One of the 6 geckos on WAnimals
Reptiles · Squamata · Eublepharidae
Common Leopard Gecko
Eublepharis macularius
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary
The leopard gecko is one of the most widespread terrarium reptiles in the world and, unlike most geckos, it has movable eyelids and lacks the adhesive lamellae that allow climbing up glass. It lives on stony plains in southern Asia, is nocturnal and stores fat in its tail, which thickens noticeably in times of plenty.
Weight
45 g – 90 g
Size
20 cm – 28 cm
Lifespan
20 years
Diet
Insectivore
Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.
Activity
Nocturnal
Active mainly at night.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sighting difficulty
Easy
Fun facts
- GeneralOne of the most popular vivarium reptiles; unlike other geckos it has movable eyelids.
- anatomíaUnlike most geckos it has working movable eyelids, and it can shed its tail to escape a predator, growing it partly back afterwards.
- The sex of the young is determined by incubation temperature, not by chromosomes: below 28 degrees almost all are female, around 32 almost all male, and in the middle range the ratio evens out.
- Unlike almost all geckos it has movable eyelids and can blink, and it has no adhesive lamellae on its toes: it cannot climb smooth surfaces.
- Its tail is a larder: it builds up fat until it thickens noticeably, and if it loses it to a predator it grows a new, shorter one of a different shape, losing its reserves with it.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
- Habitat & environment
- Arid stony plains, dry scrub and rocky slopes of Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Iran
- Sexual maturity
- 13.1 months
- Gestation / incubation
- 55 days
- Litter / clutch size
- 2
Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Common Leopard Gecko — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Fat-tail Gecko
Hemitheconyx caudicinctus
Banded Krait
Bungarus fasciatus
Brahminy Blindsnake
Indotyphlops braminus
Common House Gecko
Hemidactylus frenatus
Malaysian Narrowmouth Toad
Kaloula pulchra
Java Whipping Frog
Polypedates leucomystax
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