Chubby, Spotted Lizard

Leopard Gecko

The other day, I was admiring a few adorable lizards in my reptile club. They had chubby tails that took up 50% of their overall body size and these gorgeous black spots that seemed to fight through their light yellow skin. Curious, I asked what these funny-looking lizards were called. They are the very friendly, Leopard Geckos. Their scientific name is Eublepharis Macularius. These geckos also belong to a special family called the Eublepharinae, which translates to eye-lidded geckos. Most geckos don't have eyelids, but the leopard gecko has movable ones that allow them to close their eyes when they sleep. They don't, however, have the padded feet that most geckos have that allow them to climb vertically. They make up for it with their long claws that stem from their fingers. Looking at these geckos, there is no wonder where they got their name. As I said, they have dark black leopard-like spots that contrast against their yellow based skin, though they can also have lavender skin.

They do come in a wide rang of morphs such as albino, pattern-less, bold stripes, and hybinos. Hatchlings are usually born with dark bands, which eventually lighten up in adulthood. Like most lizards, the leopard gecko can loose its tail when threatened due to a cracked vertebrae as well as a special arrangement of muscle that can release cleanly and quickly. Though, that chubby tail is vital. It works almost like a camel's hump and can store fat for periods with little to no food. Why are leopard geckos such ideal pets? Well, they have an unusually kind disposition. It takes a lot to provoke a leopard gecko to bite. They also aren't very vocal (I didn't even know that was a problem among geckos). They can reach up to ten inches, but the ones we have are about five inches. They can also live up to 20 years in captivity if properly cared for. Their natural habitat is in the middle east where they can be found in the rocky desert or sparse grass lands. Because of the intense temperatures of this region, they are nocturnal animals. In the night, they hunt for other lizards, insects, and spiders. They are also immune to the sting of a scorpion, so they make sufficient food as well. As far as pricing goes, they can range from $20-$70 depending on the breeder. Though, I would encourage you to look at my Reptile Care blog if you're planning on buying from a store. I'm only throwing this fact in because it is just so weird, but leopard geckos don't have liquid urine. Instead, they excrete nitrogenous waste in crystal form. So if you weren't already think these geckos were interesting, how about that?

very happy Leopard Gecko

Leopard Gecko Hatchling

Links: http://www.paulsagereptiles.com/leopardgenetics.htm
        http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Leopardgecko.cfm