Common House Gecko

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Common House Gecko in Panama City?

Possible. About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common House Gecko sighting in Panama City on a given day, based on 95 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 5th most-seen of the 24 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Common House Gecko in Panama City?

July, September and November–December. In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Common House Gecko in Panama City on a given day, against about 10% in January, the lowest month.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Common House Gecko?

Between 6 and 9 pm. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common House Gecko sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is most active around dawn and dusk.

Q: Is Panama City the best place to see a Common House Gecko?

41st of 60. Of the 60 cities where we can rate Common House Gecko sightings, Panama City ranks 41st at about 20%. The best odds are in Xiuying District (China, about 60%), Yogyakarta (Indonesia, about 60%) and Cebu City (Philippines, about 50%).

Q: Where does the Common House Gecko sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Common House Gecko is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Panama City (95 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Hemidactylus frenatus

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassSquamata
FamilyGekkonidae (Typical Geckos)
GenusHemidactylus (House Geckos)
SpeciesHemidactylus frenatus (Common House Gecko)

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

at Panama City

In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%

95 Verified sightings at Panama City

1,836 In all 73 parks From 2019 to 2026

July Best month

🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted

Challenge Geckos of Southeast Asian Cities Southeast AsiaEasy

About the Common House Gecko

The Common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) is a gecko native to South and Southeast Asia and Near Oceania. It is also known as the Asian house gecko, Pacific house gecko, wall gecko, House lizard, Tiktiki, chipkali and moon lizard.

The common house gecko is nocturnal, hiding during the day and foraging for insects at night. They can be seen climbing walls of houses and other buildings in search of insects attracted to porch lights, and are immediately recognisable by their characteristic chirping.

They grow to a length of between 7.5–15 cm (3–6 in), and live for about 7 years. They are non-venomous and not harmful to humans. Most medium-sized to large geckos are docile, but may bite if distressed, which might pierce skin. The common house gecko is a tropical species, and thrives in warm, humid areas where it can crawl around on rotting wood in search of the insects it eats, as well as within urban landscapes in warm climates. The animal is very adaptable and may prey on insects and spiders, displacing other gecko species which are less robust or behaviourally aggressive. In parts of Australia and Papua New Guinea they are often confused with a similar native lizard, the dubious dtella. Wikipedia →

Sounds

Recording0:10

Caribbean Netherlands · 2026

Recording0:03

Taiwan · 2025

Recording0:07

Australia · 2025

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Known range (GARD, Roll et al. 2017 & Caetano et al. 2022)Our parks where it lives Our cities where it lives

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Taroko National Park	🇹🇼 Taiwan	~50%
2	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~50%
3	Ankarafantsika National Park	🇲🇬 Madagascar	~40%
4	Main Ridge Forest Reserve	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~40%
5	Cuc Phuong National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	~40%
6	Cabo Pulmo National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~40%
7	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
8	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
9	Daintree National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~30%
10	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
11	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~30%
12	Khao Luang National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~30%
13	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
14	Raja Ampat	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~30%
15	Cat Tien National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	~30%
16	Tangkoko Nature Reserve	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~30%
17	Kinabalu Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~30%
18	Wilpattu National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~30%
19	Khao Sok National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~30%
20	Minneriya National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~30%
21	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
22	Danum Valley Conservation Area	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~30%
23	Taman Negara National Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~30%
24	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~30%
25	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
26	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
27	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
28	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
29	Kakadu National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~30%
30	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~30%
31	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~30%
32	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~30%
33	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	~20%
34	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
35	Masaya Volcano National Park	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	~20%
36	Udawalawe National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~20%
37	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~20%
38	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
39	Gunung Leuser National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~20%
40	Kaeng Krachan National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~20%
41	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
42	Noosa National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~20%
43	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
44	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
45	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~20%
46	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
47	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
48	Chitwan National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	~20%
49	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~20%
50	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
51	Komodo National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~20%
52	Khao Yai National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~20%
53	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
54	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
55	Sinharaja Forest Reserve	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~20%
56	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~20%
57	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
58	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~20%
59	Galápagos Islands	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~20%
60	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	~20%
61	Sepilok	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~20%
62	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
63	Doi Inthanon National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~10%
64	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
65	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
66	Ningaloo Marine Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~10%
67	Springbrook National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~10%
68	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
69	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
70	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
71	Lamington National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~10%
72	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
73	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Xiuying District	🇨🇳 China	~60%
2	Yogyakarta	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~60%
3	Cebu City	🇵🇭 Philippines	~50%
4	Hanoi	🇻🇳 Vietnam	~50%
5	Naha	🇯🇵 Japan	~50%
6	Makassar	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~50%
7	Kuching	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~50%
8	San Pedro Sula	🇭🇳 Honduras	~50%
9	Denpasar	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~40%
10	Surakarta	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~40%

Closest Relatives at Panama City

Lepidodactylus lugubris

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Iguana iguana

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Anolis sagrei

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Gonatodes albogularis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Basiliscus basiliscus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Ctenosaura similis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Ameiva praesignis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Anolis auratus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Boa imperator

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Leptodeira rhombifera

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Bothrops asper

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Micrurus nigrocinctus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common House Gecko in Panama City?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common House Gecko sighting in Panama City on a given day, based on 95 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 5th most-seen of the 24 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Common House Gecko in Panama City?

July, September and November–December

In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Common House Gecko in Panama City on a given day, against about 10% in January, the lowest month.

What time of day is best to see a Common House Gecko?

Between 6 and 9 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common House Gecko sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is most active around dawn and dusk.

Is Panama City the best place to see a Common House Gecko?

41st of 60

Of the 60 cities where we can rate Common House Gecko sightings, Panama City ranks 41st at about 20%. The best odds are in Xiuying District (China, about 60%), Yogyakarta (Indonesia, about 60%) and Cebu City (Philippines, about 50%).

Where does the Common House Gecko sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Common House Gecko is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Panama City (95 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Panama City

Common House Gecko

About the Common House Gecko

Sounds

Recent sightings of Common House Gecko in Panama City

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Closest Relatives at Panama City

Mourning Gecko

Green Iguana

Brown Anole

White-throated Gecko

Common Basilisk

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

Dusky Giant Ameiva

Grass Anole

Central American Boa

Rhombic Cat-eyed Snake

Fer-de-lance

Central American Coral Snake

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common House Gecko in Panama City?

When is the best time to see a Common House Gecko in Panama City?

What time of day is best to see a Common House Gecko?

Is Panama City the best place to see a Common House Gecko?

Where does the Common House Gecko sighting chance come from?