Leopard Gecko

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.

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