Yellow-bellied House Gecko \ Hemidactylus flaviviridis

The Yellow-bellied House Gecko (Hemidactylus flaviviridis) is a medium-sized member of the gecko family Gekkonidae that now lives on the buildings of the United Arab Emirates. The Atlas of the Terrestrial Reptiles of the UAE lists it as introduced and not endemic. Its wider range runs from northern India and Pakistan west through Iran and Iraq, around the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula and into north-east Africa. Its presence in Arabia and Africa is thought to be the result of human introductions. These photographs were taken in the Orban area, where the geckos were clinging to house walls. Their colouring matched the buildings remarkably well. This gecko has a flattened body, a broad head and large eyes with vertical pupils. Its strongly expanded toe pads let it move quickly even across smooth walls and ceilings. The back is covered in small scales with no enlarged tubercles. The slender tail is about as long as the body or slightly longer. Its colour can change: animals active at night look yellowish-white, while those seen by day are darker grey or brown with five wavy dark crossbands. The underside is yellow or whitish. It is mainly active at night but can also be seen during the day. It lives in and around houses. After dark it gathers near wall lights to catch moths and other insects, and it also takes other arthropods. When disturbed it dashes for cover. Females lay two hard-shelled eggs, which hatch after five to seven weeks. Its habit of hunting under outdoor lights makes it a rewarding gecko to watch and photograph at night.