Is that little green insurance spokesman with the British accent really a gecko? Well, not the kind of gecko you'll find here near Houston! The two most common lizards you'll see in your backyard are the Mediterranean gecko and green anole.

Green anoles, also known as chameleons, are usually 5 to 8 inches long and are a smooth, pure green. You can find them on walls, fences, trees, or low bushes as they hunt for moths, flies, crickets, and roaches. Although most active on a summer day, you can see them out sunning themselves year round.

Anoles can change from green to brown depending on their activity and body temperature and have specially adapted pads on their feet that enable them to climb on any surface. They also have very fragile tails that break off when grabbed, allowing them to escape predators. Male anoles have a pink "throat fan," or dewlap, which is used to scare off intruders in their territory and to impress lady anoles.

Whereas anoles are active during the day, Mediterranean geckos are nocturnal. From dusk to dawn, you can see them darting along walls, catching insects that are attracted to lights. By day, they hide in cracks under tree bark. Four- to five-inches long, their skin is bumpy, translucent pink, or white with darker blotches. unlike most lizards, geckos can squeak and "bark" to defend their territory and scare off predators.

Also known as house geckos, you may find a Mediterranean gecko inside, high on a wall near the ceiling, looking for a spider dinner. In some parts of the world, geckos are invited in to stay, as their bug-catching expertise is highly valued. if you find one in your home, please be gentle with these little creatures... and have fun exploring your own backyard!

© Carol Wells, 2008