tokay Gecko live in Hawaii?
NatureServe says it uses big banyan, fig and coconut palm trees there[10]. It is sometimes found in houses, especially in attics[10].
How long does a Tokay Gecko live?
The oldest known one lived over 23 years in captivity[3]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan[3].
When are Tokay Geckos seen in the US?
GBIF records come in all year, and most fall in April, May and July[11]. Records show when people report the animal, not how many exist[11].

Facts and sources

  1. Tokay 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 Tokay Gecko: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 23.5 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  4. Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) is a reptile in the family Gekkonidae, order Squamata. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe lists Tokay Gecko as introduced (not native) in: Florida, Hawaii. NatureServe Explorer
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe state ranks for Tokay Gecko (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  8. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Tokay Gecko: Florida, California, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Washington. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  9. Habitat types NatureServe records for Tokay Gecko: Forest - hardwood, Woodland - hardwood, Suburban/orchard, Urban/edificarian. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe notes on habitat for Tokay Gecko. NatureServe Explorer
  11. GBIF observation records of Tokay Gecko in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  12. NPSpecies park lists recording Tokay Gecko as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

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.