Leopard Gecko

The leopard gecko is a small, ground-dwelling lizard native to the rocky, arid and semi-arid regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and northwestern India, named for the dark spotted pattern that covers its yellowish body in most adults, though captive breeding has produced an enormous range of color variations. Unlike many gecko species, it lacks the specialized toe pads that allow climbing on smooth vertical surfaces, and it has movable eyelids, both traits linked to its terrestrial, ground-based lifestyle rather than life on trees or walls. Leopard geckos are mainly nocturnal, sheltering in burrows or under rocks during the heat of the day and emerging at night to hunt insects and other small invertebrates, and like many lizards they are capable of shedding their tail when threatened as a defense against predators, later regrowing a shorter replacement. The species has become one of the most popular pet reptiles in the world, prized for its docile temperament, manageable size and the huge variety of colors and patterns produced through selective breeding.