what sound does a lizard make

Most lizards do not make loud or complex noises, but many can produce simple sounds like hisses, clicks, chirps, squeaks, and scrapes, depending on the species and situation.

Quick Scoop

The basic answer

For most common house lizards, the main sound you’ll notice is a sharp hiss when they feel threatened or cornered.

Some species, especially geckos, also make chirping or clicking calls that can sound like little barks or squeaks, often at night.

Main types of lizard sounds

• Hissing: Forceful burst of air used as a threat display to scare predators or rivals.

• Chirps: Common in geckos; used to attract mates and mark territory, sometimes surprisingly loud.

• Clicks: Short, popping or ticking noises made with the mouth or tongue, often as warnings or social signals.

• Squeaks or cries: Especially in juveniles or when a lizard is grabbed, as a distress sound.

• Scraping/rubbing sounds: Some species can make noise by rubbing body parts or scales together.

Why they make these sounds

• Defense: Hissing, squeaks, and sudden noises can startle a predator and give the lizard a chance to escape.

• Territory: In vocal species like geckos, repeated chirps help claim an area and warn other males away.

• Mating: Structured calls (especially in geckos) help attract potential mates and signal the caller’s condition.

A simple way to picture it: a typical quiet house lizard mostly hisses when scared, while a gecko is more like a tiny nighttime “talker,” chirping or clicking to communicate.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.