Leapin Lizards!

Our small guests, the common house geckos (hemidactylus mabouia), are not to be underestimated in their jumping and running abilities.  This week I opened the cupboard to take out plates for dinner.  Peering over the top of the plate, were two tiny black beady eyes;  a baby gecko.  As I reached for the plates, he leaped out of the cupboard, onto me, and made a safe landing and a quick getaway on the floor. I was so proud of myself for not dropping the plates. Gregg said, "well done, Shannon." The happy ending is that the next morning when I opened the door, there he was ready to run for his life.  Free at last! 

These little translucent bug-eyed lizards are small and bland compared to the Rainbow Lizards which live in our yard and just about everywhere in Ghana.  The males have a bright yellow or orange colored head and bands of colors down the length of their body.

The females are smaller and smarter by blending in very well with their surroundings, usually matching the dirt or rocks.  These lizards have the most unusual characteristics of sprinting, looking around quickly with their buggy eyes, and then doing a series of fast push ups.  We're not sure what they're trying to tell us.  Perhaps it's "look how strong and buff I am!" Gregg thinks they are just showing off for the female lizards.   

Rarely will they let you get close enough to snap a picture.  I like to think I'm quick with the camera, but it was probably just a case of a lizard with an inflated ego that wanted a picture of his push-ups.  We like these lizards because they make a steady diet of bugs.