Published October 10, 2019. Updated November 13, 2023. Open access. Peer-reviewed.

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Common House-Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)

Reptiles of Ecuador | Sauria | Gekkonidae | Hemidactylus frenatus

English common names: Common House-Gecko, Asian House-Gecko.

Spanish common names: Geco común de casa, salamanquesa común.

Recognition: ♂♂ 13.5 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=6.5 cm. ♀♀ 12.4 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=6.0 cm..¹ House geckos (genus Hemidactylus) can be identified from other lizards in Ecuador by their nocturnal habits, spine-like scales on the tail, expanded subdigital lamellae, lack of eyelids, and preference for man-made structures.^2,3 Hemidactylus frenatus differs from H. mabouia by having low, rather than large and trihedral, tubercles on the dorsal surface of the body and tail and by lacking tubercles on the side of the head (Fig. 1).

Figure showing variation among individuals of Hemidactylus frenatus

Figure 1: Individuals of Hemidactylus frenatus: Parque Nacional Soberanía, Panamá province, Panamá (); Churute, Guayas province, Ecuador (); Puerto Ayora, Galápagos province, Ecuador (). j=juvenile.

Natural history: Hemidactylus frenatus is a nocturnal gecko that exhibits peak activity at dusk, dawn, and during warmer months.^4–7 It occurs in high densities on walls, ceilings near electric lights,^8,12,13 as well as on boulders and trees in human-altered environments^12–14 spanning various lowland habitats, from deserts and rainforests to plantations.^15–17 In daylight, these geckos remain concealed within crevices, lamps, beneath rocks, rotting logs, or virtually any object hanging vertically.¹⁸ Common House-Geckos are opportunistic predators that feed primarily on arthropods lured by artificial light sources,^8,13,19 but also on mollusks and smaller geckos, including conspecifics.^21–23 When threatened, they swiftly retreat into crevices or beneath surface objects, readily shedding their tails if captured.^5,24 Throughout their range, Common House-Geckos fall prey to a variety of predators, including cats, snakes, rats, dogs, spiders, birds, praying mantids, and larger lizards,^25,26 while also contending with parasitization by protozoans, mites, and various worms.^27–30 Males exhibit social and aggressive behavior, employing calls and tail movements to attract females and establish and maintain territories.^5,10,31,32 Females can store sperm for extended periods after mating,³³ producing clutches of two water-resistant eggs throughout the year in tropical regions.^18,34 These eggs are deposited in communal nesting sites, such as crevices, thatched roofs, or under ground debris, with a typical incubation period of 45 to 90 days.¹

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Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..¹² Hemidactylus frenatus is listed in this category because this species is widely-distributed, thrives in human-modified environments,³⁶ and is expanding into new areas. As an invader, H. frenatus competitively displaces native geckos^8,37,38 and other previously introduced species,^21,39–41 often leading to their local extirpation.^9,26,42 Populations of the Common House-Gecko have exploded following expansion of urban areas,²⁶ and they are likely to keep thriving under current scenarios of global warming.⁴² They also have spread with the aid of commercial ships and cargo^8,26,35 and have become naturalized on numerous islands.^26,34 From a human-centered perspective, a positive outcome of the increased population densities of H. frenatus is the reduction in the number of pest insects such as mosquitoes and cockroaches.⁴³

Distribution: Hemidactylus frenatus is native to Southeast Asia,³⁶ but has been introduced to the Americas, Africa, Australia,²⁶ and a number of tropical islands across the globe.^12,26 In Ecuador, Common House-Geckos have become naturalized on more than 100 towns and cities (Fig. 2),⁴⁴ including those in the Galápagos (Fig. 3).⁴⁵

Figure 2: Distribution of Hemidactylus frenatus in mainland Ecuador. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.

Figure 3: Distribution of Hemidactylus frenatus in Galápagos. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.

Etymology: The generic name Hemidactylus comes from the Greek words hemisys (=half) and daktylos (=finger).⁴⁶ It probably refers to the rows of skin folds under these geckos’ digits,¹⁸ which are grouped in two halves. The specific epithet frenatus, which comes from the Latin frenum (=bridle) and the suffix -atus (=provided with),⁴⁶ refers to the color pattern of the face.⁴⁷

See it in the wild: Common House-Geckos can be seen year-round in and around buildings throughout their localities of occurrence in Ecuador. They have, for example, colonized the buildings of Yasuní Scientific Station. The best time to look for this species is just after sunset.

Special thanks to Laetitia Buscaylet for symbolically adopting the Common House-Gecko and helping bring the Reptiles of Ecuador book project to life.

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Authors: Alejandro Arteaga^aAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador. and Juan M Guayasamin^bAffiliation: Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador.

Academic reviewers: Kenneth Petren^cAffiliation: University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. and Caty Frenkel

Photographer: Jose Vieira^dAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.^,^eAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador.

How to cite? Arteaga A, Guayasamin JM (2023) Common House-Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus). In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Available from: www.reptilesofecuador.com. DOI: 10.47051/YIZG6866

Literature cited:

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Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Hemidactylus frenatus in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used.

