Leopard Gecko: Eublepharis macularius
In the Wild
Description:
Size: 7-9 inches (17.8-22.9 cm) long
Weight: 1.7-2.8 ounces (50-80 grams)
Have a long, narrow body with a wide, short tail
Have a yellow-tan body and light purple-blue tail with dark spots covering its body,
similar to a leopard’s pattern
Appear to be bumpy but are soft to the touch
Sexual dimorphism – males are generally larger, with broader heads and thicker tails
Habitat and Range:
Native to western India, Pakistan and Afghanistan
Prefer rocky deserts and semi-arid grasslands and avoid sandy deserts
Terrestrial – are seldom found off of the ground
Diet:
Primarily insectivores: Mostly eat insects, but may also eat worms, spiders, scorpions,
small birds and bird eggs
Adaptations:
Like many small lizards, a leopard gecko can shed its tail to distract a predator or to
escape its grasp
o A muscular spasm separates the tail at a specialized fracture point and clamps
off the blood vessels to prevent bleeding
o The newly lost tail twitches violently until the nerve impulses run down, and is
very likely to hold the predator's attention while the lizard escapes
o A new tail will begin to grow in a few weeks
o Losing its tail, although advantageous for escape from predators, is not ideal
since it takes a lot of energy and time to grow back
Leopard geckos store fat in their tails and use this energy reserve when food is scarce
Can go for an extended period of time without water because they take most of their
water from their prey
Are spotted to break up their body outline as camouflage from predators
Lifespan:
Generally live 10-15 years, can live up to 30 years
Ecosystem relationships:
Predators: Foxes, snakes and birds of prey
Reproduction:
Reach sexual maturity in 1-3 years
07/19/2013
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Leopard Gecko: Eublepharis macularius
Male leopard geckos are aggressive towards other males in their territory but are
tolerant of females
Mating usually occurs during the rainy season
Female leopard geckos can store sperm in their reproductive tracts for a year or more
Females can lay up to 5 clutches of 1 or 2 eggs during the 5-month breeding season
Females will bury the eggs in moist soil
Incubation lasts about 2 months
Sex of egg is determined by the incubation temperature – lower temperatures produce
females while warmer temperatures produce males
Hatchlings have dark bands that lighten into spots or blotches as they grow
Activity:
Crepuscular and nocturnal – spend the daytime in rock crevices or burrows
Other “fun facts”:
Unlike some geckos, leopard geckos can close their eyes
Use their tongue to lick their eyes
Toe pads, which other geckos use to climb vertical walls and trees, are not present in
the leopard gecko – instead have tiny claws on the end of their toes
With eyesight comparable to a cat’s, geckos can see better than any other lizard whose
vision has been studied
Conservation Status and Threats:
Not listed by the IUCN
Considered very common throughout their range
Although not considered endangered, their populations are thought to be decreasing
with human encroachment into their habitat
At the Zoo
Barney is a female leopard gecko donated to the zoo in 1997. Her exact age is unknown.
What We Can Do
Do your research before buying a pet
o Make sure you are not purchasing a wild-caught individual – captive-bred turtle
species are often easy to find
o Make sure you know how to properly care for any animal before you decide to
buy it as a pet
 Some things to consider include adequate housing, diet, temperature
requirements and lifespan
 Some pets also require a lot of time and money to be properly cared for
References:
07/19/2013
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Leopard Gecko: Eublepharis macularius
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Leopardgec
ko.cfm?pagewanted=all
http://www.zoo.org/page.aspx?pid=1945
http://www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org/assets/uploads/animals/pdf/LeopardGecko.pdf
http://www.rossparkzoo.com/animals/leopard-gecko.htm
http://www.elpasozoo.org/docs/Volunteer_Training_Docs/REPTILE%20FACTS_Leopar
d%20Gecko.pdf
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Eublepharis_macularius/#conserva
tion_status
07/19/2013
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore