Hiking Hong Kong Lizards

Changeable Lizard (Calotes versicolor)

I saw this lizard on a hike from Tung Chung to Tai O. They are quite common throughout Hong Kong, however it may be difficult to spot one as they scare easily and are very fast.

Changeable Lizards feed mainly on insects and small vertebrates including rodents and other lizards. They swallow their prey whole as their teeth are not designed for chewing, just to hold their prey.

The image below shows a female. Males are more colorful, especially during breeding season with a red neck and chest area.

Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko)

I was lucky to spot this gecko hiding in a tree cavity about 3 meters up the trunk of a tree on the hiking trail from Tung Chung to Tai O. This is a nocturnal reptile so it is rather unusual that I spotted it during the day.

This gecko can reach up to 40cm in length. The image below most likely shows a male, as they are more colorful than females.

These gecko's may bite, and are very difficult to get off, often holding their bite anywhere from up to a few minutes to an hour. The only way to remove them is to submerge them in water which will settle them down or to put a drop of vinegar on the gecko's nose!