Country	Province	Locality	Source
Colombia	Nariño	Barbacoas	iNaturalist; photo examined
Colombia	Nariño	Corregimiento Remolino	Caicedo-Portilla & Dulcey-Cala 2011
Colombia	Nariño	El Remolino	iNaturalist; photo examined
Colombia	Nariño	Milagros	UPTC 2019
Colombia	Nariño	Tumaco	Caicedo-Portilla & Dulcey-Cala 2011
Colombia	Putumayo	Bajo Mansoyá	GeoPark 3513; Cahueño & Barbosa 2022
Ecuador	Azuay	Recinto Las Brisas	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Cañar	El Chorro	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	El Oro	Huaquillas	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	El Oro	Machala	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	El Oro	Palmales Nuevo	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	El Oro	Pasaje	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	El Oro	PetroEcuador La Victoria	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	El Oro	Piñas	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	El Oro	Santa Isabel, 18 km WSW of	CM 117837; VertNet
Ecuador	El Oro	Santa Rosa	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Atacames	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Bunche	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Castelnouvo	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Durango	Torres-Carvajal & Salazar-Valenzuela 2012
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Esmeraldas	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Hacienda Cucaracha	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Itapoa Reserve	Photo by Rául Nieto
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Las Peñas	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Lote Rosero	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Mompiche	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Playa Escondida	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Quingüe	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Quinindé	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Same	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	San Lorenzo	Jadin et al. 2009
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Tonsupa	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Tundaloma Lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Galápagos	Eco Friendly hotel	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Galápagos	El Progreso	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Hacienda La Soledad	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Galápagos	Puerto Ayora	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Puerto Villamil	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	USFQ station	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Guayas	Alborada	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Guayas	Cerro Blanco	Carvajal-Campos and Torres-Carvajal 2010
Ecuador	Guayas	Chongón	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Guayas	Ciudad Celeste	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Guayas	Comuna Bellavista	QCAZ 13217; Pazmiño Otamendi 2020
Ecuador	Guayas	Data de Posorja	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Guayas	El Empalme	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Guayas	El Triunfo	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Guayas	General Villamil	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Guayas	Ingenio San Carlos	Carvajal-Campos and Torres-Carvajal 2010
Ecuador	Guayas	Isla Santay	Photo by Eduardo Zavala
Ecuador	Guayas	Milagro	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Guayas	Playas Villamil	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Guayas	PS Churute	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Guayas	Puerto del Morro	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Guayas	Virgen de Fátima	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Loja	Loja	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Loja	Malacatos	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Loja	Mercadillo	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Los Ríos	Centro Científico Río Palenque	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Los Ríos	Jauneche	Photo by Keyko Cruz
Ecuador	Los Ríos	Los Ángeles, 4 km W of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Los Ríos	Quevedo	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Manabí	Ayampe	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Manabí	Bahía de Caráquez	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Manabí	Canoa	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Manabí	Cocosolo	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Manabí	Cojimíes	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Manabí	Curia	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Manabí	Jama Campay	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Manabí	La Barquita	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Manabí	La Crespa	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Manabí	La Mapara	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Manabí	Manta	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Manabí	Muracumbo	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Manabí	Pedernales	Jadin et al. 2009
Ecuador	Manabí	Playa Nuestra	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Manabí	Portoviejo	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Manabí	Puerto Cayo	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Manabí	Puerto López	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Manabí	Punta Prieta	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Manabí	Río Canoa	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Manabí	Salinas	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Macas	QCAZ 16544; Pazmiño Otamendi 2020
Ecuador	Napo	Archidona	Photo by Diego Piñán
Ecuador	Napo	Arosemena Tola	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Napo	Baeza	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Napo	Puerto Barantilla	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Napo	Tena	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Campo SPF Río Yasuní	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Dayuma	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Edén	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	El Coca	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Laguna Taracoa	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Nuevo Rocafuerte	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Orellana	Pindo	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Taracoa	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Yarina Lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Orellana	Yasuní Scientific Station	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Pastaza	Puyo	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Piatúa	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Pastaza	Villano K32	Dueñas et al. 2018
Ecuador	Pichincha	Conocoto	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Pichincha	Hacienda El Paraíso	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Pichincha	Milpe Bird Sanctuary	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Pichincha	Puerto Quito	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Santa Elena	Punta Blanca	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Santa Elena	Salinas	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas	El Cisne	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas	Hotel Santo Domingo	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Estación Shuara	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Lago Agrio	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Limoncocha	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Palmeras Norte	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Recinto Amazonas, 2 km NE of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Singue	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	San Pedro de los Cofanes	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Sevilla	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Shushufindi	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Tarapoa	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Vicinity of Dureno	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Campamento Las Peñas	Dueñas et al. 2018
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	El Pangui	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Yantzaza	iNaturalist; photo examined
Perú	Piura	Piura	iNaturalist; photo examined