Geckos / Guåli'ek
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Geckos / Guåli'ek
Geckos, or "guåli'ek", as most are called locally, are some of the best known animals on Guam. Six species of geckos occur on our island. Several of these, including the oceanic gecko, Micronesian gecko, and Pacific slender-toed gecko, have recently disappeared or become rare, probably because of predation by kulepbla (brown tree snakes) or cha'ka (musk shrews).
Two types of guåli'ek, the house gecko and the mourning gecko, are well adapted to living with people. Both are numerous in buildings and are the species people see most often on walls and ceilings of their homes. Their favorite foods are flying insects which are attracted to lights.
Most reptiles are silent, but guåli'ek make a loud chirping sound. They call at all times of the day and night, probably to warn off other guåli'ek entering their territories. Another unusual feature of the guåli'ek is their specially-shaped toes, which help them run on smooth vertical surfaces such as walls and trees.
Guåli'ek usually lay two small round eggs that hatch in about a month. The baby guåli'ek have to immediately begin finding their own food and avoid predators, such as cats and larger guåli'ek. If a guåli'ek is caught by its tail, it simply loses it and escapes. In time, it will grow a new tail.
Guåli'ek are harmless and many people consider it a sign of good luck to have them in their house.
Guam Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 9/27/2005
