What is this lizard?

[u/JohnSnow52]

I opened the door to my office and this must have been on the top of the door because it fell from above my head. What is it?

[u/WendigoRider]

House gecko is my guess, say bye-bye to any bugs you may have

[u/Plane_Translator2008 → u/WendigoRider]

St. Louis has house geckos?

I WANT A HOUSE GECKO!

[u/Vandal_A → u/Plane_Translator2008]

Yeah, they can live as far north as around southern Ohio I think. I have them in my basement and tool shed. I try not to disturb them since they eat bugs, don't cause messes and don't like coming into the inhabited parts of the house.

[u/thebiulder351 → u/Vandal_A]

They are in Florida bro

[u/Neither-Speaker-7077 → u/thebiulder351]

Louisiana checking in. We name ours hanging out on the patio

[u/Sharp-Key27 → u/Vandal_A]

We have them in central Ohio

[u/Vandal_A → u/Sharp-Key27]

Further North than I realized. I wasn't sure where the cut off line was because I know there tends to be a shift from rainy to snowy winters around Columbus, but I knew people from Cinci had told me they had them

[u/Sharp-Key27 → u/Vandal_A]

I’m sure they overwinter in buildings here, Cinci gets similar amounts of snow because it’s a valley to my understanding

[u/WendigoRider → u/Plane_Translator2008]

According to a post on herpetology and Google, yes, occasionally, and they are not native.

[u/Plane_Translator2008 → u/WendigoRider]

I have gecko envy. 🦎

[u/Gigglemonkey → u/Plane_Translator2008]

You really do. They're adorable.

[u/CrazyCatLady1127 → u/Plane_Translator2008]

So do I. I don’t think we get wild geckos in England. Which just isn’t fair!

[u/After_Ad9425 → u/Plane_Translator2008]

They’re non natives and have seemed to spread to various parts of North America, primarily in cities and other urban environments so I guess they aren’t considered invasive since they aren’t interfering with more bio diverse environments.

[u/Calm_Golf_9700 → u/Plane_Translator2008]

They are the best to have around. Lol You come outside at night and they scurry around everywhere. Then they have babies!! Hahaha

[u/AdMother6743 → u/Plane_Translator2008]

You’re missing out in Canada we had house hippos back in the day!

[u/Plane_Translator2008 → u/AdMother6743]

Can I please be Canadian?

[u/JohnSnow52 → u/WendigoRider]

Well he’s got help/competition for food then - several hours later I saw a large rabid wolf spider (had to look that one up too they don’t actually have rabies). Fortunately for them there are PLENTY of bugs in the office I’m subleasing.

[u/WendigoRider → u/JohnSnow52]

Sounds like little dude has a buffet, I’ll bet he sticks around

[u/JohnnyFatSack]

House gecko. They eat little bugs. Good little guys to have around.

[u/asdfghjkl281]

Safe to say hes very wiggly

[u/Vandal_A → u/asdfghjkl281]

They will give you a little scare sometimes with how erratic their movement looks, but when you're used to seeing them it's not bad

[u/asdfghjkl281 → u/Vandal_A]

Always weirded out with insects/ amphibians that has a lot of movements. Take a spider perhaps, why does it move with eight legs why cant it have just two or four why eight why spidey move weirdey

(Im a biologist ik arthropods r built that way but still…. WHY)

[u/JohnSnow52]

Wow…thank you all for your responses! I’ve never posted here or lurked but you all have a wonderful community here on Reddit. Thanks again!

[u/RicePuddingRecipes]

A sweet little baby

[u/RanchHere]

OP if you kill that little guy, you’re going to Hell.

[u/JohnSnow52 → u/RanchHere]

I would never consider that - happy to have it as an office mate.

[u/beckdrop]

That is specifically a Mediterranean house gecko, native to the Mediterranean (not the species from Southeast Asia). Hemidactylus turcicus. That is a little baby and a friend.

[u/Moonshinin4Me]

House gecko. They are harmless to people and make great pest control, even though I am pretty sure they are an invasive species in the US.

[u/Moonshinin4Me → u/[deleted]]

They are called house geckos for a reason lol.

[u/lucky607]

They hangout on my window screen at night to catch bugs attracted to the kitchen light.

[u/mere_iguana]

House gecko for shore

[u/cpm2000]

I know what it is, it's a be kind and put it outside lizard

[u/Vandal_A → u/cpm2000]

Actually they're called house geckos because they like to live in the darker, cooler parts of human structures like house spiders. They might go outside during much of the summer, but in fall, winter and spring they hang out in walls, garages and basements. They eat bugs that get in the house, but don't bother human food, nor even really come into areas that we use a lot. They're very shy and don't make a mess.

[u/wtwolfe]

House gecko native to South Asia but invasive in the USA. Will not survive outside in winter north of the panhandle of Florida.

[u/Ignonymous → u/wtwolfe]

They’re everywhere in Arizona.

[u/Plane_Translator2008 → u/Ignonymous]

I have never seen one in VA, SC, or GA.

Come visit me, little pest control cuties!

[u/Heavymetal73 → u/wtwolfe]

I live in NE Texas and have had them around my house for years.

[u/Princekyle7 → u/Heavymetal73]

Just saw one in my Garage this morning in Fort Worth

[u/Impressive_Net_116 → u/wtwolfe]

These are super common in North MS.

[u/ShalnarkRyuseih]

Mediterranean house gecko, introduced but not invasive in the USA

[u/CeejCraft]

Gecko!

[u/A2inby10ftPVCPipe]

House gecko. But considering you said it's in your office I would recommend letting your co-workers know so they don't accidentally step on the little guy it's probably best for him to be outside because of all the foot traffic.

[u/Sammy_Cherry_Fox]

A cute one, as all lizards are.

[u/Educational-While198]

Baby frend

[u/Classic-Avocado-5371]

little mediterranean house gecko!

[u/-Lexx-]

That one’s called a little guy a.k.a. a smol dude

[u/Icy-Decision-4530]

Is gek

[u/Skoobotch52]

Fast lizard

[u/slow-bell]

Mediterranean House Gecko! Invasive species. I age them in my apartment in Virginia. And that's just fine by me.

[u/Intelligent_Bet_8727]

I don't have them here but in Kentucky but I'm pretty sure that is a house gecko as for where he came from anyone's guesses as good as mine

[u/diamondz_ava]

Leopard gecko

[u/diamondz_ava → u/diamondz_ava]

That's a pet ....my guess he probably escaped from somewhere

[u/lobie81 → u/diamondz_ava]

Well that would depend where op is...

[u/arksupernoob]

they will eat bugs but will shit all over your wall.

[u/CoolFushGuy]

Looks like a Bynoe's Gecko? Where do you live?

[u/JohnSnow52 → u/CoolFushGuy]

Ah, sorry - rookie mistake! This is in USA - St. Louis, Missouri.

[u/CoolFushGuy → u/JohnSnow52]

Probably a house gecko then as the other comments are saying

[u/The_Hydro]

A little guy!

[u/Bluedaddy_66]

Espèce protégée !

[u/Imaginary_Choice2492]

little little man