When we turn the outside lights on at night, the geckos come out.
Across the patio, where the light covers the whole wall, at least a half dozen come out to chase bugs. They're good to have around, these geckos, because they do eat bugs (cockroaches, mosquitoes and termites)!
They're rather small, measured in inches maybe two to five, and they change colors to blend in with the beige wall. Green when they're in the garden. Curt says they are transparent when they're dead. I don't look.
But, back to evening, the cats can see them on the wall, and line up on the patio to watch the geckos catch bugs. We call them cat movies. And as long as the light is on the geckos are out.
Cana has fished them out from behind a picture hanging on the way. Chica has caught them in the kitchen and the garden. But the cats favorite? Watching the nightly "cat movies."
Geckos can walk upside down on the ceiling, backwards up the wall, across desks and tables and chairs. Across palapas, or straw roofs, too. Magic feet let them walk wherever they want, upside down or right side up.
Unfortunately, they also leave little gifts as they travel through the house. (They look like mouse droppings.) They seem to prefer my shower, bestowing multiple gifts during the night.
What are these little fellows? Wickipedia says:
Geckos are small to average sized lizards found in warm climates throughout the world. Geckos are unique among lizards in their vocalizations, making chirping sounds in social interactions with other geckos. There are 1,196 different species of geckos. The name stems from the Malay word gekoq, imitative of its cry. Geckos are unusual in other respects as well.
Most geckos have no eyelids and instead have a transparent membrane which they lick to clean. Many species will, in defense, expel a foul-smelling material and feces onto their aggressors. Many species have specialized toe pads that enable them to climb smooth vertical surfaces and even cross indoor ceilings with ease.
These antics are well-known to people who live in warm regions of the world where several species of geckos make their home inside human habitations. These species (for example the house gecko) become part of the indoor menagerie and are seldom really discouraged because they feed on insect pests.
Aha, house geckos!
And all the chirping I hear at night -- sounds like birds or crickets make -- are really the geckoes, talking to each other.
Now ... about that frog under my desk.