New barking gecko to be spotlighted in science talk
A public talk next week will explore the discovery of six new barking gecko species, five of them from Namibia, and how researchers used their calls to distinguish them.
Namibia’s distinctive barking geckos will take centre stage at a presentation by herpetologist Dr Francois Becker at the Namibia Scientific Society in Windhoek next Thursday (29 October 2026).
In 2025, six new species of barking gecko were officially named following years of fieldwork, genetic research and bioacoustic analysis. Five of the species were identified in Namibia, helping resolve scientific questions that date back around 150 years to the records of early explorers.
The presentation, titled New to Science! Namibia’s Barking Geckos Identified Through Unique Calls, will examine the species’ evolutionary origins, tracing their history back to the age of the dinosaurs.
Becker will also explain how researchers use the geckos’ calls to distinguish between species and share practical techniques for finding the elusive reptiles in the wild.
Becker is a senior lecturer at the Namibia University of Science and Technology and specialises in reptiles and amphibians. His research explores the evolutionary history of species through phylogenetics, ecology and habitat studies.
His work on barking geckos was conducted primarily through the National Museum of Namibia, the South African National Biodiversity Institute, Wits University and the Gobabeb Namib Research Institute, with support from local and international institutions and researchers.
The presentation starts at 19:00 on Thursday, 29 October, at the Namibia Scientific Society. It will also be available online via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/8023841980.
