THE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF AUSTRALIA - GECKOS

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
Covering Australian Snakes, Lizards, Crocodiles, Turtles, and Amphibians

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COLUBRID SNAKES - Colubridae Homalopsidae Mud Snakes

PYTHON SNAKES - Pythonidae

ELAPID SNAKES - Elapidae Cobras Coral Snakes

SEA SNAKES - Hydrophiinae Laticaudidae Sea Kraits

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BLIND SNAKES - Worm Snakes - Typhlopidae Ramphotyphlops

Selection of Australian Frogs

TURTLES Tortoises Chelonii Testudines

DRAGON LIZARDS Agamas Agamidae

GECKO LIZARDS Gekkonidae

LEGLESS LIZARDS Pygopodidae Pygopods

MONITOR LIZARDS Goannas Varanids Varanidae

Skinks of Australia

CROCODILES Crocodylia Crocodilia Saltwater freshwater estuarine

REPTILES OF THE WORLD SPECIES LISTS

ASIAN HOUSE GECKO
Hemidactylus frenatus
 also called:-
Chichak, Common House Gecko, South Asian House Gecko, Bridled House Gecko

Note that the Flat Tailed Gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus) looks similar to this species and is also often called the Asian House Gecko, however in Australia that species is only found on on the Cocos Keeling Islands.

Also the introduced Indo-Pacific Gecko (Hemidactylus garnotii) found in the Sydney region looks extremely similar to Hemidactylus frenatus but has a brighter yellow underside, slightly different spine layout on the tail, and different arrangement of scales on its chin)

INVASIVE SPECIES - NOT NATIVE TO AUSTRALIA
Native to South East Asia but has spread to many parts of the world

In Australia it occurs mainly in populated areas over the northern half of Australia as well as Perth, Sydney region and possibly Melbourne. It also occurs on Christmas Island, Cocos Keeling Islands, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island

The Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) above was photographed at Woodford, Qld.
The Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) above was photographed at Woodford, Qld. Note that you may need to get close to the gecko to see the spines!



Approximate distribution of the Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) which also occurs on Christmas Island, Cocos Keeling Islands, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island

The map above shows the main areas on the Australian mainland where the Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) is most likely to be seen.

Note small populations which may occur in small towns outside of the blue area are not marked on this map.

(please use this map with care - it may not be accurate)

Asian House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus
The Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) above with a partially regrown tail (the section lacking spines) was photographed at Kallangur, Qld.

Asian House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus
The Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) that has regrown the tip of its tail, above was photographed at on the Gold Coast Qld


Asian house gecko - Hemidactylus frenatus
The Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) that has regrown the tip of its tail, above was photographed at Worongary on the Gold Coast Qld


This Asian House Geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) with a partially regrown tail was photographed at Kenilworth, Qld

This Asian House Geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) with a fully regrown tail was photographed at Kallangur, near Brisbane, Qld
This Asian House Geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) with a fully regrown tail was photographed at Kallangur, near Brisbane, Qld


The spines on baby Asian House Geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) are not noticeable - photographed inside a house at Kenilworth, Qld


 Hemidactylus frenatus 
The Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) above with a full original tail, was photographed at Springfield Lakes


The Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) above was photographed at Bowen, Queensland
The Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) above was photographed at Bowen, Queensland


Hemidactylus frenatus
The Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) above was photographed at Springfield Lakes (South-east Queensland)

Like many other species of geckos this species can change its colour/pattern and often looks patternless at night

Mating Asian House Geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus)
Mating Asian House Geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) -Kenilworth, Qld



Normally found in and around houses and other buildings often in groups.
They are commonly seen hanging around lights where they consume large quantities of insects. Although most commonly seen at night it is not unusual to see them active in the day.

Extremely common in many tropical areas of Australia where it often lives alongside native "House" Geckos such as the Dubious Gecko (Gehyra dubia) and the Northern House Dtella (Gehyra australis) and others.

The Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) is also very common in many tropical areas overseas, where it often lives alongside other exotic "house geckos" such as the Skin-shedding Gecko (Gehyra mutilata) and the Flat-Tailed House Gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus)

Note the small spines on the tail which do not occur on the native Australian "House" geckos.
However if an Asian House Gecko has a regrown tail it will have none of the small spines!

Spines are often also not noticeable on young Asian House Geckos

Note that the Indo-Pacific Gecko or Garnot's House Gecko (Hemidactylus garnotii) is a very close (parthenogenetic) relative of Hemidactylus frenatus which has been recorded in the Sydney region



LINKS OF INTEREST

The Reptile Database - (Hemidactylus frenatus)

Atlas of Living Australia - (Hemidactylus frenatus)
Click here for more information about Australian Geckos

RECOMMENDED AMAZON BOOKS
(Affiliate commission earned)

A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia 5th edition Edition _ Keeping Australian Geckos

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases


OTHER LINKS

Find a Random Species of Australian Reptile

Visit the Australian Herpetology Website

 


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Geckos

Geckos of Australia

LIZARDS OF AUSTRALIA

 Lizards of the World

Geckos
of
The World

Geckos
of
Australia

Lizards
of
Australia

Lizards
of
The World


AUSTRALIAN GECKO SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY

Geckos of South Australia

GECKOS OF NSW

Queensland GECKO LIZARDS Gekkonidae

NORTHERN TERRITORY GECKO LIZARDS Gekkonidae

WESTERN AUSTRALIA GECKO LIZARDS Gekkonidae

GECKOS OF VICTORIA

Geckos of ACT

Geckos
of South
Australia

Geckos
of
NSW

Geckos
of
Qld

Geckos
of
NT

Geckos
of
WA

Geckos
of
Victoria

Geckos
of
ACT

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY

Reptiles of South Australia
REPTILES OF VICTORIA
 REPTILES OF NSW REPTILES OF QUEENSLAND REPTILES OF NORTHERN TERRITORY REPTILES OF Western Australia Reptiles of the ACT(Canberra)

Reptiles of South Australia

Reptiles
of
Victoria

Reptiles
of
NSW

Reptiles
of
Qld

Reptiles
of
NT

Reptiles
of
WA

Reptiles
of the
ACT

Reptiles of Tasmania

MORE REPTILE SPECIES LISTS

Reptiles of Lord Howe Island

Reptiles of Christmas Island

Reptiles
of Cocos Keeling Islands

Reptiles of Norfolk Island


Reptiles of Australia

Selection of Australian Frogs

Reptiles of the World

Amphibians of the World

Reptiles
of
Australia

Frogs
of
Australia

Reptiles
of
The World

Amphibians of the
World


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Contact John Fowler Author of the Australian Herpetology Website

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Updated September 9, 2025


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