Leopard Gecko
Fast Facts
What do they look like?
Leopard geckos are 7-10 inches long at maturity with relatively large heads, big eyes,
and slender toes. They are yellow-bodied with light lavender tails and have black
spots which give them their name. Their tails serve as fat storage, plumping during
times of plenty and thinning during the dry season. Most of their scales are small and
skin-like in texture; however, rows of larger, bumpy scales are dispersed in between
to mimic rock and sand texture. Leopard geckos belong to a small group of geckos
that possess eyelids. Unlike most of their close relatives, these geckos do not have
setae, the foot pads that allow most geckos to climb on smooth surfaces. Instead,
they have small toes tipped with little claws. This adaptation helps them to climb and
crawl in their rocky environment.
How do they behave?
Common Name: Leopard Gecko
Scientific Name: Eublepharis
macularius
Family: Gekkonidae
Order: Squamata
Class: Reptilia
Range: Southern Asia: Pakistan,
Northern India, Afganistan
Leopard geckos are nocturnal reptiles, preferring to hunt at night to avoid hot
temperatures during the day. Being ectothermic, or cold-blooded, they rely on the
surrounding temperature to regulate body functions. They spend their days in
burrows or under rocks to stay cool. During summer, they may even estivate in order
to avoid extreme temperatures in their desert habitats. They may also hibernate
during cold winters.
What’s on the menu?
In the wild, leopard geckos eat other small lizards, insects, and arachnids. At the Zoo,
they eat crickets and mealworms.
How are they born?
Leopard geckos reach sexual maturity at one to two years of age. Males can be
identified by a V-shaped row of pores just before the cloaca (anal vent). Like most
other reptiles, leopard geckos are oviparous (egg-layers). Female leopard geckos can
lay up to five clutches of two eggs per breeding season, which lasts from January
through September. Eggs are buried then left to incubate on their own. The eggs will
hatch approximately two months later. The sex of the babies depends on the
incubation temperature. Lower temperatures result in mostly females while higher
temperatures result in mostly males.
What should you know about them?
Habitat: Rocky desert, sparse
grasslands
Lifespan: Unknown in the wild;
up to 25 years in captivity
Conservation Status: Stable
Like other geckos, leopard geckos can voluntarily drop their tails to escape an
encounter with a predator. The lizard’s nervous system sends a signal to release the
muscles around the base of the tail. The muscles of the dropped portion of the tail
contract rapidly and the tail twitches around while the lizard escapes. However, due
to the importance of the nutrition stored in tails of leopard geckos, this is used only
as a last resort.