Common Name: Leopard Gecko Scientific Name: Eublepharis macularis
STATUS UNKNOWN Leopard Gecko Distribution: Western India, Pakistan Habitat: Desert Height: 17 - 23cm Weight: 50g Diet: Insectivorous
The leopard gecko is has a yellow coloured background and this background is covered with dark brown spots. The species measures 17 – 23 cm long are large and the toes are thin. Young geckos have bands of colour which gradually break up into the spots of the adults. The tail is large and acts as a fat store in lean times. Geckos can also ‘lose’ their tail to distract predators, their tails will grow back. Leopard Geckos are one of the few species of geckos to have eyelids, this is an adaptation to prevent dust and sand getting into their eyes. The leopard gecko is found in Iran, Afghanistan, Western India and Pakistan. The species inhabits deserts and arid grasslands. As they are nocturnal creatures, they spend the day hidden under rocks or in dry burrows to escape the daytime heat, emerging at dusk to hunt insects. These geckos eats insects, spiders, snails, small mammals and eggs. The male gecko defends a territory against other males. During the breeding season, which coincides with the rainy season, a female enters the males territory. He licks and bites her side before mating with her. The female can store sperm for up to 15 months. The female gecko lays 1 –2 eggs per month, over the 5 month breeding season. These are incubated for 55 days by the sun in the sand. The temperature of incubation determines the sex of the offspring – lower temperatures give females and higher temperatures result in males.