INTRODUCTION TO LEOPARD GECKOS  The Leopard gecko is an excellent choice for beginner reptile owners.  Hands down, one of the best reptile pets available and the most popular gecko in captivity. A combination of their beauty and their docile nature adds to the enjoyment of owning these creatures.

The Leopard gecko is a very low maintenance reptile. They are easy to care for and do not require a large cage. They are easy to breed, and come in an amazing variety of interesting and unique colors and patterns. Captive-bred leopard geckos can be found in pet stores, at reptile shows and on the internet. Leopard geckos can range in price from $20 to $2,000. Leopard geckos make lovable and captivating reptile pets.

NATIVE HABITAT AND RANGE The native habitat of the Leopard gecko is the rocky, dry grasslands, and desert regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, northwestern India, and southeastern Iran.

                                                   The Leopard geckos natural range                                          The natural habitat of the Leopard gecko

TAXONOMY (From Wikipedia) First described as a species by British zoologist Edward Blyth in 1854 as Eublepharis macularis. The generic name Eublepharis is a combination of the Greek words Eu (true), and blephar (eyelid), as having eyelids is what distinguishes members of this subfamily from other geckos. The specific name, macularius, derives from the Latin word macula meaning "spot" or "blemish", referring to the animal's natural spotted markings.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

ANATOMY AND MORPHOLOGY (PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS) Leopard geckos typically measure 8-10 inches long, with slightly less than half of that length accounted for by their tails. They have a broad, flat head and large ear cavities. As with many lizards, a light shown through one ear openings can be seen through the other. They are rough, with warty bumps. Adults are typically covered with brown or black spots on their backs. They have brown bands interspersed with the spots. In “normal” wild type Leopard geckos, the background color is tan or yellowish with lighter bands of the same colors across the back and tail. Some individuals will have alternating yellow and lavender bands beneath the brown spots. Hatchlings are more vividly marked, having alternating broad brown/black and yellow/white bands across the back with black and white rings on their tails. As they mature, the dark bands break up into the spots for which the lizard gets its name.

Leopard geckos are one of only a few gecko species (members of the subfamily Eublepharidae) that have eyelids. This helps the gecko keep it's eyes clean in it's dusty environment. Leopard geckos, like most other geckos, can use their tongues to clean and moisten their eyes. Distinct from most species of geckos, Leopard geckos have small claws as an alternative to adhesive toe pads, which prevent them from climbing smooth vertical surfaces. On the other hand, their claws give extra traction in their terrain and are helpful in digging burrows. As nocturnal creatures, they spend the day hidding under rocks or in humid burrows to escape the daytime heat, emerging at dusk to hunt.

Leopard geckos use their tails as storage devices. They have the ability to store nutrient-rich fat in their tails. In times of famine they metabolize this fat reserve and can endure a period of weeks without food. A healthy Leopard gecko's tail should be to be wider than the width of its neck. Unfortunately, some of this fat reserve may be lost if the gecko loses it's tail. Similar to most lizards, Leopard geckos have the ability to drop their tail, in a process called caudal autonomy. When frightened or grabbed by the tail, muscles at the base of the gecko's tail contract and sever the vertebrae of the tail. Detached the tail continues to wiggle, distracting a potential predator, giving the gecko time to make a getaway. Although a Leopard gecko will grow a new tail, the regenerated tail will be different than the original, appearing bulbous and imperfect.

AVERAGE SIZE

• Hatchlings: 3 to 4 inches.

• Adult females: 7 to 8 inches.

• Adult males: 8 to 10 inches.

• Giants and Super Giants: 10 to 12 inches.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM There is sexual dimorphism in this species, making it easy to tell males from females. Males are generally larger, having broader heads. Males have two distinct bulges behind the vent; one on either side of the base of the tail that clearly indicate the presence of hemipines (male reproductive organs). In addition, Males have a dintinct V-shaped row of pre-anal pores in front of the vent (cloaca). As the gecko matures, they become quite prominent and will often secrete a waxy substance. Males also have enlarged femoral pores on the underside of their hind legs (thighs).

Juvenile leopard geckos can be very difficult to sex. With experience, you can sex leopard geckos at around 3-4 months of age, and it gets easier as they get older. Sexing is usually much easier after 6 months of age. The differences are quite distinct but are much easier to see if you have a  gecko of each sex to compare.

 Male                                                                Female 

STATUS IN THE WILD Leopard geckos are common in their native range, despite their widespread popularity in the pet trade. This is because Leopard geckos breed readily in captivity and large scale breeding programs have been astablished since the late 1970's and early 1980's. As a result, there has been no further need to export these lizards from the wild. Captive-bred specimens are readily available.