ANIMAL: Leopard Gecko Eublepharis macularius Type of Animal: Gecko Habitat: Rocky desert & sub-desert Location(s): N.W. India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, & parts of Iran Appearance: Spotted markings w/ yellow skin, males larger w/ broader heads than females, whitish belly, males have hemipenal bulges below tail. Food/Diet: Crickets, mealworms, waxworms, silkworms, moths, spiders, beetles, worms, scorpions, locusts, grasshoppers, young mice, even young of their own species. Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding from private breeders & zoos. Bred for pet trade. Lifestyle: Groups consist of male w/ 2-10 females. Many individuals solitary. Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young-Hatchling Group-Leap/Colony Weight: Male-2.816 oz Female-2.672 oz Young-0.096-0.32 oz Gestation: 1 month Body Length: Male-7.92-9.96 in Female-6.96-7.92 in Young-3-3.96 in Life Span: 10 years in wild, 15 years in captivity Tail Length: Male-2.64-3.312 in Female-2.316-2.64 in Young-0.996-1.32 in Main predators of adults are birds, larger lizards, dogs, cats, foxes, weasels, polecats, wolves, jackals, hyenas, snakes, mongooses, frogs, camel spiders, & large hunting spiders. Adult leopard geckos & scorpions prey on young. Males very territorial & will kill each other if they encroach onto another’s territory. Mainly nocturnal, resting under rocks during the day. They have very keen senses of hearing and sight. Females lay 2-6 eggs during breeding season. After female lays eggs, she plays no more parental role. Young hatch out by themselves. Males sexually mature at 9 months old, females at 1 year old. Male often bites female when mating, sometimes causing scars. Sex determined by incubation temperature, lower temps=female, higher temps=male. Fun Fact(s): One of the few gecko species to have eyelids. If agitated, they make a bark-like sound. Never grab a leopard gecko by the tail- the tail will fall off if this happens. Very common in pet trade due to docile temperament & ease of keeping. Tail will drop if threatened by predator or over-stressed. Tail can regrow itself. They flick their tongue to grab insects.
