Five-clawed gecko

Five-clawed gecko

　　Jingxi City features numerous rocky mountains and a climate well-suited for the breeding and habitation of geckos, making it one of the main production areas for geckos in the Baise region. Historically, the annual peak purchase volume reached 15,700 individuals. According to *Compendium of Materia Medica*, “The gecko has a salty and warm nature; it moistens the lungs and nourishes the kidneys, enriches essence and boosts yang, treats thirst and promotes urination, calms wheezing and coughs, and is beneficial for pulmonary tuberculosis with hemoptysis. It is suitable for those suffering from qi and blood deficiency.” It is a key medicinal ingredient for nourishing kidneys and lungs, regulating qi, and calming wheezing. It is used to treat conditions such as deficiency of both lung and kidney, wheezing and shortness of breath, debility, cough, and hemoptysis. It also helps to nourish kidneys and boost yang, making it effective for kidney deficiency, frequent urination, and similar issues. Its efficacy is especially enhanced when soaked in alcohol. The local distillery produces a popular gecko wine, using geckos as the main ingredient along with other traditional Chinese herbs, which sells well both within and beyond the autonomous region. Locally, raw geckos are chopped together with pork, then steamed or cooked into porridge for children to treat symptoms like pale complexion, thinning hair, and poor appetite. Gecko populations can be found in mountainous areas across the county, with an annual capture volume exceeding 10,000 individuals.

　　The gecko belongs to the Gekkonidae family. Its head resembles that of a triangular snake, with a wide mouth and jaws densely covered with tiny teeth. It has large, protruding eyes, four feet, each equipped with five claws featuring fine scales, giving it strong gripping power. It is adept at climbing cliffs and moves swiftly. Its body is covered in dense scales, with distinct tubercles on the back, displaying purplish-gray coloration interspersed with blue or red spots. The abdomen is grayish-white with yellow or pale-yellow spots. The tail has 6–7 white rings and is roughly equal in length to the body, typically measuring around 25 cm in total. The gecko is most active from March to December, hibernating in caves during January and February. In May, it lays eggs—usually two at a time, white and pigeon egg-sized. Geckos generally hide in rock crevices during the day and emerge at dusk to feed, primarily on mosquitoes, moths, and other insects. During mating season, male geckos often emit loud “ooh-ooh” calls, while females respond with “doo-doo” sounds. People commonly exploit the gecko’s tendency to bite and cling tenaciously when threatened—along with its many small teeth—by tying a bait of tangled hair and rags to a small bamboo pole to lure and capture them.