"Gecko" is the common name for any of about 65 species of small lizards of the family Gekkonidae. They can be commonly found in tropical regions worldwide.
Most geckos are nocturnal, hiding during the day and foraging for insects at night. They frequently make their homes in trees, and their remarkable climbing ability is due to tiny ridges and microscopic suction cups on their feet which can enable them to walk across a smooth ceiling.
Unlike many lizards, geckos have a keen sense of hearing, and they are unique among lizards in their ability to make chirping or clicking sounds. In fact, the name "gecko" is alleged to be a derivative of a Malay word that is an imitation of the lizard's call.
Geckos can range in size from 1 to 12 inches (3 to 30 cm). They have broad, flattened heads, and thick stumpy tails which they can drop in defense during a fight, and later re-grow. Geckos are harmless, and are not venomous, despite being described as "poisonous lizards" in certain areas of the world.
The banded gecko (coleonyx variegatus) is native to desert regions and is the species most commonly found in North America. The tokay of Southeast Asia (gekko gecko) is the largest species of gecko, and is one of many varieties that is often kept as a pet. For more information on the gecko, visit the Global Gecko Association.
Geckos have a number of stories and traditions associated with them. Most often they are considered to be a sign of good luck and a symbol of keeping one eye on the past while focusing the other on the future. Consequently, images of geckos can frequently be seen in pictures, and on clothing, and jewelry.
The story goes that when Richard Dean Anderson was vacationing in Tahiti, drifting to sleep late one night and watching the moon reflecting off the Pacific, a little gecko ran up onto his chest, paused, cocked its head, looked directly at Richard, and did a tiny pushup, then continued on its way. Richard found a spiritual significance in the moment, and when he investigated the folklore surrounding the little creatures, he felt that the lucky lizard was the perfect symbol for his new production company. He kept to the original Latin spelling, and thus "Gekko Film Corp" was born.