Wildlifeof Sri Lanka
Mourning Gecko
Geckos
Photo: kavindu_amarasinghe · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Lepidodactylus lugubris
Basic stats
Habitat
Coastal regions
Range
Coastal Indian and Pacific ocean regions; widely introduced, including the Neotropics
Clutch size
1–2 eggs, every 4–6 weeks
Size
8.5–10cm including tail
The mourning gecko, or common smooth-scaled gecko, is widespread in coastal regions of the Indian and Pacific oceans, including the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India and Southeast Asia, and has been introduced widely elsewhere, including the Neotropics, Hawai'i and the Seychelles. It measures 8.5 to 10 cm including the tail, of which 4 to 4.4 cm is snout to vent. It is light to dark tan with dark spots down the back and a brown stripe from ear to nose tip, and can change colour during the day (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is mainly nocturnal. The species is all female and reproduces by parthenogenesis; males are very rare and often sterile. Females glue one or two eggs to surfaces in sheltered spots, laying every 4 to 6 weeks. Nationally Vulnerable (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Mourning Gecko live in?
- Coastal regions
- Where is the Mourning Gecko found?
- Coastal Indian and Pacific ocean regions; widely introduced, including the Neotropics
- How many eggs does the Mourning Gecko lay?
- 1–2 eggs, every 4–6 weeks
- How big is the Mourning Gecko?
- 8.5–10cm including tail