These three tokay geckos are part of our traveling exhibition, Under the Canopy: Animals of the Rainforest. Tokay geckos are typically found from South Asia through Asia into Southeast Asia. Tokay geckos get their name from the barking sound they make, which to some sounds like “toh-keh” and to others “geh-ko.” In addition to communicating with each other, these lizards also make a barking noise, while opening their wide moths and showing off the dark lining to frighten off would-be predators or rivals. They are endangered, due to the overharvesting of wild animals for use in traditional medicine and as pets.
