Indo-Pacific House Gecko

Names and classification

Scientific name

Hemidactylus garnotii

Common names

Indo-Pacific House Gecko

Family

Gekkonidae

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence

Present

Origin

Introduced

Conservation status

Not assessed

Evidence limits

Occurrence is supported; local abundance and impact estimates remain less certain than presence.

Habitat and ecology

Habitats

Buildings, vegetation and sheltered lowland habitats.

Food and resource needs

Nocturnal insectivore; uses arthropods concentrated near structures and lights.

Reproduction

Parthenogenetic; eggs in protected crevices.

Shelter

Bark, foliage, rock, litter, crevices, walls, or woody debris depending on species.

Threats and conservation

Threats

Competition with other geckos and predation on arthropods; Kauaʻi-specific conservation impact not fully quantified.

Conservation actions

Early detection, containment/control where feasible, prevent intentional release or transport, protect high-value native habitats, and monitor ecological effects.

Monitoring

Repeat island occurrence surveys, population trend monitoring, and impact studies using standardized methods.

Data gaps

Current population distribution, abundance, and Kauaʻi-specific ecological effect sizes remain incompletely quantified.

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal timing

Generally year-round in Hawaiʻi; local activity varies with temperature and moisture

Seasonal description

Indo-Pacific House Gecko (Hemidactylus garnotii) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.

Sources and further reading

• Bishop Museum — Hawaiian Reptile & Amphibian Checklist
• USGS — Eleutherodactylus frog introductions to Hawaiʻi
• iNaturalist — Kauaʻi Check List