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One of the many reasons the leopard gecko is so beloved is its delightfully wacky, ever-present grin. Here are 10 of the best leopard gecko smiles, along with some incredible facts about one of the most popular pet reptiles in the world!
Are you thinking about adopting one of these curious, friendly geckos? If so, keep scrolling to learn more about Eublepharis macularius while enjoying the most adorable little gecko smiles captured on camera.
1. Leopard Geckos can drop their tails (and grow them again)!
many species lizards are able to cut off their own tail. This is a process known as caudal autotomy and it is a common defense mechanism for lizards such as leopard geckos.
In the wild, if a leopard gecko tries to quickly escape an imposing predator, it will quickly drop its own tail before running away. The hanging tail serves as a distraction for the predator, who will likely be a little confused by the whole ordeal.
Eerily, the muscles and nerve endings in the severed tail cause it to vibrate and move on its own just hours after it was originally dropped, making it an eerie and startling event for unsuspecting predators (or unaware reptile owners!).
Over time, the stump left over from the fallen tail will grow back and form a new tail. However, the regrown tail usually looks very different from the previous one in terms of color, shape, size and pattern.
2. Leopard geckos are strict insectivores.
While many reptiles are omnivores or strict herbivores, leopard geckos are nearly 100% insectivorous. Both in the wild and in captivity, Leopard geckos prefer to eat small insects such as crickets and mealworms, although they also occasionally include other small invertebrates such as spiders and scorpions in their native desert and scrubland habitats.
Very rarely will wild leopard geckos hunt small rodents and even other, smaller lizards. Fortunately, this only happens if the gecko is very desperate and/or starving.
As pets, leopard geckos usually eat feeder insects. These feeder insects are born, bred and raised in captivity under strictly controlled conditions. This reduces the transmission of parasites and disease, leading to a longer lifespan of geckos in captivity compared to their wild cousins.
3. There are currently over 100 unique color variants of Leopard Geckos on the market.
Since the mid-1970s, reptile breeders have plucked leopard geckos from their native habitats, which in turn breed and sell them around the world. This is largely due to the geckos’ small size, cute appearance and friendly, inquisitive personalities, making them ideal pets.
Thanks to decades of careful selective breeding, there are now over 100 different color and pattern variations of leopard geckos. These variations are known as morphs. They range in color from yellow, orange, brown and red to even more unusual colors like white, gray and black. Their patterns also vary considerably, from the typical uniform black spots to streaks, swirls, and even no spots at all!
The brown spotless leopard gecko above is a perfect example of a morph that didn’t originally exist in the wild. Of course, without careful, responsible breeders, these unique variations would not be possible!
4. Leopard geckos sometimes eat their shed skin to reabsorb the nutrients.
All reptiles somehow lose their skin, including leopard geckos. they usually shed their skin all in one piece, which they slowly peel off their own bodies by rubbing themselves against rough surfaces and using their mouths to remove it. The whole process usually only takes 10 to 30 minutes and is fascinating to observe from start to finish.
While the idea of eating dead skin cells doesn’t sound very appetizing, it’s a great way for a leopard gecko to reabsorb essential vitamins and minerals. Many leopard geckos often nibble on their shed skin, both out of survival instinct (to prevent predators from picking up their scent) and to avoid wasting a rich supply of nutrients.
5. Leopard geckos don’t have sticky pads on their legs like most gecko species.
The vast majority of gecko species can climb on flat surfaces and cling to them easily. This is thanks to the millions of tiny, sticky hairs known as setae on their toe pads.
Interestingly, leopard geckos have claws instead of these sticky toe pads. The reason for this is largely evolutionary. Living on land or on the ground, leopard geckos don’t have much of a need to climb on surfaces in the wild. In addition, their native Middle Eastern habitats tend to be flat and do not have tall, lush vegetation cover, so sticky toe pads are not necessary for leopard geckos to get around.
Instead, their tiny claws help them traverse the sandy, rocky terrain common to their habitats in countries like Iran, India, and Pakistan.
6. Leopard geckos have movable eyelids, unlike most gecko species.
Another feature that sets leopard geckos apart from most other gecko species is their movable eyelids! While most geckos have a single clear shell that covers each eye and protects them from debris, leopard geckos have fully functional eyelids that they can control when blinking or sleeping.
These lids help keep sand and other debris out of their eyes while on the move. This also makes them one of the few gecko species that can blink (and wink!). Their scientific name, Eublepharis macularius, reflects this; “eublepharis” translates to “true/true eyelids,” while “macularius” translates to “spotted,” referring to the leopard gecko’s distinctive spots.
7. Leopard geckos can live well into their twenties!
Despite their small size, leopard geckos surprisingly long life. If you’re thinking about adopting one, keep in mind that they usually live about 10 to 15 years! It is also increasingly common for captive leopard geckos to live well above this estimate. Many people have reached the age of 20+!
It is rumored that many people are in their late twenties or older, although these are rare and mostly unconfirmed. Reportedly, a female gecko in Germany recently turned 40 and a male gecko (location unknown) turned 28! Unfortunately, these reports are dubious and should be taken with a grain of salt.
8. The sex of a leopard gecko is determined by the temperature at which their eggs were incubated.
The sex of many reptile species is determined by the temperature of their eggs during incubation! This includes leopard geckos. Breeders found that eggs incubated at lower temperatures, or about 80 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit, result in female geckos, while eggs incubated at higher temperatures, or around 86 to 90 degrees, result in male geckos.
This unique quality makes it easy for breeders to produce complete clutches of all-male or all-female lizards.
9. Leopard geckos have a wide variety of vocalizations with unique meanings.
While leopard geckos are usually quite calm animals, they are capable of producing a range of interesting sounds. These vocalizations range from squeaking to chirping and even barking and yelling!
The sounds of leopard geckos can signify anything from contentment, anger, fear, or even interest in a potential mate. If you listen closely to your gecko, you may be lucky enough to hear the occasional beep or beep!
10. Leopard geckos have great night vision.
Leopard geckos are usually active at night or in the early morning before the sun comes up. As a result, they have evolved to have excellent eyesight, especially in low light.
Amazingly, these unique geckos are capable of seeing different colors and a surprising amount of detail, in both well-lit and dimly lit conditions! They can see much better than we humans can thanks to their large, bulging eyes and highly sensitive retinas. Their extraordinary eyesight helps them evade predators in the wild. In addition, their sharp vision makes it easy for them to find prey such as insects and other small invertebrates.
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