Common House Gecko

Description:

Spotted this lizard one early morning, in a position ready to pounce on butterflies that would go near its "hiding" place. Its color is the same as the trunk of the tree it was on, it was hardly noticeable. Hemidactylus frenatus Schlegel, 1836, of family Gekkonidae, known as Common House Gecko, Asian House Gecko, Spiny-tailed House Gecko, Pacific House Gecko, or simply the House Lizard. These little geckos abound in the Philippines (called "Butiki" in Tagalog) and throughout southeast Asia. Their color is quite variable, changing based on temperature and background. Its call or chirp sounds like "tchak tchak tchak" (often sounded three times in sequence). Like most geckos, they are nocturnal, hiding during the day and foraging for insects at night. They can be seen climbing walls of houses and other buildings in search of insects attracted to porch lights, hence their name "House Gecko".

Habitat:

Backyard adjacent to an open space.