Gecko

Geckos are small, mostly carnivorous lizards (suborder Gekkota) found in warm climates on every continent except Antarctica. Across all kinds they range from about 1.6 to 67 centimetres long, and there are nearly 2,000 species.

Most geckos are nocturnal with excellent night vision, though some, such as day geckos, are active in daylight. Their skin does not generally bear scales. It looks papillose, covered in tiny hair-like bumps.

The leopard gecko is the most common gecko kept as a pet, and the crested gecko is gaining popularity too. Leopard geckos have no adhesive toe pads, so they cannot climb the glass of a vivarium.

Geckos have a long evolutionary past. Late Jurassic lizards such as Eichstaettisaurus from Germany are considered early relatives. The oldest known fossils of modern geckos are about 100 million years old, found in Burmese amber, and they already had adhesive pads on the feet.

The word gecko comes from the Malay word gēkoq, which in turn comes from tokek, imitating the sounds of species like the Tokay gecko.

The crested gecko comes from New Caledonia. It was believed extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994, and it has since been gaining popularity as a pet. The gold dust day gecko lives in northern Madagascar and on the Comoros.

Geckos are unusual among lizards for their vocalisations. Most geckos in the family Gekkonidae use chirping or clicking sounds in social interactions, and some species hiss when alarmed or threatened.

Most geckos are nocturnal, although day geckos are active in daylight. As ectotherms, their body temperature depends on their surroundings.

Like most lizards, geckos can defensively shed their tail, and the wriggling tail may distract a predator. Geckos without eyelids lick their own eyes to keep them clean and moist. Geckos in the family Eublepharidae are the exception and do have eyelids.

All geckos shed their skin regularly. Leopard geckos shed about every two to four weeks, and the gecko often eats the loose skin. Young geckos shed about weekly, while adults shed every one to two months.

Gecko skin has been observed to have an antibacterial property, killing gram-negative bacteria on contact.

Geckos can replace each of their roughly 100 teeth every 3 to 4 months.

Shedding is a normal, regular part of gecko life, and moisture aids it. Body temperature has to be elevated for movement, feeding and reproduction.

This is general awareness only, not veterinary advice. Always consult a vet about your pet's health.

What is a gecko?

A gecko is a small, mostly carnivorous lizard from the suborder Gekkota. Nearly 2,000 species exist, living in warm climates around the world.

Which gecko is the most common pet?

The leopard gecko is the most common gecko kept as a pet. The crested gecko is also gaining popularity.

Can geckos climb glass?

About 60% of species have adhesive toe pads, but leopard geckos do not. They cannot climb the glass of a vivarium.

Are geckos nocturnal?

Most are, with excellent night vision. Some, such as day geckos, are active during the day.

Do geckos make noise?

Many do. Chirping and clicking are common, and some species hiss when alarmed. Loud calls are best known in the Tokay gecko.

Gecko toes seem double-jointed, but this is properly called digital hyperextension. It lets them peel their toes off surfaces from the tips inward.

Every square millimetre of a gecko's footpad holds about 14,000 tiny hair-like setae, which are self-cleaning. The setae of a 70-gram gecko could support about 133 kilograms.

Gecko colour vision in low light is about 350 times more sensitive than human vision.

In Greek mythology, the young Ascalabus was turned into a multicoloured gecko by Demeter.