Leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) — species profile (taxonomy, geographic range, habitat, physical description, behavior, wild diet, reproduction, lifespan)
Authoritative first-hand species account (Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan). All bullet facts are verbatim from the cited source and C1-substring verified.
Geographic Range
- Leopard geckoes can be found throughout Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Northwest India (Henkel 1995) and Pakistan (Hunziker 1994, de Vosjoli 1990).
Habitat
- Dry and semi-dry desert regions (Henkel 1995) and arid grasslands (Hunziker 1994).
Physical Description
- Ground color is usually yellow with irregular black spots and a white ventrum.
- As a side note, due to the popularity of these animals in the pet trade, other color patterns may be found, such as the "high color" or "yellow phase" (Hunziker 1994, de Vosjoli 1990) where very little black or purple markings are found on a bright yellow ground, as well as "chocolate" leopard geckoes, and "albino" geckoes, which simply lack yellow and brown colors; no amelanistic leopard geckoes have been found as yet (de Vosjoli 1990).
- Leopard geckoes have a segmented tail which may be autotomized, and movable eyelids (Henkel 1995) with a vertical slit pupil (Hunziker 1994) unlike many geckoes.
- They also lack toe pads, having clawed toes instead (Hunziker 1994).
Behavior
- Leopard geckoes are nocturnal, sheltering under rocks or in burrows in daylight (Henkel 1995, Hunziker 1994).
- During periods of activity, the gecko tends to be an inquisitive animal, and although a ground-dwelling species, the clawed toes of the leopard gecko allow them to climb rocks and branches where they can easily absorb heat ventrally (Hunziker 1994).
- As with many other reptiles, these lizards shed periodically.
- This species eats the sloughed skin (Henkel 1995).
- In captivity, this species has a life span of approximately 22 years (Henkel 1995).
Food Habits (Wild Diet)
- Leopard geckoes are very adaptable, and are known to eat scorpions, centipedes, spiders, and beetles in the wild (Hunziker 1994).
- In captivity, leopard gecko diets usually consist of crickets, mealworms, waxworms, pinkie or nestling mice, locusts, grasshoppers, and springtails (Hunziker 1994, Henkel 1995).
Reproduction
- Females prefer damp, humid environments for egg laying, (Hunziker 1994) and bury the eggs in the substrate (Henkel 1995).
- Clutches almost universally consist of two eggs, although a healthy female may produce as many as six clutches per year (Hunziker 1994).
- The eggs measure approximately 28 x 15 mm, and hatch after 45-53 days at 28 degrees Celsius.
- Hatchlings are about 85 mm in length (Henkel 1995).
Conservation Status
- No information was found on the status of this species in the wild.
- IUCN Red List [Link] Not Evaluated Additional Links Encyclopedia of Life Contributors Vickie Woods (author), Michigan State University, James Harding (editor), Michigan State University.
- Palearctic Close living in the northern part of the Old World.