Fritz, Oh, Fritz, I love the Gecko commercials that feature a decent David Attenborough (British naturalist and film-maker) impersonator observing the lizard "in the wild," but I'm a big Attenborough fan. And the gecko's 'furriner' status has an interesting twist. In his first appearance, he spoke with a plummy, upper class Oxbridge accent, but after Geico's ad minions realized his potential they decided that his accent was too, as the Brits say, posh. His voice was changed to something that sounds more Aussie than upper crust British.
I grew up in on the Gulf coast in Panama City on the Florida Panhandle, and we had no geckoes (or condos, or snowbirds, or spring breakers) there up to 1974. But I understand that they are all over the Gulf now. I was surprised to see them inland as for as northern Liberty County (where frosts are more common) but they must be tougher than we think. Both of these sites are devoted to invasive plants, so they won't answer your question about geckoes: Texas Invasives Houston-Galveston Invaders Home Page or in case one-click doesn't work: http://www.texasinvasives.org/ http://www.texasinvasives.org/Citizen_Science/Hou_Invaders/Pg_HoustonGalvBayInvadersWeb2.html Roger In a message dated 07/11/08 11:47:15 Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Roger and fellow spelunkers/cavers, I wish that someone would step on the repulsive little Geico Gecko. The commercials are dumb and it is a foreigner to boot. However, up until about 15 years ago there were no geckos in the Houston area, only anoles which I love to see change from green to brown right before your eyes. A true miracle and a beautiful lizard. We still have the larger anoles but they are outnumbered by the unique pink, opaque geckos that are much better at staying concealed in their hiding places until disturbed. I would like to know where they originated and how they got here and became so prolific. Are they also in most other parts of Texas and surrounding states? Roger, there is one tree worse than the Chinese tallow and that is the Arizona ash, but fortunately it is much more short lived. Fritz From: CaverArch [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 10:17 PM To: Don Cooper; [email protected] Subject: Re: [ot_caving] Geico Gecko Wavy, Most biologists would say "You did not sin, my son, for you have slain an exotic. The promised land (Texas) should not welcome the beasts of the field, nor the fish of the sea, nor even the birds of the air if they are not native Texans, yea, though they may be cute and appealing." Personally, I draw the line at nutria rats and Chinese tallow trees. Roger In a message dated 07/09/08 21:59:18 Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: He never had a chance. Not even enough time to try to sell me insurance. I was sprinting up the concrete stairs on my way to get in my car - I didnt even see him. Crushed by my Tevas This unfortunate tiny creature. Only 2 1/2 inches long - broken - some parts flattened - he didn't even know what hit him. Nearly unrecognizable and faultless. He never did anyone any sin. With some glee I'd kill a roach twice his size. But this is different. A tiny little critter with a skeleton, reptile eyes and a brain. No scurrying. No infant insect eating. No more. -WaV The Famous, the Infamous, the Lame - in your browser. Get the TMZ Toolbar Now!
