Geckos thrive across Arizona’s diverse landscapes, contributing to the region’s ecological balance.
Arizona’s Native Gecko Species
Arizona is home to several native gecko species, primarily members of the banded gecko genus, Coleonyx. The Western Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus) is widespread, typically reaching lengths of 4 to 6 inches, including its tail. It has a creamy yellow body adorned with reddish-brown crossbands, spots, and reticulations, often with pink tints on its limbs and sides. Juveniles exhibit more distinct banding that tends to break up into spots as they mature.
Closely related subspecies include the Desert Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus variegatus) and the Tucson Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus bogerti). The Desert Banded Gecko is found throughout the western half of Arizona and can grow up to 6 inches long, characterized by narrow, light-centered dark bands on a cream to tan background, with a spotted head. The Tucson Banded Gecko, found in southeastern Arizona, shares a similar appearance but can be distinguished by darker, more conspicuous head spots and body band edges. Another subspecies, the Utah Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus utahensis), occurs in the state’s extreme northwest, identified by wider dark body bands with irregular edges.
Habitats of Arizona Geckos
Arizona’s geckos inhabit a range of desert and semi-arid environments, adapting to the state’s diverse topography. They are commonly found in desertscrub communities, including rocky deserts, sandy washes, and arid grasslands. These lizards thrive in areas with natural cover, often seeking refuge under rocks, logs, and other debris, or within the burrows of other animals like rodents or tortoises.
Their habitats span various elevations, from below sea level in desert sinks to approximately 5,000 feet in pinyon-juniper woodlands and high desert plateaus. While primarily associated with natural landscapes, some banded geckos, particularly the Western Banded Gecko, can also be encountered in suburban areas. They may utilize human-made structures like irrigation control boxes or outdoor walls, especially where insects are attracted to lights.
How to Identify Arizona Geckos
Identifying Arizona’s geckos involves observing general characteristics and species-specific cues. Most native geckos, such as the Western Banded Gecko and its subspecies, possess large eyes with vertically elliptical pupils and have movable eyelids. Unlike many geckos known for climbing, these native species lack specialized adhesive toe pads, instead having slender toes with distinct claws, and are primarily ground-dwellers.
For the banded geckos, identification often relies on their creamy yellow to tan coloration with reddish-brown or dark crossbands. The distinctness and pattern of these bands, along with the presence and distribution of spots on the head and body, can help differentiate subspecies. The texture of their skin, which is often described as soft and granular, can also be a helpful identifier.
Gecko Behaviors and Diet
Arizona’s native geckos are primarily nocturnal, emerging from their daytime shelters to forage. During the day, they remain hidden in cool, protected microclimates to avoid the intense desert heat. When disturbed or threatened, these geckos may exhibit defensive behaviors, such as twisting or undulating their tail, or even detaching it to distract a potential predator. If captured, they are also known to emit a soft squeak or chirp.
Their diet mainly consists of insects and other small arthropods. They actively hunt prey such as beetles, crickets, moths, grasshoppers, and spiders. Notably, Western Banded Geckos are among the few reptiles that consume baby scorpions, helping to control their populations. Geckos obtain much of their water needs from the moisture contained within their insect prey, although they will also drink freestanding water when available. They stalk their prey closely before lunging to capture it.