New Caledonian Giant Gecko

Hi! I’m a New Caledonian Giant Gecko

Meet the world's largest gecko, the New Caledonia Giant Gecko. These enormous geckos can grow to 35 cm, and live up to 20 years in captivity. They are endemic to the island of New Caledonia, where they dwell in trees.

Female geckos lay 2 soft-shelled eggs per clutch, and do so between 4-10 times a year. The eggs are extremely sticky. The temperature the eggs incubate at determines the sex of the babies, with higher temperatures resulting in shorter incubation times and more male geckos.

The National Zoo & Aquarium is home to 1 New Caledonia Giant Gecko, Cecil.

Facts

Taxonomy

Rhacodactylus leachianus

Population Movement

Stable

Current Animals

Cecil

Life Span (captive)

20+ years

Weight

227-340g

Reproduction

2 soft-shelled eggs per clutch. Can produce 3-4 clutches each season. Sex is determined by temperature during incubation. Higher temps result in shorter incubation and are more likely to be male.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Group Count

1

Life Span (wild)

15-20 years

Size

35cm

Gestation

45-150 days dependant on temperature

Distribution

Southern and eastern New Caledonia, and on several surrounding islands.