Common Name:
Leopard Gecko
Scientific Name:
Eublepharis
Wild Status:
Least Concern
Habitat:
Arid grasslands and desert fringes
Country:
Asia, Afghanistan, India, & Africa
Shelter:
Low shrubs, crevices, burrows
Life Span:
6-10 years, can be longer in captivity
Size:
7-11 inches
Cool Facts:
- Lick their eyelids to keep them clean. (Helps in dust storms)
- They store fat in their tails for the hibernation period. (The fatter, the healthier)
- They eat their own skin shed after they finish shedding.
- Have the ability to drop their tail during predator attacks. Tail will continue to wiggle after dropped to confuse predator, allowing the gecko to escape.
- They lay two eggs every time. (bury them underground)
- Use their little nails to help them climb on rocks.
- Many different morphs and color patterns. Very popular in the pet trade.
- Wild geckos have a duller pattern and color than those found in the pet trade (many skin colors and patterns)
- Skin is tough to protect against natural habitat of sand and rock; back is bumpy, front is smooth
Details:
Leopard Geckos are nocturnal lizards from different countries in Asia and Africa. They are very docile and friendly and have become increasingly popular as pets because of the varieties of colors and designs they can have. Leopard Geckos are carnivorous so they won't eat plants or veggies - instead, a good diet of live insects will keep these guys happy. Like all reptiles they are cold blooded and require the correct heat and lighting, and can live longer than 10 years in captivity when cared for correctly. The tail of a leopard gecko will be thick & juicy when healthy, and serves two very important purposes. First, it helps store food for the gecko in case it finds itself without a food source for a few days. And secondly, it can come off when attacked by a predator so the Leopard Gecko can run away to live another day!
Taxonomic Breakdown:
Kingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Chordata > Class: Repitilia > Order: Squamata > Suborder: Lacertilia > Family: Gekkonidae Subfamily: Eublepharinae > Genus: Eublepharis > Species: E. macularius