Leachie geckos (Rhacodactylus leachianus) are a nocturnal, omnivorous, arboreal lizard native to the islands of Grande Terre and Isle of Pines in New Caledonia, as well as certain small nearby islands. Grande Terre is the territory of R. l. leachianus, while Isle of Pines is home to R. l. henkeli. Their preferred habitat is the forest canopy, descending rarely.
Leachie geckos are the largest geckos in the world, with the R. l. leachianus growing 14-17" / 36-43cm long and R. l. henkeli averaging 9-12" / 23-30cm long. They have a large triangular head, blunt snout, lidless eyes, vertical pupils, loose velvety skin, sticky toe pads with claws, and a short tail. They have a mottled pattern that gives the impression of moss or lichen, but coloring varies by subspecies. R. l. henkeli is the most colorful, with green, brown, gray, white, orange, and pink on their color palette. Meanwhile, R. l. leachianus sticks to brown, black, and gray.
- Mariah Healey