Gecko

GECKO s. (onomatop. call of this animal). Herpet. Family of nocturnal saurians which includes more than sixty species, living in warm climates and having habits and traits as distinct in form and structure as those of crocodiles or chameleons. The common gecko (platydactylus guttatus, Cuv.) can be found in Asia and its archipelagoes; it is 9.84 inches (25 cm) long, the tail counting for half of this length. It is of a mainly blackish gray colour, with whitish spots. The gecko which can be found on West Indian walls is hemidactylus mabouia, Cuv. It is approximately 4.72 inches (12 cm) long, greyish and marbled with brown, with the posterior half of the tail ringed with black. The domestic gecko (ptyodactylus Hasselquistii, Dum. and Bibr.) living in Egypt, Arabia and in the countries bordering on the eastern part of the Mediterranean, is approximately 4.72 inches (12 cm) long. It is of a reddish gray colour, mottled white and light brown and its belly is whitish; it is common in the wet and dark places of houses. In Cairo it is called the father of leprosy, because it is believed to pass this disease on to people who eat food on which it has walked; but it is not in the least harmful.

Extract from the Trousset encyclopedia, 1886 – 1891.