Lizards are the most common reptiles in Bangkok, and are a big part of natural pest control. There are house geckos eating flies and mosquitoes in our rooms, Tokays munching on mice and cockroaches on the roofs, skinks and garden lizards hunting down garden pests, and monitors cleaning up carrion. Bangkok would be a dirtier and more diseased place without its lizard populations.
Geckos – soft lizards on the walls
Geckos have soft skin, large eyes, and famously run up and down the city’s walls. Geckos are usually seen at night, but can be found during the day inside darker areas. The following geckos are found in Bangkok:
Skinks – sleek lizards on the ground
Skinks are the long smooth lizards that are seen on the ground or hiding under objects. The following skinks are found in Bangkok:
Lacertas – slender lizards in the grass
Lacertas are a family of quick, long-tailed lizards with small scales that are usually spotted out in the open during the day. The Bangkok area has one species of lacerta.
Agamas – spiny lizards in the bushes
Agamas have rough scales and often have a small crest going down their neck. They are active during the day and are often seen on trees or other vegetation. These agamas are found in Bangkok:
Monitors – big lizards in the water
Monitors are the giants of the lizard family. You can recognize them immediately by their characteristic heads and large size. There is only one species of monitor found in Bangkok:
I’ve got a mate in Cornwall that has one of those. its got a big head, and the skin is dehydrated