Vertebrate developmental biologists typically rely on a limited number of model organisms to understand the evolutionary bases of morphological changes. Embryonic staging series are important tools in the study of morphological evolution as they establish a common standard for future studies of embryonic development. In this study, we observed and recorded the processes of embryonic development for the Japanese Gecko (Gekko japonicus) from oviposition to hatching. We incubated all eggs at 28℃, and clarified staging series based on external morphology of the embryos, including the head, pharyngeal arch, limb, digits and features of the appearance of scalation and pigmentation, which would provide some references to the research on embryonic development of egg-laying reptiles. For G. japonicus, eggs were laid when they developed to stage 28 within the female′s body and hatched at stage 42. The duration of each developmental stage varied from two to nine days (Fig. 1). A series of developmental stages of embryos was shown (Fig. 2). Somitogenesis was also well underway, with 30﹣33 pairs of somites evident at the time of laying. At stage 28, optic vesicle, pharyngeal arches and otic placode were visible, and the heart was visible as a single, curved endocardial tube protruding from the thoracic cavity. Forelimb buds were present as small protuberances, whereas the hindlimb buds were not yet visible by the second day after oviposition (Fig. 2a). Forelimb and hindlimb buds were observed as distinct protuberances at stage 29 (Fig. 2b). Then the limb buds were plate-like at stage 30 and the paddle-like autopodium could be seen at stage 31 (Fig. 2c, d). After two weeks of incubation, the forelimbs and hindlimbs were divided into three distinctive segments: stylopodium, zeugopodium, and autopodium at stage 32 (Fig. 2e). At stage 34, condensations of all five digits were visible in the autopodium of both forelimbs and hindlimbs (Fig. 2g). The interdigital webbing was deeply incised, and digits 1 and 5 were noticeably shorter than digits 2, 3 and 4 at stage 35 (Fig. 2h). Claws were present on all digits at stage 37 (Fig. 2j). Skin pigment and scale development were observed from stage 37 to stage 42 (Fig. 2j﹣o). There were differences between different species in incubation periods and embryonic stages (Table 1). The data provided by the staging series can be used for future studies of evolution and development.