Leopard geckos were among the first gecko species bred in captivity at scale, starting in the 1970s-80s pet trade
Sustained captive-breeding programs established decades ago mean the overwhelming majority of leopard geckos sold today are many generations removed from any wild-caught ancestor.
See the full facts guide, or browse all 593 info pages.
Most active at dawn and dusk when temperatures in their native Pakistan and Afghanistan are ideal.
A widespread misconception is that the tail acts like a camel's hump storing water.
Autotomy — voluntary tail shedding — is a defence mechanism.
Unlike most gecko species which use van der Waals forces to climb smooth surfaces, leopard geckos have conventional claws.
The moveable eyelid is unusual among geckos.
Hold your gecko up to a light source and look through one ear opening — you can see light through the other side.