The 'Animals Gecko Screaming' meme features a viral clip of a Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) from internet nature footage popularized around 2013. The 'character' in this digital artifact is the defensive Tokay Gecko, acting as itself in a real-life display of territorial vocalization. In the scene, the lizard opens its jaws wide to emit a piercing, human-like shriek that catches the viewer completely off-guard, vibrating with the sheer intensity of its vocal output. This clip has become the gold standard for representing peak frustration, sudden panic, or an 'internal scream' turned external. It is culturally iconic for representing the feeling of a mental breakdown after a minor inconvenience or a sudden jump scare. Its popularity stems from the juxtaposition of such a small creature producing a sound that perfectly encapsulates large-scale human stress. Example captions include: 'When you step on a wet spot while wearing socks,' 'Me after seeing my bank account balance,' and 'When you realize it is only Tuesday.'