Amazing nature #77 - The Leopard Gecko
Today I return to look for inspiration another incredible reptile with an amazing appearance, you may think that the only animal with perfectly designed camouflage for arid areas is the leopard, because it is not so, I present to the gecko leopard a reptile that seems cousin of the feline, although scientifically is far from being it. Come with me.
It is considered the best pet for its docility, it is actually friendlier than we imagined, but I want to make it clear that I do not agree with preserving animals as pets and less if they come from a natural environment.
Its scientific name is Eublepharis which means eyelids, but since a reptile whose skin is very similar to the leopard design is not called as such, this is because this gecko is one of the few species of reptiles that have mobile eyelids and is for scientists the most outstanding novelty of this specimen.
Its average size is about 20 to 25 centimeters including its tail, lives in countries like Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, these countries have semi-arid vegetation, are deserts in some way the perfect habitat for this friendly reptile.
Its eyes are endowed with a beautiful vertical pupil and of course mobile eyelids, its tail is narrow at the base and in the end ends in pointed form, it is one of its most important parts because with it can reserve food in the form of fats often used and that in their wildlife is very difficult to get food.
It has a beautiful granulated yellow skin with black dots, which work perfectly as a special camouflage in its environment, is difficult to detect by the similar colors found in stones and sandstones. This characteristic is primordial for its evolution since without this one it could put in danger its life, I adapt the design to the desertic environment in order to pass unnoticed as much for predators as for its prey.
He dedicates the night to his habit of hunting and during the day he rests in dark places such as stones, caves, and leaves.
If this in a moment of extreme danger this gecko can detach its tail to mock other predators, and only in a few weeks again has a fully formed tail.
Unlike other reptiles that have small slats on their legs to climb on any surface whether wet, smooth or porous, the leopard gecko does not have these special slats , so our friend is not very good climber that we say, however, on the floor there is no one who can against him, it is very fast.
His diet is based on insects such as crickets, grasshopper lobsters, flies and the like. It is quite a spectacle to see him hunt.
In the wild can live up to 7 years and in captivity can exceed 18 years nothing more for our reptile friend.
It is not considered an animal in danger of extinction due to the arid areas where it lives is unlikely to be dedicated to hunting, also does not represent a threat to be considered as a gastronomic dish, thank goodness. We have already seen other species that no matter what their bad characteristics are intentionally hunted to serve them as exotic dishes, this practice really seems repulsive to me.
Well, I hope you liked the main characteristics of the Gecko leopard a nice reptile in shape and very friendly.
Thank you for reading
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They are really so cute, but looking very dangerous.
Looks really cute but I always find them as hair-raisers.