The Kissing Gecko: Friendly Allies
by Biol. Oscar S. Aranda Mena |
You may not know them by this nickname is used in our region due to the sound they emit, which is very similar to the sound we produce when we kiss; they are also known as cuizas (Cwee Zuz), besuconas, or just plain geckos. These animals can be found in any home in any tropical or sub-tropical region. Naturalized Mexicans Being such abundant little animals, it’s difficult to imagine life without them. Their insatiable appetites keep our homes free of spiders and other insects. Nonetheless, they are native to tropical islands on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, thousands of kilometers away. Intimately bound to humans, they have often been called “Perpetual Dinner Guests”. Their small, flat, flexible bodies allow them to infiltrate export cargo from their native countries; it is believed they arrived in Mexico via the port of Acapulco hundreds of years ago. From there, they have spread through all hot climate regions and can be found in coastal cities throughout the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico, and even in cities such as Guadalajara. Reptiles with Unique Characteristics Of all the reptiles in existence, these and other members of the gekkonidae family are the only ones with the capacity to emit true sounds, called vocalizations. In addition to that, they can see in color, which allows them to distinguish among appetizing insects and poisonous ones. But there is one characteristic about the kissing gecko that is very special: the females keep the male’s sperm alive up to 8 months, so if they don’t encounter a male for mating, the females can lay fertile eggs through a mechanism known as parthenogenesis, in other words, they can clone themselves. This is one of the reasons they have been able to distribute themselves so successfully (in addition to being able to reproduce throughout the year), laying two eggs each time, which can be seen in the translucent womb of the mothers. Atomic Power FingersFar from fiction and Hollywood stories, these tiny scavengers possess some of the most specialized fingers in the world. Able to walk vertically on the smoothest of surfaces, such as Teflon or glass, they use molecular adhesion produced by Van der Waals force, which would take a whole edition to explain. Suffice it to say that they use the molecular powers of any of the elements, just like magnets cause nearby elements to attract. These forces are produced in the microscopic structures they carry on their surface of their fingers (filaments), which are very weak if used individually but together are multiplied by millions.  Normally, exotic species or “introduced” species cause infinite problems for the local fauna by transmitting illnesses and competing for food. In the case of these lovable animals, living alongside humans has allowed them to find a niche that may have been previously vacant. Living in a house, they can reproduce freely and remain healthy, but in the wild they have to compete with other geckos native to Mexico. Completely harmless to humans, despite myths that they are poisonous or will cling to your skin, their presence has been beneficial to families, providing us with a great “exterminator” service, in addition to bidding us farewell and welcoming us home with a “kiss.” Let’s welcome them as part of our home and enjoy a home free of insects. |
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