In actuality, it may have been present in the New Orleans area for a longer time, for the rough-skinned H. parvimaculatus is similar enough to the even rougher-skinned Mediterranean gecko, H. turcicus in overall appearance to be easily mistaken for the latter.

So how do you differentiate the small spotted house gecko from its Mediterranean cousin? It can be difficult but just knowing that there are 2 species in eastern Louisiana gives you an advantage. Knowing the meaning of the species name—parvimaculatus—will help further. “Parvi” means small and “maculatus” means spots. And in comparison to the larger spots that usually become short transverse bands on the tail of the Mediterranian house gecko, when visible the dark spots of the small-spotted house gecko are just that—small, dorsum, tail and all.

Of course I had to throw a monkey wrench into the works by saying “when visible” in the last paragraph. Both of these gecko species are capable dark to light color changes, and when at their lightest the dark markings may be virtually invisible. Identification may then become a waiting game.

The dorsal spotting of the Sri Lanka spotted house gecko may not be well defined when the gecko has assumed a light ground color.


Mediterranean gecko lookalike, the small-spotted house gecko, Hemidactylus parvimaculatus, (this one showing the small dorsal spots!).