Leopard Gecko

Eublepharis macularius

Scientific Name

Leopard Gecko:  
Eublepharis macularius

Distribution and Habitat

Geographic Range

Parts of the Middle East, Iran, northwest Pakistan, and western India.

Natural Habitat

This nocturnal creature prefers to live in arid, sandy, rocky areas, deserts, and sometimes near human habitations.

Physical Characteristics

  • The leopard gecko gets its name from the leopard-like spots that cover the bodies of adult animals and grow to be about 10 in. in length.

  • Baby leopard geckos hatch with dark transverse bands, which lighten as they grow into the spotted adults. Their general background color is yellow and lavender, although a number of new color phases have arisen through captive breeding.

  • Toe pads, which other geckos use to climb vertical walls and glass aquaria, are not present in the leopard gecko. They instead have tiny claws on the end of their toes.

Quick Facts

  1. Leopard geckos are members of the Subfamily Eublepharinae, or the eye-lidded geckos. Many geckos lack eyelids, but the leopard geckos’ are movable, which allow them to blink and close their eyes while sleeping.

  2. Geckos possess tail regeneration capabilities.

  3. They have unique ear holes which allows you to look right through their head.

  4. Geckos re-ingest skin that has been shed to obtain added protein.

  5. Flight is their primary form of defense.

Exhibit

Education Department

Conservation Status

Least Concern: The Leopard Gecko is common or abundant and is likely to survive in the wild.

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Diet

Insectivore

In the wild, leopard geckos consume grasshoppers, scorpions, (leopard geckos are unaffected by scorpion stings), spiders, and beetles. In captivity they are fed crickets, locusts, mealworms, and pinkie mice (baby mice).