Gekkonidae (geckos; order Squamata, suborder Sauria) A family of insectivorous, mainly nocturnal lizards in which the eye has a vertical pupil and spectacle (no eyelids). The skin is soft with sparse horny tubercles. The toes usually have transverse rows of hooked lamellae for adhesion. The tail is used as a fat store, and is capable of autotomy. Gekko gecko (tokay gecko or great house gecko) of south-east Asia and Indonesia is one of the largest geckos, growing up to 35 cm long, and is strong and aggressive, feeding on small reptiles, birds, and mammals as well as insects; its common name refers to its call of ‘to-kay’. There are more than 400 species of geckos, distributed widely in warm latitudes. One species, the common house gekko (Hemidactylus bibronii), has been spread all around the tropical world by human agency, mainly as an insecteater, but also simply for its attractiveness.

GECKO

GECKO , reptile of the order Lacertilia. Six genera belonging to the Gekkonidae family are to be found in Israel. The most common is the house gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus, a nocturnal lizard up to about 4¾ inches (12 cm.) in length, with a soft speckled hide and prehensile feet which enable it to climb walls. Two animals referred to in the Bible are likely to be identical with the gecko. The anakah is included among the unclean swarming things (Lev. 11:30) and has, according to the Mishnah (Ḥul. 9:2), a soft hide. The word anakah means "groan", and the gecko does in fact emit a sound reminiscent of the groan of a sick person. The Book of Proverbs, in its enumeration of the "things which are little upon the earth, but… are exceeding wise" (30:24), mentions the semamit, which "taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces" (ibid., 28). This description fits the ubiquitous gecko which climbs on walls with feet that resemble hands. Although many other identifications have been suggested for the anakah and the semamit, the gecko fits them best.

bibliography:

I. Aharoni, Torat ha-Ḥai, 1, pt. 3 (1930), 62–66; Tristram, Nat Hist, 265f.; J. Feliks, Animal World of the Bible (1962), 97. add bibliography: Feliks, Ha-Ẓome'aḥ, 207.

[Jehuda Feliks]

geck·o / ˈgekō/ • n. (pl. -os or -oes) a nocturnal and often highly vocal lizard (Gekkonidae and related families) that has adhesive pads on the feet to assist in climbing on smooth surfaces.

gecko Any of c.650 species of lizards, native to warm regions of the world. They owe their remarkable climbing ability to minute hooks on their feet. They make chirping calls. Length: 3–15cm (1–6in). Family Gekkonidae.

gecko See GEKKONIDAE.