Habitat: Geckos live in a wide range of habitats including tropical rainforests, parched deserts, and icy mountain peaks. They are not afraid of humans, and some species have expanded their range by stowing away on ships. For example, the common gecko originated in North Africa and was carried unknowingly by humans to southern France, the Canary Islands, and even islands in the South Pacific. In the Southwest some geckos seem to prefer living in houses to staying in their natural habitat. At might the lights attract so many insects that all the gecko needs to do is cling to the ceiling and wait for prey to fly by. The leopard gecko lives in arid, rocky parts of Asia, Unlike most other geckos, it has eyelids that can close. Like most other geckos, the ring tailed gecko has no eyelids. It licks its eyes to keep them moist and clean.

Food and Feeding: Most geckos hunt at night. The common gecko eats beetles, butterflies, millipedes, crickets, and cockroaches. Many larger species, such as the Caledonian gecko, pursue young lizards, mice, and small birds. They track their prey before pouching. Then they take it in their mouth and strike it against the ground. Some day active geckos, such as those in Madagascar, feed on fruit and flower nectar. The species Gehyra mutilata eats so much sweet food that it is called the sugar lizard. The Madagascan leaf tailed gecko washes itself allover with its tongue after every meal. Another gecko in the Seychelles rides on tortoises and feeds on insects attracted to the tortoises’ feces. Web footed geckos prey on insects such as the dune cricket in the Namib Desert.

Breeding: Geckos’ mating habits vary greatly, but most include a courtship ritual, such as displaying bright skin colors or uttering a distinct mating call. For example, between March and May the male tokay gecko in southeast Asia makes a barking sound that is probably a mating call. A male banded gecko approaches a prospective mate with his legs bent and head stretched forward. Wagging his tail, he nuzzles her flanks and licks her before mating. Like most reptiles, the majority of geckos lay eggs. The female house gecko lays four or five pairs of eggs between May and August, with two to four weeks between layings. Gecko egg shells tend to be soft at first but harden quickly. They have a sticky coating and are often stuck inside cracks or under bark or stones. It is not unusual to discover clumps of eggs stuck together if several females share a site. The female southern dwarf gecko has an unusual egg laying method. She strokes and pulls the eggs free with her hind legs. There are even species in New Zealand that bear live young. Geckos regularly shed their skin. This process starts shortly after they hatch.

Special Adaptations:
Eyes: The pupils of night active geckos enlarge to fill their eyes and shrink to slits during the day.
Color: Some geckos can change color. The banded leaf toed gecko is brown during the day and yellow at night. The skin of the Madagascan leaf tailed gecko matches tree bark.
Tail: The tail of a gecko may break off if it is caught and will later regrow.

Key Facts: 
Length: 1-14 in.

Breeding:
Incubation: 6-10 weeks
No. of eggs: Usually 2 per clutch. May lay several clutches during breeding season

Lifestyle:
Habit: Solitary. Some species hibernate
Diet: Insects, small birds, mice, lizards, and fruit

Related Species: There are approximately 86 genera and 800 species of geckos. The gecko family is divided into four subfamilies: Eublepharinae, Diplodactylinae, Gekkoninae, and sphaerodactylinae. The Gekkoniae subfamily is the largest, with more than 550 species living all over the world. It includes the Mediterranean gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus.

Distribution: Southern California, Florida, Mexico, Caribbean, South America, Mediterranean coast, Africa, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Pacific Islands.
Conservation: Geckos are widespread, adaptable, and pose no threat to humans. Most species are not endangered.

Features of the Gecko:
Eyes: Night hunting geckos have large pupils that close to slits during the day.
Skin: Thin, with small bumps or scales. Color varies but is usually gray or brown. Some species change color as a mating display or for camouflage.
Tail: Most geckos can shed their tail if threatened. A new shorter tail grows in its place.
Feet: Most geckos have broad toes covered with flaps of skin containing thousands of tiny bristles. Each bristle tip is a rounded spatula, so that the gecko can grip tiny niches or smooth surfaces such as a windowpane.

Did You Know: 
The gecko Sphaerodactylus parthenopion is only one and a half inches long. It is the world’s smallest reptile.
The tokay gecko gets its name from one of its calls: “to-kay, to-kay.”
Sometimes a gecko’s tail heals instead of breaking off completely. A new one also grows in, leaving the animal with two or even three tails.
A gecko pounces on an insect only if it moves.

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