Leopard Geckos at the Zoo:

Colada

Description

They are fairly small but sturdy lizards, and their common name, ‘leopard gecko’ refers to their spotted patterns, predominantly shades of yellow and brown. Their tails are long, about the same length as their torsos.

What do they eat?

Leopard geckoes are very adaptable, and are known to eat scorpions, centipedes, spiders, and beetles in the wild. In captivity, leopard gecko diets usually consist of crickets, mealworms, waxworms, pinkie or nestling mice, locusts, grasshoppers, and springtails.

How long do they live?

30 years.

How many are born at a time?

Clutches almost universally consist of two eggs, although a healthy female may produce as many as six clutches per year.

Where can they be found?

Dry and semi-dry desert regions and arid grasslands. Leopard geckoes can be found throughout Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Northwest India, and Pakistan.

Interesting facts

Leopard geckoes have a segmented tail which may be autotomized, and movable eyelids with a vertical slit pupil unlike many geckoes. They also lack toe pads, having clawed toes instead. Another interesting feature of the leopard gecko is the ear – due to the auditory system structure, when viewed from the side, light shines right through the gecko’s head.