Source: Wikimedia Commons
Hainan Cave Gecko
BeginnerGoniurosaurus hainanensis
A gecko endemic to Hainan Island, China, with large red eyes, a grey body with black spots and yellow-orange bands. It has movable eyelids and no adhesive toe pads.
Difficulty
Beginner
Temperature
25〜32℃
Lifespan
Few data on lifespan in captivity
Size
About 22 cm average total length (some exceed 23 cm)
Humidity
55〜65%
Diet
Insectivore (crickets, roaches)
About
The Hainan cave gecko is a nocturnal eyelid gecko (Eublepharidae) of the genus Goniurosaurus, endemic to Hainan Island, China, and the type species of its genus. Qi et al. (2025) synonymized G. kwanghua and G. sinensis with it. Total length averages about 22 cm, with large animals exceeding 23 cm. The large eyes are maroon to crimson and, as in the leopard gecko, it has movable eyelids. The body is grey with black spots and yellow or orange dorsal bands, though some animals fade to almost uniform grey with age; the belly is whitish and translucent. Five clawed digits let it climb rocks, but it lacks adhesive toe pads and cannot climb glass. It lives in moist, cool places such as the forest floor, rock crevices and cave entrances. It is the only Goniurosaurus regularly available as captive-bred stock, and in Japan captive-bred animals appear in specialist shops and at reptile shows. It is a different species from Japan's protected Kuroiwa's ground geckos and G. splendens, and the CITES genus listing explicitly excludes the species native to Japan.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Size of the Hainan Cave Gecko
The Hainan Cave Gecko grows to About 22 cm average total length (some exceed 23 cm).
Basic Info
Origin
Hainan Island, China (endemic)
Lifespan
Few data on lifespan in captivity
Size
About 22 cm average total length (some exceed 23 cm)
Temperature
25〜32℃
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Goniurosaurus hainanensis Barbour, 1908
Synonyms: Goniurosaurus kwanghua, Goniurosaurus sinensis, Goniurosaurus lichtenfelderi hainanensis
Authority databases: GBIF · The Reptile Database: Goniurosaurus hainanensis · GBIF: Goniurosaurus hainanensis
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
CITES Appendix II
Listed in CITES Appendix II. International trade requires an export permit from the country of origin, but no registration is needed to keep or transfer the animal within Japan. Goniurosaurus has been listed since 26 November 2019, with the annotation "except the species native to Japan". Japan's native Kuroiwa's ground geckos (five subspecies, including the Yanbaru form) and G. splendens are National Endangered Species under the Species Conservation Act; capture, transfer and sale are in principle prohibited.
Sources: Species+ (CITES): Goniurosaurus hainanensis / Ministry of the Environment, Japan: list of National Endangered Species
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Hainan Cave Gecko Listings
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