Foot-long gecko captured at Makiki school

An alert custodian helped in the capture of a foot-long alien lizard at a Makiki elementary school this week.

The Madagascar giant day gecko was captured Tuesday morning at Queen Kaahumanu Elementary School, state Department of Agriculture officials said. The lizard is green with a red stripe from the nostrils to the eyes and also has orange spots on its back.

A custodian discovered the lizard, took a photograph of it and reported it to the department’s plant quarantine inspectors, who went to the school and captured it. Agricultural officials said the lizard, an adult, lost its long tail while being captured.

Agriculture Department spokeswoman Janelle Saneishi said small populations of Madagascar giant day geckos have been found in Hawaii and California.

She said the department doesn’t know how the lizard got there. Inspectors were continuing to conduct a survey to see whether there are any others in the area.

The lizard, a native to northern and northwestern Madagascar, feeds on insects, small vertebrates and nectar.