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geckos are a very interesting group of lizards that are incredibly diverse. They are widespread in the wild and are also common pets. While a pet gecko may seem small, some species can reach incredible size! This article will break down all things gecko and examine the world’s largest gecko!
What is a gecko?
Geckos are a type of lizard that belongs to the infrared Gekkota. Geckos have the most species of any lizard group – 1,500 different species! These lizards vary greatly in size, geography and color. Geckos have very sharp night vision and interestingly, they cannot blink. Many species have no eyelids and must remove debris from their eyes by licking their eyeballs. Another cool fact about geckos is that 60% of species have paw pads on their toes that allow them to stick to various surfaces. Don’t be alarmed if you see one climbing a wall or hanging upside down!
Where do geckos live?
Geckos live on every continent except Antarctica. They often live in urban areas and many different species are popular pets. The most popular pet gecko species is the leopard gecko which is about 8 to 11 inches long. In the wild, leopard geckos live in arid, savanna-like habitats, including in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India. Many gecko species also live in forested areas and spend most of their time in trees. Several species of geckos have been introduced to new areas and have become invasive species, including in the United States. Unlike most lizard species, geckos are nocturnal and most active at night. The variability among the many gecko species allows them to live in many different ecosystems around the world.
What Are Some Notable Species Of Geckos?
Of the 1,500 different species of geckos, some are particularly interesting when it comes to size. One of the largest species of extant (not extinct) geckos is the Tokay gecko, gecko gecko. This species is native to Asia and the Pacific Islands. It grows up to 12 inches long including the tail! Tokay geckos have been introduced to the wild in Florida and now have an established population there as well.
An even larger species is the giant leaf-tailed gecko, which is endemic to Madagascar. The giant leaf-tailed gecko can grow up to 13 inches long! In stark contrast to this, the smallest species of gecko is the Jaragua dwarf gecko. Jaragua pygmy geckos grow to 14-18mm without a tail; that is smaller than the diameter of a US 25 cent coin. To put this in perspective, a blue whale is 1600 times longer and weighs more than a billion times more than a Jaragua pygmy gecko!
What do geckos eat?
Most gecko species are carnivores. Smaller species tend to feed on insects including moths and mosquitoes. Pet geckos often get mealworms, flies, and crickets. Larger gecko species, including the Tokay gecko, mainly eat invertebrates such as crickets, cockroaches, and beetles. They can also eat small vertebrates such as mice, rats, or snakes.
What is the largest living gecko species?
Of the species still alive today, the largest gecko is the New Caledonian giant gecko! This huge lizard can grow up to 14 centimeters long! The New Caledonian giant gecko is 200 times larger than the Jaragua dwarf gecko! That’s a lot of variation between one group of lizards.
The New Caledonian giant gecko is endemic to New Caledonia, Oceania. This gecko is an example of island gigantism. Island gigantism is a biological phenomenon where on islands some animals are larger than their mainland counterparts. This is because predatory mammals are often lacking in island ecosystems, so smaller animals, such as geckos, grow over evolutionary time to fill that niche.
These large geckos are nocturnal and arboreal species. This means that they are only active at night and live in trees rather than on the ground like terrestrial species. Like their gecko relatives, New Caledonian giant geckos are carnivores and food a variety of invertebrates and some small vertebrates. They also feed on tree sap, fruit and nectar. Many different species of geckos have different sounds. The New Caledonian gecko is nicknamed “devil in the trees” because of its strange, loud growling sound.
What is the largest gecko species ever?
Including extinct specie
s,
the largest ever gecko is Delcourt’s giant gecko! Delcourt’s giant gecko, Haplodactylus delcourti, can grow up to 23.6 inches long, including the tail! This species is believed to have existed in New Zealand, but there are no verified reports of seeing this lizard alive in the wild. In 1986, a stuffed Delcourt gecko was found in the basement of a natural history museum in Marseille. This is the only verified specimen of this species. However, some theorize that Delcourt’s giant gecko is the large, forest-dwelling species referenced in the Māori tradition, kawekaweau. Lack of fossil evidence leads some scientists to believe that this species did not originate in New Zealand at all.
How are geckos today?
There are a large number of gecko species around the world and each with different ecological challenges. Delcourt’s giant gecko is extinct, but New Caledonia’s giant gecko has a conservation status of least concern. While the populations of many species are stable, some are at risk. The striped gecko has a conservation status of threatened, the slender gecko from the island of Penang is a vulnerable species, and Gecko Bathing is also endangered, just to name a few.
Geckos also pose an environmental risk as an invasive species. An invasive species is a species that is introduced to a new area and throws the ecosystem out of balance. For example, if an animal was moved to a new place where it had no natural enemies, their population could grow uncontrollably and wreak havoc on prey. Invasive gecko species have been accidentally introduced into new environments around the world as a result of the pet trade. Many exotic geckos are very popular pets, but when released or escaping into the wild, they can be very problematic.
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