Tokay Gecko From Eastern Asia

You may have seen the animated gecko with a British accent in television commercials, but most wild geckos chirp or bark and blend in with their surroundings. Geckos are reptiles and are found on all the continents except Antarctica. These colorful lizards have adapted to habitats from rain forests, to deserts, to cold mountain slopes. Over a long period of time, geckos have developed special physical features to help them survive and avoid predators. The Namib Desert gecko has webbed feet not only to help it walk on sand, but also to dig and burrow in the desert dunes.

The tokay gecko from eastern Asia is one of the best climbers. The pads of its fingers and toes have
tiny hairlike projections that can grip like suction cups or Velcro. They are able to grip a sheet of glass, scale walls, and even run across a ceiling without falling. 

Gecko tails serve many purposes. They help balance their weight as they climb branches, they act as fuel tanks to store fat, and as camouflage to help them disappear into their environment. Geckos are also able to shed their tails if a predator grabs them. The gecko runs off leaving its twitching tail behind. 

Most geckos are nocturnal, which means they are active at night, but day geckos are active during the day and nibble on insects, fruits, and flower nectar. Most geckos make noises such as chirping, barking, and clicking when they are defending their territory or attracting a mate. Female geckos lay their eggs in leaves and bark. The mothers don’t take care of their babies. The eggs have a hard shell which protects them from wind and rain. Some geckos lay soft eggs, but when they are exposed to air the shells become hard. Most geckos don’t have movable eyelids and instead have one transparent eyelid which they keep clean by licking it with their tongues.

Fast Facts
Geckos are in the family Gekkonidae.

Giant day geckos can be up to 12 inches (24 centimeters) long.

The Virgin Island gecko is less than 1 inch (2 centimeters) long when full-grown. It is one of the smallest lizards.

Tokay geckos are thought to bring good luck in Southeast Asia.

There are over 1,000 species of geckos.

Some geckos are able to shed their entire skin to escape from predators.