Indo-Pacific Tree Gecko

Names and classification

Scientific name

Hemiphyllodactylus typus

Common names

Indo-Pacific Tree Gecko · Indo-Pacific slender gecko

Family

Gekkonidae

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence

Present

Origin

Introduced

Conservation status

Not assessed

Evidence limits

Occurrence is supported; local abundance and impact estimates remain less certain than presence.

Habitat and ecology

Habitats

Vegetation, bark, leaf axils and sheltered structures in moist lowland habitats.

Food and resource needs

Small arthropods.

Reproduction

Species-appropriate egg-laying sites or live-bearing conditions; stable microclimate.

Shelter

Bark, foliage, rock, litter, crevices, walls, or woody debris depending on species.

Threats and conservation

Threats

Ecological effects on Kauaʻi are insufficiently quantified; small-body insectivory and competition with other geckos are plausible pathways.

Conservation actions

Early detection, containment/control where feasible, prevent intentional release or transport, protect high-value native habitats, and monitor ecological effects.

Monitoring

Repeat island occurrence surveys, population trend monitoring, and impact studies using standardized methods.

Data gaps

Current population distribution, abundance, and Kauaʻi-specific ecological effect sizes remain incompletely quantified.

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal timing

Generally year-round in Hawaiʻi; local activity varies with temperature and moisture

Seasonal description

Indo-Pacific Tree Gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus typus) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.

Sources and further reading

• Bishop Museum — Hawaiian Reptile & Amphibian Checklist
• USGS — Eleutherodactylus frog introductions to Hawaiʻi
• iNaturalist — Kauaʻi Check List