Dubious Dtella

In the 1800s, G. dubia were abundant in southeast Asia, Pacific Islands, and northern Australia. Now, G. dubia is widespread across Eastern Australia only. Since it is often confused with other geckos, many reports say they are present in island archipelagos north of Australia and in New Guinea. However, scholars limit its true range to just Australia.

Native house geckos are nocturnal, and therefore mostly feed and forage in the nighttime. Although G. dubia are habitat generalists, they are dietary specialists. The diet of G. dubia consists mainly of invertebrates. They have a preference for larger invertebrates such as scorpions, spiders, and beetles. When G. dubia stomachs were examined, all specimens were demonstrated to have been digesting cockroaches or spiders, as these invertebrates stay in the stomach longer before digestion. The abundance of night insects, such as ones crowding around light in human settlements, could explain the prevalence of G. dubia in the households. Their preference for dark, dry spaces explains their often being found in dimly lit corners of houses at night Furthermore G. dubia has been known to feed on plant nectar and sap as well. Sap is a fast and easily digestible source of sugar and nutrients, so these arboreal animals spend a lot of time licking the sap of the Acacia tree. Diet does not vary significantly between the sexes.