A large mottled New Caledonian giant gecko curled over a branch. — Photo: Lennart Hudel, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

New Caledonian Giant Gecko

Rhacodactylus leachianus

The world's largest gecko, a 14-inch rainforest lizard from New Caledonia that can drop and regrow its tail.

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About the New Caledonian Giant Gecko

New Caledonian giant geckos grow up to 14 inches long and weigh 8 to 12 ounces, making them the largest known geckos. They are yellowish green or brown with pale blotches. They live only on the islands of New Caledonia in the South Pacific, high in the rainforest canopy. They eat invertebrates and fruit, and sometimes small lizards, baby mice and nectar.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Rhacodactylus leachianus^[1]
Size: Up to 14 inches long.^[1]
Weight: 8 to 12 ounces.^[1]
Lifespan: Up to 20 years in human care.^[1]
Diet: Invertebrates and fruit; sometimes small lizards, baby mice and nectar.^[1]
Habitat: High rainforest canopy.^[1]
Where it lives: New Caledonia in the South Pacific.^[1]
Babies: 2 eggs per clutch, 3 or 4 clutches a season; they hatch in 60 to 90 days.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2017).^[2]

Fun facts

It is the largest gecko in the world.^[1]
Warmer eggs are more likely to hatch into males.^[1]
It can drop its tail and grow a new one.^[1]

Vocabulary

regenerate: To grow back a lost body part.
canopy: The top layer of a forest, made of treetops.
arboreal: Living mostly in trees.
cold-blooded: Having a body temperature that changes with the surroundings; also called ectothermic.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Reptile Discovery CenterSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “New Caledonian gecko.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/new-caledonian-gecko (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Rhacodactylus leachianus (New Caledonia Giant Gecko).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/176166/123252801 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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