Are you planning on visiting the beautiful islands of Hawaii? Chances are you know what to expect regarding things like beaches, waterfalls, and natural wonders that will keep your camera’s memory card full.
But did you know there are many incredible types of lizards in Hawaii, too? Here’s a breakdown of some of the most interesting ones to check out while you’re there!
1. Cuban Knight Anole
The Cuban Knight Anole is native to Cuba and the Bahamas, and this species is one of the types of lizards in Hawaii.
They are medium-sized lizards, growing from 4-8 inches long, with slender bodies and small heads. Also, they vary in color from green to yellow or brown.
Cuban Knight Anoles can sometimes be found around residential areas and often come into contact with humans because they like to bask on low tree branches.
Cuban Knight Anoles are omnivores that feed on arthropods, snails, fruits, flowers, nuts, and seeds.
2. Brown Anole
The brown anole, scientifically known as Anolis sagrei, is a type of lizard that belongs to the family Dactyloidae.
They are native to Central and South America and reach lengths up to 8 inches long.
Brown anoles have small heads and feet, while their tails are more comprehensive than tall.
The brown anole feeds primarily on other insects, such as ants or crickets, but may also eat tiny frogs, lizards, moths, spiders, worms, etc.
Adult brown anoles live around 3-4 years, while juveniles live 2-3 years on average.
3. Jackson’s Chameleon
While most people are familiar with the native Gecko, you might not have heard about many other types of lizards in Hawaii.
Jackson’s Chameleon: Known for their human-like hands, these lizards in Hawaii can be found on Mauna Loa.
They grow from 7 – 10 inches long and range from light green to dark brown or blackish green.
4. Common House Gecko
Common House Geckos are one of Hawaii’s more common types of lizards.
Common House Geckos are also invasive, as they have been introduced to many places worldwide.
Furthermore, they’re nocturnal animals and do not like to be handled or exposed to light for too long.
Common House Geckos are not endangered or threatened, but there is concern about their ability to survive natural disasters because they’re found on every significant Hawaiian island.
Common House Geckos get their name from a well-known tendency to live in human dwellings.
However, they occasionally venture into holes that provide protection and shade during hot days.
5. Gold Dust Day Gecko
The Gold Dust Day Gecko is a day gecko endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Although rare, they are probably the most recognized type of lizard on the islands.
Adults range from 2-4 inches long and can change colors depending on their environment. Their diet consists mainly of spiders, insects, worms, and fruit flies.
Gold Dust Day Geckos come with built-in camouflage to blend into their surroundings, such as a stone or leaf, to look like an inanimate part of their surroundings!
6. Madagascar Giant Day Gecko
Although the Madagascar Giant Day Gecko isn’t necessarily a Hawaiian species, it is found exclusively on the island of Molokai.
This lizard’s scientific name, Phelsuma madagascariensis beryllia, was inspired by its native country and translated to bejeweled.
No wonder this rare Gecko has become one of Molokai’s unofficial mascots!
The Malagasy Giant Day Gecko is primarily an arboreal creature, meaning it spends most of its time living and moving around in trees.
However, Hawaii’s different types of lizards are also active during daylight hours.
They consume mosquitoes and other small insects found on the leaves or bark where they reside. They also love to feast on fruit that grows nearby!
7. Stump-Toed Gecko
One type of lizard you may not have heard about is the Stump-Toed Gecko.
These geckos are currently only found on Kauai and inhabit habitats with large amounts of foliage near ground level.
They’re more secretive than other types of lizards in Hawaii and don’t like to be seen.
These geckos will climb onto a branch with their long, sticky toes. They then quickly release their grip when predators come by or use the leaf’s surface to dart.
8. Orange Spotted Day Gecko
Humans introduced the orange-spotted day gecko, indigenous to Madagascar, to some areas of Hawaii.
The orange-spotted day gecko feeds on ants and termites and hunts at night.
It spends most of the day hiding under rocks or in other inaccessible places to avoid predation from other animals.
The female does not lay eggs as all offspring are born live and will climb into the male’s mouth for mating purposes, often laying eggs internally.
Also, after mating, the male will run away so as not to get eaten! When threatened by predators, the day gecko can detach its tail, which becomes dangerous.
Because it still moves around to distract the predator until it manages to escape or die.
9. Mourning Gecko
Mourning Geckos are native to areas around Hawaii and Japan.
They typically range from 10-12 inches long and can be found on trees or rocks in hot climates. Often blending in with their surroundings.
In addition, these lizards in Hawaii have a brown, grayish coloring that breaks up the contrast between dark and light spots.
These creatures are diurnal, meaning they only hunt during the day.
Mourning Gekko eats insects, small lizards, and small mammals like rodents and birds if they can get them.
As well as plants like flowers or leaves if they cannot find anything else.
10. Veiled Chameleon
The veiled chameleon (Trioceros taeniolatus) is one of the newest types of lizard in Hawaii in addition to the lizard family and can only be found on the island of Kauai.
The word ‘veiled’ comes from its ability to change colors to match its surroundings. Meanwhile, both browns and greens are often seen as their standard colors.
The most distinguishing feature of this lizard is its body shape, which features a snake-like pattern that starts near the mouth and curves down toward the tip of the tail.
It has a small head compared to its long, slender body, measuring only an inch or two.