Gekkonidae, the common geckos, is the largest family of geckos, containing over 950 described species in 62 genera, including widespread species such as house geckos, tokay geckos, day geckos, mourning geckos and dtellas. Distributed globally with particular diversity in tropical environments, many gekkonid species have adhesive toe pads that grip surfaces through Van der Waals forces, using microscopic setae to interact with the surfaces they cross.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Scientific Name Member Species/Taxa Count Geographic DistributionOccur globally and are particularly diverse in tropical areas 1 Defining CharacteristicsMany species adhere to surfaces through Van der Waals forces, using intermolecular attraction between the molecules of their setae, or foot hairs 1 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceIncludes many of the most widespread gecko species, such as house geckos, the tokay gecko and day geckos 1 Sources
1. Gekkonidae - Wikipedia
Opening paragraph (rank)
Gekkonidae (the common geckos) is the largest family of geckos
Opening paragraph (name)
Gekkonidae (the common geckos) is the largest family of geckos
Opening paragraph (member count)
containing over 950 described species in 62 genera
Opening paragraph (distribution)
Gekkonid geckos occur globally and are particularly diverse in tropical areas
Opening paragraph (adhesion)
Many species of these geckos exhibit an adhering ability to surfaces through Van der Waals forces utilizing intermolecular forces between molecules of their setae (foot hair)
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The Gekkonidae contain many of the most widespread gecko species, including house geckos (Hemidactylus), the tokay gecko (Gekko), day geckos (Phelsuma)
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