Specimen Showcase | Super-gecko🦎

Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum
Mar 10
3 min read

The sight of a gecko running on a vertical surface is common in Hong Kong, including within homes. Indeed, many people will welcome this extra roommate, which in turn pays its rent by providing some extra help.

While the Tokay Gecko, 𝘎𝘦𝘬𝘬𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘰 (Linn., 1758) is often found more commonly outside than inside homes, this species is quite remarkable. First, it is the second-largest species of gecko in the world and its length (including tail) reaches 25 to 30 cm on average, but some individuals can measure as much as 40 cm. Besides having large sizes, it has distinguishing patterns on its body, with red or black spots overlaying a bluish or a greyish body. Surprisingly, this gecko can lighten or darken its skin color for camouflage, blending in the environment to avoid other animals’ attacks. Although the native habitat of 𝘎. 𝘨𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘰 is rainforest 🌳, this species has adapted to human living areas and can be spotted on the walls of habitations 🏠.

One feature that most of us probably would dream to have, is the incredible ability to move easily on vertical walls, or even upside down. How can the gecko do that? 𝘎. 𝘨𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘰 got its “superpower” from its incredible grip force 🧲which is the product of millions of hairy structures, called setae (seta for singular), present on its toes; and with each seta branching into hundreds of spatulae. Thanks to these small structures, a strong adhesion force is generated. When close to a surface, a temporary force develops between the spatulae and the surface providing this amazing ability for 𝘎. 𝘨𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘰 to stick to vertical or even overhanging surfaces. This ability allows geckos to search for prey more efficiently since it mainly feeds on insects such as cockroaches, mosquitoes, ants, etc. That’s why you can always see geckos moving fast on the walls when they are hunting their prey, helping you get rid of those unwanted visitors within your homes. And if one of your walls is illuminated by a light that attracts insects at night💡, then you may observe several geckos using this area like a buffet 🍽.

Yet, 𝘎. 𝘨𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘰 possesses another astounding “superpower”: self-regeneration! While waiting for the prey, 𝘎. 𝘨𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘰 may be under attack from potential predators. While escaping, it will then save its life, but not always all its limbs. It is frequent in those quarrels that the predator seizes the tail and then for the gecko to cast it off 😲. As the nerves inside the detached tail are still communicating with each other, it continues wiggling, distracting the predators. This gives our mutilated, but alive, gecko some extra time to run away. Eventually, with enough time, the missing limb will grow back. To regrow the tail, it generates a cluster of cells that can turn into different cells. What is exceptional here is the ability of the gecko to regrow an entire body part; while for us humans, we also present some regeneration abilities, those are limited to new skin cells, bone cells (after we break one 🦴), or even parts of the liver but not an entire limb.

If you are interested in this natural superhero, and other related species, come and meet them at the HKBM⭐️!

Text: Joyce Chan

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